Flaming Pears Melba

• 4 (15 ounce) cans pear halves, drained, reserving syrup
• 1 (3 ounce) package cream cheese, room temperature
• 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup walnuts, finely chopped
• 1/4 cup water, cold
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 1 (10 ounce) package frozen raspberries, thawed
• 1/4 cup brandy

1. Place 12 pear halves, cut side down on paper towels.
2. For the filling, combine cream cheese, sugar & enough reserved pear syrup to make a spreadable filling.
3. Add walnuts, & stir to mix well.
4. Spread 1 tablespoon of filling onto the FLAT surface of each pear.
5. Press together each set of two halves to make 6 'whole' pears.
6. For the sauce, in saucepan, blend cold water & cornstarch, then add thawed raspberries.
7. Cook & stir until thick.
8. Run cooked raspberries through a fine sieve to remove seeds. Keep warm.
9. When ready to serve, preheat 1/4 cup brandy.
10. Pour brandy on top of warm raspberry sauce, then ignite with LONG match.
11. Immediately, & with a long-handled dipper, spoon flaming sauce over pears, & serve.

pear halves, cream cheese, sugar, walnuts, water, cornstarch, frozen raspberries, brandy

Taken from www.food.com/recipe/flaming-pears-melba-286219 (may not work)