Healthy Mediterranean Diet Recipes

 

These arent beets. Theyre pears that have been soaked in wine, sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla.

AND THEY ARE AWESOME.

for grown-ups. not for kids.

My moms friend Carol sent me this recipe, after tasting them at an Inn in Napa, California. I cant get over how easy they were to make, and am slightly kicking myself for not making them earlier (read: before this last baby) when were entertaining much more often.

If youre looking for a dessert for New Years Eve--this is it. Easy Fancy (again!).

serves 6

2 (29-ounce) cans pear halves (I like it that the recipe calls for canned pear halves. They are found year-round, are terribly inexpensive, and you dont have to peel anything. If youd prefer to use "real" ones, try 6 peeled and cored pears)

1 (750-ml) bottle red wine (I used an inexpensive merlot)

1 cup white sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cinnamon stick

2 star anise

6 tablespoons sweetened whipped cream (for garnish, after cooking)

Use a 6-quart slow cooker. Drain pears, and plop them into your empty crock. Add the entire bottle of wine (if you are wearing a new white blouse, itd be a good idea to put on an apron. grrr.). Stir in the sugar, being careful to not break up the pear halves. Add vanilla, and float the cinnamon stick and star anise on top. Cover and cook on low for 5 hours, or on high for about 2.

Serve warm in bowls with a large dollop of whipped cream.

This certainly is a dessert that will warm you up on a cold night. The alcohol DOES NOT COOK AWAY.

Please eat responsibly! :-)

The sugar and vanilla really cut through the harsh bite you sometimes get with red wine--feel free to use an inexpensive table wine (not cooking wine, something youd drink). 

Thank you, Carol, for getting this recipe for us----its wonderful.

I have a Holiday Pear (no alcohol) recipe coming up in the next day or two---I just need to find my notes.

heres the listing of all the slow cooker desserts Ive made on the site. (I think you should make cheesecake......)