Poached Spiced Pears

• 5 None black peppercorns, cracked
• 2 None star anise, cracked
• 2 None cardamom pods, bruised
• 3 cups cranberry and apple juice
• 2/3 cup dry red wine
• 1 None lemon, zested and juiced
• 1 None cinnamon stick
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 4 None pears, peeled
• 1 tbsp granulated sugar

1. Lightly crush black peppercorns, star anise and cardamom with a mortar and pestle. Transfer to a large saucepan along with cranberry and apple juice, red wine, lemon zest, lemon juice, cinnamon stick and vanilla. Bring to a boil then reduce heat and add pears. Simmer, covered, for 25-30 mins, or until tender. Let pears cool in syrup. Remove pears from syrup. Set aside.
2. Strain 1/2 the syrup into a saucepan along with sugar. Heat, stirring, until sugar dissolves. Bring to a boil then reduce heat and simmer for 8-10 mins, until syrup thickens. Serve pears hot or cold with syrup.

black peppercorns, anise, cardamom pods, cranberry, dry red wine, lemon, cinnamon stick, vanilla, sugar

Taken from recipes-plus.com/api/v2.0/recipes/32189 (may not work)