Poached Spiced Pears - cooking recipe

Ingredients

5 None black peppercorns, cracked
2 None star anise, cracked
2 None cardamom pods, bruised
3 cups cranberry and apple juice
2/3 cup dry red wine
1 None lemon, zested and juiced
1 None cinnamon stick
1 tsp vanilla extract
4 None pears, peeled
1 tbsp granulated sugar

Preparation

Lightly crush black peppercorns, star anise and cardamom with a mortar and pestle. Transfer to a large saucepan along with cranberry and apple juice, red wine, lemon zest, lemon juice, cinnamon stick and vanilla. Bring to a boil then reduce heat and add pears. Simmer, covered, for 25-30 mins, or until tender. Let pears cool in syrup. Remove pears from syrup. Set aside.
Strain 1/2 the syrup into a saucepan along with sugar. Heat, stirring, until sugar dissolves. Bring to a boil then reduce heat and simmer for 8-10 mins, until syrup thickens. Serve pears hot or cold with syrup.