Fresh pear Crumb Pudding

Ingredients

6 winter pears, peeled, cored, and thinly sliced
2 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground allspice
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup sifted all-purpose flour
1/4 cup butter or margarine
1/2 cup chopped nuts
1/2 cup fine dry bread crumbs

Instructions

Place pears in 1 1/2-quart casserole. Combine next 4 ingredients and toss lightly with pears. Mix brown sugar and flour. Add 2 tablespoons of the butter and cut in until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add nuts and sprinkle over pears. Dot with remaining butter. Top with fine bread crumbs. Bake in preheated moderate oven (350F.) for 30 minutes, or until pears are tender and top is brown. Makes 6 to 8 servings.