Poached pears

Simmering pears in fruit juice produces a simple but elegant dessert.

Poaching involves gently simmering ingredients in liquid.

Ingredients (SERVES 4)

1 cup orange juice
1 1/4 cups apple juice
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
4 whole pears
1/2 cup fresh raspberries
2 tablespoons orange zest

Directions

In a small bowl, combine the juices, cinnamon and nutmeg. Stir to mix evenly.

Peel the pears and leave the stems. Remove the core from the bottom of the pear. Place in a shallow pan. Add the juice mixture to the pan and set over medium heat. Simmer for about 30 minutes, turning pears frequently. Don't boil.

Transfer the pears to individual serving plates. Garnish with raspberries and orange zest and serve immediately.