Joan'S Pear Tart - cooking recipe

Ingredients

Crust
1/2 cup butter
1/3 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon vanilla
3/4 cup flour
2/3 cup finely chopped pecans
Filling
8 ounces cream cheese
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 (29 ounce) can pear halves in natural juice, drained
2 -4 tablespoons cinnamon sugar
whipped cream (to garnish) (optional)

Preparation

Beat the first 4 ingredients together until well blended and then add the pecans to the mixture and mix well.
Press into an 11 inch round tart pan (use the one with a removable bottom for best presentation).
Beat together the cream cheese, sugar, eggs and vanilla for the filling and pour over the crust.
Arrange the drained pear halves in a pretty design on top and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar.
Bake at 450 degrees for 10 minutes and then turn the heat down to 400 degrees and bake for an additional 25 minutes.
Remove side from tart pan to serve.
Serve warm and if desired garnish with whipped cream.