Poached Pears

• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 1 cinnamon stick
• Peel from 1/2 orange
• Juice of 1/2 orange
• 8 small pears
• Quick Chocolate Sauce, recipe follows
• 1/3 cup heavy cream
• 2/3 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

1. In a medium saucepan, bring 4 cups water, sugar, cinnamon stick, orange peel, and orange juice to a boil.
2. Peel the pears, leaving the stem intact.
3. Core the pears from the bottom using a corer or vegetable peeler.
4. Add the pears to the simple syrup, and reduce the heat to a simmer.
5. Cook until the pears are tender, but not mushy, about 15 minutes.
6. Chill the pears in the syrup.
7. Place the pear standing up on a dessert plate and drizzle with the chocolate sauce.
8. Place the chocolate chips in a small bowl.
9. Heat the heavy cream to hot, but not boiling in the microwave, about 15 to 20 seconds.
10. Pour over the chocolate chips and let sit undisturbed for 5 minutes.
11. Mix until smooth and serve.

sugar, cinnamon, orange, orange, pears, chocolate sauce, heavy cream, semisweet chocolate chips

Taken from www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/melissa-darabian/poached-pears-recipe.html (may not work)