This is one of those multi-purpose dishes. It works equally well as a side dish with baked chicken or as a quick snack at bedtime. Add some chopped walnut for a bit of extra crunch if you want to use it as a dessert.

Cooking for one or two

1/2 medium pear
1 tbsp. dried cranberries
pinch orange peel
1 1/2 tbsp. brown sugar
1/8 tsp. cinnamon (1-2 shakes)
1/4 tbsp. butter (3-4 thin curls)

Family Size

1 medium pear
2 tbsp. dried cranberries
1/8 tsp. orange peel
3 tbsp. brown sugar
1/4 tsp. cinnamon (2-3 shakes)
1/2 tbsp. butter (4-5 thin curls)

Dice pear into bite size pieces. Place in round, microwave-safe baking dish. Sprinkle pears with cranberries, orange peel, brown sugar and cinnamon. Slice thin curls of butter and drop randomly on top of the pears.

Place dish in microwave and cook on high 30-45 seconds until butter has melted. Stir pears briefly to thoroughly incorporate butter. Return dish to microwave and cook for 2 minutes and 45 seconds, until pears are warm through, but not mushy.

Serve warm.