Heat the oven to 375º.

Butter an 8-cup round baking dish.

To make fresh bread crumbs, cut the crusts off slices of plain white bread. Place the slices of bread in a food processor, and pulse just until the bread is broken into crumbs. Keep fresh breadcrumbs covered and refrigerated for up to one week.

In a large bowl combine the brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and pears. Stir the mixture so the ingredients are combined.

Layer half of the pear mixture in the bottom of the baking dish.

Then layer half of the breadcrumbs on top of the pear layer.

Put half of the butter on top of the breadcrumbs.

Repeat the layering process with a layer of the pear mixture, the remaining breadcrumbs and the remaining butter.

Bake for 1 hour or until the crust is golden and bubbling.

Serve the Betty warm with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.