“LBD” stands for “Little Black Dress,” a moniker I’ve granted this recipe since it’s wildly versatile and a new staple in my recipe wardrobe.  I kid you not, these pears can be worked into breakfast, lunch, dinner or dessert and with a few glugs of brandy (or maybe fresh herbs, or a wee bit of lemon zest….get creative!) you can transform it to fit any occasion.

The recipe happened because our local grocery (The Gourmet Garage) was having a super-sale on heirloom pears.  And guess what?  I’m a sucker for a bargain.  Eight pounds of red and yellow Bartlett, green Anjou, Comice and Forelle pears later, I found myself standing in the kitchen with Will staring at me like I’d lost my marbles.

“Honey, what are you going to do with all of these pears?”  I didn’t have an answer.  And in retrospect, I do not recommend purchasing 8 pounds of any kind of produce for recreational use.  In the end, however, I managed to use each and every one.  Here’s how the Great Pear Conundrum played out:

Paint your heart out

DAY 1: I piled them prettily in various bowls and set the Cezanne-worthy arrangements on every tabletop we’ve got to give our apartment an oh-so heirloom vibe.

DAY 2: We sliced pears for ham, pear and brie grilled cheese sandwiches for dinner. It was like a magic trick.

DAY 2 to DAY 5: I toted a pear-a-day to work for breakfast and ate a pear-a-night for dessert.

DAY 5: The pears are running out of time.  I cored and cut what remained made a big batch of what turns out to be the most versatile recipe EVER.  Hello, Almond Roasted Pears!

Now, when I said versatile, I meant it.  These puppies can garnish pancakes, top waffles, be swirled into yogurt, or stuffed into french toast.  Tender and nutty, these pears are perfect tucked into a turkey sandwich, served over pork tenderloin, or tossed into a green salad.

Pears + Arugula + Almonds + Ricotta Salata = Salad

I’m not done yet!  Use them as pie filling, or right when they emerge from the oven, spoon the warm, gooey slices over a bowlful of vanilla ice cream for a roasted pear sundae.

Melt-Your-Mind Sundae

Almond Roasted Pears

Makes about 2-3 cups of roasted pears

• 2-3 whole pears, cored and sliced
• 1 tablespoon of melted butter
• 1 tablespoon of brown sugar
• 1/4 cup of sliced almonds
• 1 teaspoon of almond extract

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

Mix all the ingredients together in a bowl.  Make sure everything is evenly mixed together.

Pour the entire mixture onto a sheet tray.

Look at that sheet tray. You can definitely pull this off…

Roast for 15-20 minutes or until the pears are softened to your liking.  Serve one out of a million different ways.