PEARS IN PORT WINE

Pears in Port Wine image

Yield serves 4. serving size: 1 pear, or if half a pear will satisfy

Number Of Ingredients 5

4 ripe, firm pears
3 cups ruby port wine
1/4 cup sugar
1 jigger (3 tablespoons) Cointreau
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

Steps:

Peel the pears, but leave them whole. With the stem end intact, cut off a thin slice at the bottom so that the pears can stand upright.
In a nonreactive saucepan, bring the port, sugar, and 2 cups water to a boil.
Place the whole pears in the liquid, lower the heat, and simmer, uncovered, for about 35 minutes, turning the pears occasionally, until they are tender.
Remove the pears with a slotted spoon and set aside to cool.
Increase the heat under the saucepan and reduce the liquid by half by boiling vigorously for 20 minutes to a medium-thick syrup. Add the Cointreau and vanilla.
Place the pears upright in a serving dish and spoon the reduced syrup over them. Chill for at least 2 hours before serving.