Red Wine Poached Pears

Red Wine Poached Pears

Serves 4

3 cups red wine (any red you like to drink will do)
¼ cup sugar
2 whole star anise
1 cinnamon stick
Pinch of salt
4 pears, preferably ripe but still slightly firm
2 tablespoons corn syrup or honey (optional)

In a heavy-bottomed sauce pot, combine the wine, sugar,
star anise, cinnamon stick, and salt. Bring to a simmer.

Peel the pears, leaving the stems intact. Trim the bottoms
Slightly so the pears stand up evenly in the pan. Submerge
the pears in the liquid. Keeping the wine barely at a simmer,
cook the pears for about 20 minutes, or until tender.
Remove the pears from the liquid.

Turn the heat to high and reduce the cooking liquid by
about half, until it is syrupy. As the wine is reducing, taste for sweetness.
If it isn’t sweet enough, add corn syrup or honey.

Serve the pears warm or chilled, with the syrup.