Cooking time: 20-25 minutes
ingredients
serves 4
2 1/2 cups water
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 vanilla pod
4 cloves
4 ripe dessert pears, peeled
for the sauce
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 1/4 cups milk
2 ounce semi-sweet chocolate (squares)
2 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon butter
method
1. Put the water and sugar in a saucepan and heat stirring to dissolve the sugar. Add the vanilla pod and cloves.
2. Cut a small slice from the base of each pear to make it flat. Stand the pears in the pan, cover and poach for 15 - 20 minutes or until tender.
3. Drain the pears and stand in a serving dish. Cool, then chill for 30 minutes.
4. For the sauce, mix the starch with a little of the milk to make a paste. Put the rest of the milk in a saucepan with the chocolate and sugar.
5. Heat gently, stirring to melt the chocolate and dissolve the sugar. Pour a little of this hot liquid onto the cornstarch mixture, then add to the pan. Cook, stirring, until thickened.
6. Beat in the butter in small pieces. Remove the sauce from the heat and pour over the pears.
7. Serve immediately.
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