For a delicious appetizer, serve this sweet sauce with cheese. Toasted walnuts, pear slices, and fresh sage leaves make a pretty (and tasty) garnish.

• 3 large ripe pears, cored and cut in 1-inch pieces (about 1½ pounds total)
• 1 Tablespoon butter, melted
• 2 Tablespoons honey
• 1½ teaspoons lemon juice
• 1½ teaspoons snipped fresh sage
• Toasted walnuts
• Pear Slices (optional)
• Fresh sage leaves (optional)

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Place pear pieces in shallow roasting pan. Toss with melted butter. Roast, uncovered, for 20 to 25 minutes or until pears are tender, stirring once or twice. Cool 5 minutes.
2. Transfer pears to a large bowl; add honey and lemon juice. Use immersion blender to blend pear mixture until almost smooth. Stir in snipped fresh sage.
3. Serve warm pear sauce topped with walnuts, pear slices, and fresh sage leaves.

Makes 12 (¼ cup) servings sauce.

Storage: Store leftover sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 3 days or in the freezer up to 3 months. To serve, thaw in the refrigerator, if frozen. Transfer to a small saucepan and heat through over medium heat.