POACHED PEARS IN RED WINE, BLUE CHEESE AND WALNUTS

NOTE – This dessert can be done a day or 2 in advance – soaking the pears with the wine mixture overnight makes it better.

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cooking Time: 50 minutes pears

Reducing liquid: 50 minutes

Serves: 10 to 12

6 Large firm, ripe Bartlet Pears, peeled, cored and halved vertically

3 bottles or Spanish sweet red wine

2 cups of white sugar

2 cinnamon sticks

1 teaspoon of Black peppercorn

Combine all ingredients above except pears in a stock or sauce pot. Bring to boil then add pears and cook for about 50 to 60 minutes over medium heat and until soft or fork tender. Remove from liquid. Return liquid to the pot and reduce to half about 50 minutes. When the reduction cools down it should be syrupy.

BLUE CHEESE WALNUTS

1 cup Spanish Blue cheese, like Cabrales, softened and crumbled

2 cups toasted walnuts, crumbled

1 teaspoon sugar

Combine everything in a small bowl and mash using a fork. Set aside.

To serve: Put a dollop of blue cheese mixture on top of every pear halve. Drizzle red wine reduction on and around pears.