Fresh Gingerbread With Port

Ingredients

1/4 c lemon juice
8 firm but ripe pears w
4 ruby port
2 c sugar
2 cinnamon sticks
1 vanilla bean
1/4 c ginger
1/2 tb sugar
2 5/8 c all purpose flour
1 1/4 ts baking soda
1 tb ginger
2 ts cinnamon
3/4 ts dry mustard powder
1 c butter
3/4 c firmly packed dk brown sugar
3/8 c unsulfured
3/8 c strong brewed coffee
4 eggs
1 c buttermilk
2 tb powdered sugar
1/2 ts vanilla extract
1/4 ts ginger
1 day
2 1/2 tablespoons sugar in bowl
1 at a time
2 1/2 squares
1 cake
1 pear on
8 plates

Instructions

Spoon some syrup over each pear. Spoon dollop of whipped cream alongside.