Poached Pears

I usually avoid fruit desserts. They are naughty things pretending to be healthy. I'd much rather eat something healthy pretending to be naughty. Hence the drunken pears. They feel so naughty as you glug in the red wine, but we all know what happens to alcohol when you cook it down. Sure, there's a little added sugar, but if you leave the double cream off, then this cheeky little number isn't really that bad at all, especially compared to a fruit flan or pina colada. And as easy as whipping up a cocktail...

Ingredients

• 4 pears, peeled
• 1 cinnamon quill
• 1 star anise
• 250ml rich red wine (eg. Aussie Shiraz)
• 250ml water
• 1 tablespoon golden syrup (or brown sugar)

Instructions

1. plonk all in a pot with a lid, and bake in a 170℃ (340℉) for an hour, turning once.