Perfect Pear-ings

For another easy dessert, hollow out the bottoms of your poached pears and fill them with vanilla ice cream or mascarpone cheese. But poached pears’ silky texture and light sweetness aren’t just for after dinner. Here are some suggestions for light and delectable fare:

Slice poached pears and place them alongside fresh ricotta cheese and spicy salami, pepperoni, or rich prosciutto.

Cut poached pears in half lengthwise, remove cores, and slice lengthwise, leaving an inch at the stem end uncut. Separate the slices and fan them out. Place the fanned pears on top of your favorite salad or next to roast duck or pork for a dramatic twist.

Add a few poached pears to your next batch of pancakes — they’ll wake you up and get your day off to a delicious start.