Perfect Poached Pears

serves 6

ingredients

• 6 pears

• 2 bottles late harvest riesling

• 1 vanilla pod

• 1/2 cup white sugar

• 1 small jar truffle honey*

• 1 tubs of mascarpone

method

• Pour the wine in a big pot and add the sugar

• Split and scrape the vanilla pod and place the scrapings into the pot

• Peel the pears and place them into the pot. You want to be covered with the wine and they should fit snugly in the pot

• Cook over a low heat for 1½ hours

• Leave to cool

• Strain the liquid through a fine muslin or a new fine dish cloth - that’s what I use

• Cut each pear in half lengthways and serve with drizzle of truffle honey and a big dollop of mascarpone

• Place the liquid in a bowl in the middle of the table to share. It is sweet and syrupy and delicious

*The truffle honey is sold at specialty shops. It is earthy and sweet at the same time and goes so well with the pear and mascarpone to give a very unique taste sensation

PS: I keep aside a chilled glass of the riesling to sip while I’m creating this great dessert