Poached Pears with Chocolate and Wine Sauce

Directions

1. Cut small slice from bottom of each peeled pear.
   Combine wine, sugar, lemon juice and cinnamon sticks in large saucepan; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low; add pears. (Pears do not need to be upright.) Simmer, covered, 35 to 45 minutes or until fork-tender, turning pears occasionally so they evenly absorb wine color.

2. Remove pears to platter with slotted spoon, standing them upright. Refrigerate, covered, 1 to 2 hours or until cold. Reserve wine mixture in saucepan.

3. Meanwhile remove and discard cinnamon sticks from wine mixture; bring to a boil. Cook until reduced to about 3/4 cup and mixture coats back of spoon.

4. Combine chocolate and 3 tablespoons hot wine sauce in small bowl, stirring until chocolate is melted.

5. To Serve: Evenly divide remaining wine sauce among 6 serving plates. Place 1 pear upright on each plate; drizzle with 2 teaspoons chocolate-wine sauce. Garnish with lemon peel or walnuts, if desired.

   WINE PAIRING: Sutter Home Zinfandel or Moscato

    

   Recipe & photo curtesy of Sutter Home Winery