Pears with Filberts(Serves 4; Working Time: 30 Minutes)

Preheat the oven to 375°.

Spread the nuts in a single layer in a small cake pan or a roasting pan.

Toast the nuts in the oven for 10 minutes.

Test a nut for doneness by rubbing it in a clean kitchen towel; the skin should come off easily.

When the nuts are done, wrap them in the towel and rub off their skin.

Let the nuts cool to room temperature.

Put the nuts, brown sugar and butter into a food processor or a blender and process them just until the nuts are coarsely chopped.

Set the mixture aside.

Preheat the broiler.

Peel the pears, then halve them lengthwise and core them, rubbing them with the lemon half as you work to prevent discoloration.

Arrange the pear halves, cored side up, in a large, shallow baking dish.

Moisten the pears with the lemon juice and sprinkle the filbert mixture over them.

Broil the pears until the topping browns and bubbles, about two minutes.