Pears with Chocolate Sauce and Cracked Black Pepper

• 4 pears, peeled,but left intact,stems and all
• 6 ounces nestle baking chocolate
• 34 cup sugar
• 2 cups water
• 12 cup heavy cream
• 1 12 fluid ounces calvados or 1 12 fluid ounces apple brandy or 1 12 fluid ounces cognac (optional)
• 2 tablespoons butter
• fresh ground black pepper

1. Place water in a medium sized saucepan, add sugar and bring to a boil (to make the syrup).
2. Boil 5 minutes, and then add pears.
3. Boil 10 more minutes (or until tender, but NOT mushy--they should still be firm), gently turning several times.
4. Allow pears to cool to room temperature in the syrup.
5. Heat cream, butter and chocolate over medium heat, stirring constantly until chocolate is disolved.
6. Add a little bit of the syrup from the pears and the liquer and whisk until the sauce has a smooth texture, not too thin.
7. Place pears in serving bowls or dessert cups, and cover with chocolate sauce.
8. Sprinkle with just a bit of freshly ground black pepper.

baking chocolate, sugar, water, heavy cream, calvados, butter, fresh ground black pepper

Taken from www.food.com/recipe/pears-with-chocolate-sauce-and-cracked-black-pepper-51856 (may not work)