Poached Pears

This one is a traditional Dutch dessert. It’s usually eaten warm or cold with ice cream or a little bit of whipped cream.

Ingredients:
– 1 kg small poaching pears
– 3 cloves
– 1 piece of lemon rind
– 2 cinnamon sticks
– 100gr soft brown sugar
– 200ml red wine
– 100ml orange liqueur
– 1 tbs potato flour or arrowroot flour
– Some water

Directions:
– Peel the pears and leave them whole, with the stem intact.
– Put the pears, lemon rind, cinnamon sticks, cloves and sugar in a large pan.
– Add the red wine and liqueur, add enough water just to cover the pears.
– Cover and bring to boil and simmer for 2.5 hours until the pears are tender.
– Discard the lemon rind and cinnamon sticks, lift the pears carefully out of the pan and arrange in a nice platter.
– In a cup combine the potato flour with a little pear juice and return to the pan, stirring bring to the boil.
– Reduce the heat and simmer to a smooth, thick sauce.
– Pour the sauce over the poached pears.

Source: Adapted from Book “Dutch Cooking Today”