Dee-lightful Pears

How to soften a bag of stubborn pears and create some Dee-lightful Pears to enjoy

Ingredients:

• 1.5kg pack of pears
• 400 ml cold Rooibos Tea or tea of choice, not herbal.
• OR water
• 250ml raisins
• 250ml dates, stoned
• 2 large cinnamon sticks, break in half
• 5ml whole pimento
• Four/five cardamom pods
• Two/three Star anise

Method:

1. Peel pears, leave stalk in situ
2. Arrange in a saucepan large enough to accommodate pears upright.
3. Arrange the raisins, dates, and spices between the fruit.
4. Pour in the liquid of choice
5. (I use thick-bottomed stainless steel pots which retain heat)
6. Heat slowly until liquid boils. Turn off the heat and cover the pot with a thick towel to prevent heat loss; the pears will continue to cook.
7. Ready when a toothpick can pierce with some effort.
8. Do not overcook.
9. Serve as it is with the cooking liquid or cream.
10. Delicious hot or cold.

Prepared by Dee