Poached Pears

Whether you’ve got people round for dinner, or you just want to glamorise your evening meal, poached pears is quick and easy, and tastes delicious with ice cream.

Ingredients:
 
·      400ml water
·      140g caster sugar
·      1 cinnamon stick
·      1 vanilla pod, cut in half and seeds scraped out
·      1/2 lemon, juice
·      3-4 ripe pears

Method:

1.    Place all ingredients except the pears in a saucepan, do not turn on heat. Peel the pears, then add to pan. Place onto stove and bring to boil, then reduce to a simmer to cook pears carefully.
2.    Once cooked, remove from heat and let pears cool in the sugar syrup. To check if they are cooked, take a paring knife and push it into the middle of the fruit. If the pears feel soft, they are cooked. They can be served hot or cold.