Mexican Poached Guavas - cooking recipe

Ingredients

3 lbs ripe guavas
1 1/3 cups sugar
1 cinnamon stick (4 inches long)
8 cloves
2 strips lime zest (green only-2 inches long by 1 inch wide)
2 teaspoons fresh lime juice
1/4 teaspoon vanilla (if using Mexican Vanilla-1/2 t. for \"regular\")

Preparation

Peel guavas, cut in half, scoop out the seedy center and leave the shells.
Set aside.
In a large saucepan combine the sugar, cinnamon, cloves, zest, juice and 2 1/2 cups water.
Simmer and stir.
cover and simmer 20 minutes.
Uncover, strain, return syrup to pan and bring to temp over medium heat.
Add the fruit.
Poach to tender but firm.
Around 8 minutes.
Remove fruit and boil the syrup to reduced to 1 cup.
Remove, stir in vanilla and pour over fruit-cool and serve.