Cranberry Poached Pears - cooking recipe

Ingredients

2 cups cranberry juice
1/4 cup orange juice
1/2 cup sugar
1 stick cinnamon
1 star anise (optional)
4 firm ripe pears
1/2 cup fresh cranberries

Preparation

Put the cranberry juice, orange juice and sugar in a saucepan large enough to hold the pears. Heat gently to dissolve the sugar. Add the cinnamon and star anise, if using, and boil for 5 minutes.
Peel the pears and immediately stand them in the pan with the cranberry syrup. Cover and simmer gently for 40 minutes, or until the pears are cooked and soft through to the center when pierced with a skewer.
Remove from the heat and leave to cool completely in the syrup. Chill for 2 hours or overnight, occasionally turning the pears in the syrup to achieve an even color.
Remove the pears from the pan and bring the cranberry syrup to the boil for 20 minutes, or until reduced to a thick syrup. Add the fresh cranberries and simmer for a further 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and set aside until competely cooled.
Place the pears on a plate with the cranberries and pour the sauce over and around them.