Walnut Shortcakes with Baked Quince

To many Americans, quince is a word in an English novel having to do with tea and scones on the lawn. The English are proud defenders of this yellow, bumpy, pear-shaped fruit and heap quince preserves on their scones. Perhaps it is due to my English heritage; but I am a big fan of quince as well. Do not be put off by the fruit’s unripe characteristics—it is pale, tough, bitter, and dry, hardly tantalizing to the palate. But cook it gently in the oven for a couple of hours, and you wi