Slow Cooker Spiced Poached Pears

• 1-1/2 cups dry red wine or cranberry juice
• 1/3 cup packed brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons dried cherries
• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
• 1 whole star anise
• 1 dried Sichuan peppercorn, optional
• 4 ripe Bosc pears
• 6 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped
• 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
• 2 tablespoons pine nuts
• Fresh blackberries
• Sweetened whipped cream, optional

1. In a 3-qt. slow cooker, mix wine, brown sugar, cherries, cinnamon, star anise and, if desired, peppercorn until blended. Peel and cut pears lengthwise in half. Remove cores, leaving a small well in the center of each. Arrange pears in wine mixture.
2. Cook, covered, on low 4-5 hours or until pears are almost tender. Discard star anise and peppercorn.
3. Place chocolate in a small bowl. In a small saucepan, bring cream just to a boil. Pour over chocolate; stir with a whisk until smooth.
4. To serve, remove pears to dessert dishes; drizzle with some of the poaching liquid. Spoon ganache into wells of pears. Top with pine nuts and blackberries. If desired, serve with whipped cream.

red wine, brown sugar, cherries, ground cinnamon, star anise, peppercorn, pears, bittersweet chocolate, heavy whipping cream, nuts, fresh blackberries, whipped cream

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