Pear Blush Salad

1 package (3 oz) cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup nuts, finely chopped
2 tablespoons maraschino cherries, chopped (include cherry juice)
1 large can (1 lb 14 oz) pear halves, drained (reserve juice)
Red food coloring
Mint leaves

Combine cream cheese, nuts, cherries, and enough juice from pears to soften cheese.  Put 3 or 4 drops of red food coloring into reserved pear juice. Soak the pear halves in this liquid to tint pear pink, 5-10 min. (Bright red for Christmas or Valentines) Put rounded tsp of cream cheese mixture in hollow of each of the pear halves.Cover first halves with tinted halves. Stand pear on bed of lettuce (or lay down) and garnish with mint leaves. Makes 4 servings.