This is a simple, elegant dessert that’s EASY to prepare. Adding your favorite spices enhances the flavors. Remember to always use a good red wine when you are poaching the pears. An important rule of thumb is: “Always cook with wine that you will drink and serve to your guests!”

Ingredients
6 peeled, cored, and sliced pears (Bosc or Anjou)
2 cups of red wine
1/2 cups of granulated sugar
1 lemon, juiced and lemon zest of the lemon (don’t waste anything, as my mother and nanna would say)
Dark chocolate shavings (sinful)
Mascarpone or a scoop of vanilla ice cream (use your favorite)

Preparation
Combine all the ingredients, except pears, and bring to a boil. Turn heat down to a low and add the pears. Simmer pears for 20 minutes and turn them occasionally to combine all of the flavors. Poke the pears at twenty minutes, until they are tender. Remove pears and let them cool.
Boil wine sauce until the liquid has been reduced by half. Pour sauce over pears and serve with a tsp. of either Mascarpone ice cream. Drizzle dark chocolate shavings and serve. Perfect with a dessert wine!

Maria’s Tip: I’ve used oranges and cinnamon as another option with orange liqueur!

a presto,
Maria