Pears in wine sauce

This is a nice winter dessert.  You can make it ahead of time and actually the longer the pears have to soak in the wine the tastier and darker they become. There are some in my fridge right now that are a week old and they are a lovely burgundy color!  I can’t remember where I found the original recipe, but this is my take on pears in wine sauce.  If you choose to use fresh pears make sure you cook them in the wine until they are tender. I used port for this recipe.  We had a case of homemade port that someone had given us a few years ago.  It makes excellent pears in wine sauce, but any red wine that you have on hand will work.  I have found the the better wines work well…not like kalimotxo’s where you want the cheapest wine possible.

Kalimotxo (cali-moe-cho) is a drink that is popular in Euskadi (the Basque Country) and very popular here in the west with the younger generation.  If you go to any Basque picnic or Basque restaurant and ask for the drink they will be able to pour one for you.  It is made with 1/2 cheap red wine and 1/2 Coca Cola.

Pears in wine sauce

1- 29 oz. can of pears halves in light syrup
Red wine

1/2 cup sugar

2- 6″ cinnamon sticks or 4- 3″ones

Drain pear juice into a measuring cup.  Add equal amounts of red wine to juice.  Put the liquid into a saucepan with the sugar and cinnamon sticks.  Bring just to a boil, add the pears and cook about 10 or 15 minutes longer. Let cool to room temperature before chilling in the refrigerator.  Remove cinnamon sticks before serving.

Enjoy!