Moscato-Poached Pears

6-8 servings

Ingredients

• 1 (750-ml) bottle Moscato wine
• 2 cups simple syrup
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 1/4 cup fresh ginger, peeled and finely chopped
• 1 whole vanilla bean
• 6-8 ripe Anjou pears, peeled, halved and cored

Directions

1. Place the wine, cinnamon, honey and ginger in a large saucepan. Scrape in the seeds from the vanilla bean and add everything to the pot (beans, seeds and all). Bring it to a simmer, until the honey has melted. Add the pears and simmer for 15-20 minutes, turning occasionally. Once the pears are tender, remove them from the mixture and allow to cool. Continue to simmer the liquid until it thickens and is reduced by half, about 15- 20 minutes. Cool to room temperature. Remove the vanilla bean and cinnamon sticks. Drizzle the sauce over the pears before serving. A little vanilla ice cream or gelato is a very good companion to the pears.

recipe from: Cooking with Chef Brian Keegan