Recipe - Cranberry Poached Pears

4 Firm; ripe pears, peeled,
stems left on
3 cup Cranberry cocktail juice (up
to 4)
One fourth cup Dried cranberries
One half cup Sugar

Preparation time: 10 minutes Cooking time: 25 minutes Yield: 4 servings
From Abby Mandel. Special to the Tribune. (Copyright) 1997, Abby Mandel.
Firm, ripe pears are key here. When pears are too hard, they seldom have
flavor. It's best to core the pears after they are poached to help them
keep their shape during cooking.

1. Put 3 cups cranberry juice, dried cranberries and sugar in saucepan just
large enough to hold pears upright in a snug fit. Heat to a boil; simmer,
uncovered, 10 minutes.

2. Stand pears in cranberry liquid. Add remaining juice if pears are not
submerged. Simmer, uncovered, until just tender but still intact, about 6
to 15 minutes depending on ripeness. Remove from heat; transfer pears to a
container that holds them snugly. Pour liquid into 10inch skillet.

3. Boil liquid, uncovered, over high heat until syrupy and reduced to about
Three fourths cup, about 10 to 12 minutes. Pour over pears. Let cool to room
temperature. Refrigerate until chilled or up to 3 days.

4. To serve, remove core through base of pear with the small end of melon
baller if desired. Cut flat bottoms so pears will stay upright. Stand pears
on shallow dessert plates. Spoon syrup and cranberries over, dividing
evenly. Serve.

Nutritional information (per serving): 325 calories, 83 g carbohydrates, 1
g protein, 1 g fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 5 mg sodium.

Posted to TNT Prodigy's Recipe Exchange Newsletter by Roserairie@aol.com
on Nov 10, 1997