Vanilla-Pear Muffins

To grind nuts, use a hand-cranked nut grinder or process in a food processor using short pulses to yield a coarse, crumbly texture. If using a food processor, take care not to overprocess the nuts into a smooth paste, which will release their oils and diminish their flavor. For best results, combine the nuts with a little of the flour or sugar called for in the recipe and process for no longer than 5 to 10 seconds at a time.