Pears poached in Red Wine

Pears in red wine are ideal as a standby dessert as they can be made weeks in advance and stored in the fridge, ready to come to the rescue. They are also great sliced into salad with caramelized walnuts to serve with grilled goats cheese or game terrines.

Ingredients:

4 ripe pears
1 bottle of red wine
1 cinnamon stick
zest of 1 lemon
zest of 1 orange
4oz caster sugar

To serve:
8 oz mascarpone
1 tblspn heather honey
1 tblspn chopped toasted hazlnuts

Whip the mascarpone with the honey until stiff. Stir in the nuts and chill.

Method:

1. Peel the pears and scoop out the pips using a teaspoon. Take a small slice off of the base so the pears will stand up.

2. Place the wine, sugar, cinnamon and zests in a saucepan and bring to the boil. Add the pears and enough water to just cover them, reduce the heat and cook gently for ten minutes.

3. Remove the pears to a large bowl. Increase the heat and boil the wine for 20 minutes until it has reduced to a thick'ish syrup. Pour over the pears and chill for at least eight hours, turning the pears now and again so they take on an even deep red color.

To serve, place a pear in a serving bowl and spoon over a litttle syrup. Serve with a scoop of the mascarpone.