Orange Poached Pears

• 8 whole pears
• 1/2 cup orange juice
• 1/3 cup water
• 1/3 cup packed brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1/2 teaspoon grated orange zest
• 4 ounces German sweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
• 1/4 cup half-and-half cream
• 1 tablespoon butter
• Orange peel strips, optional

1. With an apple corer or sharp knife, carefully remove core from bottom of pears to within 1 in. of stem, leaving pears whole with stem. Peel the pears.
2. In a Dutch oven, combine the orange juice, water, brown sugar, butter and orange zest. Bring to a boil; add pears. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 10-15 minutes or until pears are tender, turning several times. Remove pears and set aside. Simmer cooking juices, uncovered, for 5 minutes or until thickened to a syrup consistency.
3. For chocolate sauce, in a small heavy saucepan over low heat, heat the chocolate, cream and butter until chocolate is melted; stir until smooth. Spoon pear syrup into dessert dishes; place a pear in each dish and drizzle with chocolate sauce. Garnish with orange peel if desired.

pears, orange juice, water, brown sugar, butter, orange zest, sweet chocolate, cream, butter, peel strips

Taken from www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/orange-poached-pears/ (may not work)