I could feel a sudden change of weather. We have had kind of wet and stormy weather for the past 2 weeks or so? It rained again yesterday, which was horrible. Not only was the rain that made me feel miserable but the continuous strong gust of wind that was powerful enough to break lots of umbrellas out there! We no longer have double digits of temperature. I am not optimistic about the weather, it is unsettled, the temperature will continue to drop to 2 °C or 1°C, then to below 0°C. However, I could already feel the taste of Christmas. The reds and the greens, lights, Christmas decorations, presents, food, wine, and perhaps snow?
Pears are abundant at the moment. I like the idea of serving poached fruits as dessert. The summer that has passed, I made Peach Melba served with Vanilla ice cream. Since then, I started to pay more attention to desserts that are using the method of poaching. White wine poached pear is just another variation of poached pears desserts. The other one is using red wine, which is as good. I made white wine poached pears yesterday and I thought it was perfect for winner nights in December. It was so good that I had 2 (Ooops!). I don’t know it was because of the weather that made me feel that I needed to eat something like this to warm my body instead of having other kind of desserts after dinner.
Any kind of pears can be used in this recipe. The flavour is so good even if the ingredients are mainly made up of sugar, cinnamon and vanilla. I love cinnamon, the smell of cinnamon is just so special that I don’t only use them in dessert but in cooking main dishes too, especially stew. Good thing about poached pears is that you can make extras and refrigerate them, covered in the thicken poaching liquid in a deep glass dish for several days. They taste even better after!
By the way, we are only 2 days away before the giveaways of Dorset Cereals ends! If you haven’t left a comment to enter the lucky draw, please do so now by clicking on this link.
Recipe: White Wine Poached Pears
Ingredients:
Soft light brown sugar, 75g
White dessert wine, 375ml
Cinnamon sticks, 2
Vanilla pod, 1
Ripe pears, (peeled, cored if desired), 6
Method:
1. Place the sugar, dessert wine, cinnamon sticks and vanilla pod in a pot and simmer for 5 minutes. Add the pears into the pot, turning gently to coat with cooking liquid and simmer for 20 minutes or until the pears are soft but not mushy.
2. Strain the pears and let them cool. Remove cinnamon sticks and the vanilla pod.
3. Return the cooking liquid to the saucepan and reduce in volume by simmering.
4. To serve, place the pears in the middle of individual plates and spoon over the reduced cooking liquid.
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December 1st, 2009 at 10:33 pm
Pears look awesome – and I love poached pears…its so winter. p.s. gusty winds rendered two umbrellas useless for me last week!
December 1st, 2009 at 10:32 pm
Here too the weather is awful: wind and rain all the day (and all the 3 past weeks!). I love staying home for cooking and preparing hot meals. Your pears are a good idea for christmas: tasty and flavoured! why not with a chocolate sauce?
December 1st, 2009 at 10:32 pm
I love the picture. Those pears look delicious!!
Nisrine
December 2nd, 2009 at 2:44 am
Oh, the pears are just perfect! Beautifully poached … not a single blemish on the fruit. So pretty!
December 2nd, 2009 at 10:13 am
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December 2nd, 2009 at 10:46 am
this looks very elegant!
December 2nd, 2009 at 2:46 pm
Wow…this sure look great!!!! Great idea for coming festive party
December 2nd, 2009 at 4:45 pm
Haven't tried poached pears before. But your stunning shot makes me craving for one now…..
December 2nd, 2009 at 10:30 pm
Thanks! It's definitely a good way to serve dessert.
December 2nd, 2009 at 10:33 pm
You should give it a try. Thanks for your compliment..
December 2nd, 2009 at 10:19 pm
Thanks! Pears poached in wine always reminds me of winter..
When it's too windy, I tend not to carry umbrella at all but put on my rain coat and my wellies instead.
December 2nd, 2009 at 10:22 pm
Novembre il fait mauvais! I also love staying at home and cook…
Yes, chocolate sauce is definitely a good idea.. I didn't have any cooking chocolate… but will make sure I do it with next time!!
December 2nd, 2009 at 10:25 pm
Thank you for your comment!
December 2nd, 2009 at 10:27 pm
Ju,
Thanks!!
December 2nd, 2009 at 10:27 pm
Thanks!!
December 2nd, 2009 at 10:30 pm
Thanks! It's definitely a good way to serve dessert.
December 3rd, 2009 at 2:03 pm
Simple and yet satisfying … Love French desserts & pastries!!
Pei-Lin
December 4th, 2009 at 7:30 pm
Peh-Lin,
I love French desserts and pastries too
December 4th, 2009 at 9:48 pm
Iit's beautiful present!! I saw mark bittman make the same pear in poach ..wonder how it's taste!
December 5th, 2009 at 1:01 pm
a beautiful and luxurious dessert =)
December 5th, 2009 at 1:11 pm
So beautiful…I know..horrible horrible weather, the temp just goes up and down and it's so unpredictable these days.
December 5th, 2009 at 11:25 pm
so beautifully elegant – I also adore cinnamon, and I think poached pears the most guilt-free but still delicious dessert you can have.
December 6th, 2009 at 4:06 pm
Oh you are a weather complainer just like me
perfect food for such weather, very pretty dish!
December 7th, 2009 at 8:09 pm
Thanks!
December 7th, 2009 at 8:10 pm
The temp is just so unpredictable! It rains most of the time.. guess I should probably start thinking to wear my wellington boots to work.. LOL!
December 7th, 2009 at 8:10 pm
I totally agree with you! Thanks for dropping by!
December 7th, 2009 at 8:11 pm
Really?? Hi-5!! We like to moan about the weather, don't we? When it rains, we complain. We it's too hot or too cold, we do the same?!
December 8th, 2009 at 7:56 am
Yeah that's me!! haha!! After the heat wave we had in Nov, now we are having cold wet days
December 8th, 2009 at 8:41 pm
hahhaa.. human beings
December 17th, 2009 at 7:35 pm
Don't usually see white wine poached pears – they're normally done in red wine. I know that's not groundbreaking, but it'll be a nice change for me to try this.
December 18th, 2009 at 11:11 pm
Give it a try