PEARS POACHED IN TEQUILA WITH PRICKLY PEAR-RASPBERRY SAUCE

Pears Poached in Tequila with Prickly Pear-Raspberry Sauce image

Yield Serves 14

Number Of Ingredients 9

For pears
14Anjou pears, peeled
1quart tequila
1/2 cup sugar
For sauce
112-ounce package frozen unsweetened raspberries, thawed
18-ounce jar prickly pear jelly* or apple jelly
2tablespoons orange liqueur
*Available at specialty foods stores.

Steps:

Make pears:
Using melon baller, remove core from bottom end of pears. Bring tequila and sugar to boil in heavy large saucepan, stirring until sugar dissolves. Add 7 pears. Reduce heat to medium-low. Cover; cook until tip of small knife pierces pears easily, turning occasionally, about 40 minutes. Transfer pears to large bowl. Repeat with remaining pears and poaching liquid. Return all pears to liquid; cool. (Can be made 2 days ahead. Cover; chill.)
Make sauce:
Purée berries, jelly and liqueur in processor. Strain into medium bowl. Cover; chill until cold. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and keep chilled.) Spoon 2 tablespoons sauce onto each plate. Stand 1 pear in center of each.