During those fall and winter months when pears are in their prime, nothing is more classically French than Red Wine Poached Pears.  As a child eating at Le Petit Chateau in Bernardsville, it was always a toss up between poached pears and Crépes Suzettes, but as a chef, I must admit the former wins for easy preparation every time!  Make sure to buy your pears in advance so they have around a week to ripen on the kitchen counter.  Perfect for dinner parties made in advance or a quick, elegant dinner for two, this vintage classic will always be in style!

Difficulty:

Prep Time:  10 minutes

Cook Time:  25 minutes

Serves 4 people

Ingredients:

4 ea.                    Pears (ripe)

1 bottle (750ml)  Red Table Wine (young & fruity, like Beaujolais)

½ c. (90g)            Honey

½ ea.                   Lemon or Orange, 2” peel + zest for finishing

1 ea.                    Cinnamon Stick

1-2 ea.                 Cloves

½ ea.                   Vanilla Bean

2 Tbsp.               Cassis (optional)

•In a medium sized pot, combine wine, honey, citrus peel, cinnamon stick, cloves and vanilla bean.  Bring to a boil then reduce heat to low.

•Peel pears, leaving stem attached, and trim the bottoms so they sit straight.

•Add pears to simmering wine and poach over low heat for 15-20 minutes, carefully turning from time to time.  *Be careful not to overcook them.

•Allow pears to cool to room temperature, then cover and refrigerate until 30 minutes before serving.