Duck Breast with Oven-Roasted Pear Sauce Roasting pears brings out marvelous flavor. You should look for fruit that is barely ripe and still quite firm. Makes 4 servings.
	Ingredients: 2 Bartlett or Anjou pears, peeled, cored, and halved 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon 1 tablespoon sugar Kosher salt Butter-flavored cooking spray 1 boneless duck breast (2 halves,) about 30 ounces with skin 1/2 teaspoon aromatic pepper (see tip) 2 tablespoons minced shallots 1/4 cup pear brandy or a richly flavored chardonnay 2/3 cup Chicken Stock 1/4 teaspoon arrowroot or cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons Chicken Stock
	Instructions: 1. Preheat oven to 500°F. Cut pear halves crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick slices. Combine cinnamon, sugar, and 1 teaspoon of salt in a mixing bowl. Add pear slices and toss well. Spray an ovenproof skillet with cooking spray. Add pear slices and spray with cooking spray. Cook in the oven 20 minutes, turning once, or until tender. 2. Meanwhile, remove skin from duck, reserving half of the skin. Cut breast halves into 4 equal pieces total, about 4 to 5 ounces for each piece. Put breast pieces between sheets of foil, butcher paper, or plastic wrap. Pound with a meat pounder or the side of a cleaver to half of their original thickness. Season both sides with salt and aromatic pepper. 3. Heat a large skillet over high heat until a drop of water instantly evaporates on its surface. Add duck skin and lower heat to medium low. Cook, covered, 5 minutes. Discard skin, pour off all but a thin haze of duck fat and put pan over medium-high heat. When pan smokes add duck breast pieces. Cook 3 minutes on each side for medium rare. Remove and keep warm. 4. Add shallots to the same skillet and lower heat to medium. Cook until shallots soften, about 2 minutes. Add pear brandy and stir a minute. Add pears, Chicken Stock,(popup) and arrowroot mixture. Cook a few minutes, until sauce thickens slightly. 5. Cut each duck breast piece into 5 to 6 slices on the diagonal. Fan slices on 4 plates, and put pear sauce on the side. Cooking Tip Aromatic pepper is equal amounts of fresh ground allspice berries and black peppercorns.

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