Spiced Poached Pears With Burnt Sugar Ice Cream

1 c White wine

1 c Water

1/2 c Sugar

Zest of 1 orange, julienned Zest of 1 lemon, julienned Juice of 2 lemons Juice of 2 oranges 2 Whole cloves

2 Cinnamon sticks

4 sl Fresh ginger

6 Peppercorns

1 Vanilla bean

4 Under-ripe pears, peeled,

-cored Burnt Sugar lee Cream (see -recipe) Combine the wine, water, sugar, citrus zest and juice, cloves, cinnamon, ginger, peppercorns and vanilla bean in a heavy saucepan. Bring to a boil, add pears, then reduce heat so the liquid barely bubbles. Cook for 15 minutes, or until the pears are tender. If pears aren't completely submerged in liquid, turn them every few minutes so they will cool evenly. When the pears are tender, remove from liquid and set aside. Reduce liquid to 1 cup over high heat. Return pears to liquid and let cool completely. Before serving, warm the pears in their liquid over moderate heat. Place a warm pear on a chilled plate; spoon some poaching liquid over the top. Place a scoop of ice cream next to the pear and top with a few threads of julienned zest from the sauce. Serves 4. PER SERVING: (with 2 tablespoons poaching liquid per pear): 630 calories, 8 g protein, 78 g carbohydrate, 31 g fat (17 saturated), 305 mg cholesterol, 110 mg sodium, 4 g fiber.

From an article by Andrew Schloss in the San Francisco Chronicle, 11/11/92.

Posted by Stephen Ceideberg; February 23 1993.