Red Wine Poached Pears

How to make it

1. 1

   Peel the firm Western pears, leaving the stems on. Slice a thin piece off the bottom so they stand up in the pot.

2. 2

   Put the red wine, orange juice, sugar, and ground cinnamon in a pot and stir until the sugar dissolves.

3. 3

   Add the pears; once it starts to boil, turn the heat down as low as it goes.

4. 4

   Simmer with the lid slightly ajar for about 1 hour, turning the pears now and then so the wine syrup soaks in evenly.

5. 5

   Lift the pears out once they are tender. Reduce the syrup a little more until it is as thick as you like.

6. 6

   Cool the pears in the syrup, then let them rest in the refrigerator and serve them cold or lukewarm.

You can fix this

If it hasn't burned or stuck to the pan, it can still be fixed.

• If the batter or cream is stiff, add milk a little at a time; if it is loose, add flour the same way. Once it has set, it cannot be adjusted.