POACHED PEARS WITH ORANGE CREAM

Poached Pears with Orange Cream image

End the meal with a flourish with this easy and elegant dessert. A hint of orange lends just enough sweetness to temper the wine's bold taste. -Julianne Schnuck, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Provided by Taste of Home

Time 55m

Yield 2 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 10

Ingredients

2 firm medium pears
1-1/2 cups water
1 cup dry red wine or red grape juice
1/2 cup sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/4 cup reduced-fat sour cream
2 teaspoons confectioners' sugar
1/2 teaspoon grated orange zest
1/8 teaspoon orange extract
Additional grated orange zest, optional

Steps:

Core pears from bottom, leaving stems intact. Peel pears; cut 1/4 in. from bottom to level if necessary. Place pears on their sides in a large saucepan. Add water, wine, sugar and vanilla. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, covered, turning once, until pears are almost tender, 35-40 minutes. (For more intense flavor and color, leave fruit in cooking liquid and refrigerate overnight.), Meanwhile, combine sour cream, confectioners' sugar, orange zest and extract. Refrigerate until serving., Remove pears with a slotted spoon; pat dry and, if warm, cool to room temperature. Discard cooking liquid. Place pears on dessert plates. Serve with orange cream; if desired, top with additional grated orange zest.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 239 calories, Fat 3g fat (2g saturated fat), Cholesterol 10mg cholesterol, Sodium 23mg sodium, Carbohydrate 46g carbohydrate (36g sugars, Fiber 5g fiber), Protein 3g protein.