Poached Pear Fritters

• 1/4 cup orange juice
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• Zest from 1 lemon, removed in thin strips with vegetable peeler
• 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (from 1 lemon)
• 3 Bartlett or Anjou pears (about 1 1/2 pounds), peeled, cut in half lengthwise, and cored
• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 cup beer (not dark)
• 1 large egg, lightly beaten
• 8 to 10 cups vegetable oil
• Confectioners' sugar

1. In large saucepan over moderately high heat, stir together 4 cups water, orange juice, sugar, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Bring to simmer, stirring until sugar dissolves, then add pears, cut sides up, in single layer. Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, until pears are tender but not falling apart, about 15 minutes. Remove from heat and cool pears in poaching liquid. (Pears can be poached ahead and refrigerated in poaching liquid, covered, up to 24 hours. Bring to room temperature before proceeding.)
2. Remove pears from poaching liquid (reserve liquid) and slice lengthwise into 1/4-inch-thick wedges.
3. Strain liquid through fine-mesh sieve into small saucepan. Set over moderate heat and simmer, uncovered, until syrupy and reduced by half, about 10 minutes. Set aside.
4. In large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. In medium bowl, whisk together beer and egg. Whisk wet ingredients into dry.
5. In heavy 6-quart pot over moderately high heat, heat 4 inches of oil until thermometer registers 350u0b0F. Working in batches of 6 and returning oil to 350u0b0F between batches, dip pear wedges into batter, transfer to hot oil, and fry until golden brown, about 2 minutes. Transfer to paper towels to drain.
6. Transfer pears to platter, drizzle with syrup, and dust with confectioners' sugar. Serve immediately.

orange juice, sugar, lemon, lemon juice, bartlett, flour, sugar, baking powder, kosher salt, beer, egg, vegetable oil, confectioners

Taken from www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/poached-pear-fritters-350807 (may not work)