Pears Poached in Red Wine and Cardamom

Ingredients

• 4 pears
• firm
• but not soft
• with stems
• 2 12 cups water
• 2 12 cups local red wine (full-bodied)
• 12 cup local honey
• 1 teaspoon cardamom
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 2 ounces walnuts
• 2 ounces blue cheese
• crumbles

Instructions

1. Start with the pears; cut the bottom so they can stand in the pot to poach.
2. Peel from stem down, to avoid cutting the stem.
3. Place all 4 pears in a medium saucepan.
4. Add water, wine, honey, cardamom, and cinnamon stick.
5. Bring to a boil then simmer until pears are soft but bet still hold their shape.
6. Depending the firmness of the pear, this should take 30-40 minutes.
7. Remove the pears and let cool in the refrigerator.
8. Remove the cinnamon stick and bring the liquid to a boil until it reduces to about 3/4 and starts to caramelize.
9. For serving, place pear on a plate, drizzle the wine reduction over the top of the pear and let it run down the sides.
10. Garnish with walnuts and crumbled blue cheese.