Flaming Pears Melba - cooking recipe

Ingredients

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

Preparation

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