Poached Pears In Red Wine Sauce

Photo: flickr user stu_spivack

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups Dry red wine

1/2 cup Orange juice

cup Sugar

1/4 cup Fresh lemon juice

1 Cinnamon stick

4 Bosc pears

1/2 cup Chilled whipping cream

1 tablespoon Cognac **

1 tablespoon Sugar

Preparation

Combine wine, orange juice, sugar, lemon juice and cinnamon stick in large, heavy saucepan. Bring to boil over medium heat, stirring until sugar dissolves. Remove from heat.

Peel pears, leaving stems intact. Cut small slice off the bottom of each pear so it will stand upright. Arrange pears on their sides in saucepan.

Cover and simmer until pears are tender but still hold their shape, turning once, about 15 minutes per side. Using a slotted spoon, transfer pears to upright position in glass baking dish.

Boil cooking liquid until reduced to approximately 1/2 cup, about 9 minutes. Watch carefully to make sure liquid is not reduced too far. Pour into small bowl, cover and chill sauce and pears separately until cold, at least 2 hours or up to one day.*

Beat cream in large bowl until soft peaks form. Add Cognac** and sugar and beat until stiff peaks form.

Transfer pears to upright position on serving plates. Spoon on red wine sauce and top with whipped cream.

* I have served this hot before and it is quite good.** Actually just about any liqueur will do. I particularly like the results I have had using Amaretto.