Chocolate Pears

2 cups water
3/4 cups sugar
2 Tbs. Lemon juice
1 (3" long) Cinnamon stick
4 firm Bosc pears (1 3/4 lbs.)

CHOCOLATE SAUCE 
1/4 cup half-half
1/2 cup sugar
2 squares (1-oz. size) Unsweetend Chocolate
2 Tbs. butter or margine 
1 tsp. almond extract

1. In a two quart microwave safe casserole, mix water, 3/4 cup sugar, lemon 
juice, and cinnamon.  Microwave, covered, at HIGH (100% power) 4 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, leaving stems on, pare pears; then core them through bottom.
Cut thin slice off each bottom so pears will stand up.  Place pears in hot syrup
turning to coat with syrup.  Microwave, covered at HIGH 10 minutes, turning
pears in syrup after 5 minutes and rotating dish.  Let pears cool in syrup; 
chill 2 hours or overnight.
3.  Before serving, make sauce:  In a medium-size glass bowl, mix half and half
and sugar.  Microwave, uncovered, at HIGH 2 minutes, stirring after 1 minute. 
Add chocolate; microwave at HIGH 30 seconds.  Stir until chocolate is melted.
Stir in butter until melted, then extract.  Spoon 2 tablespoons sauce onto
each serving plate; top with pear.  Spoon 1 tablespoon sauce over each.
Makes 4 servings; 484 calories per serving.