Wine Poached Pears with Almond Cookie Crumble

This is a very adult dessert.  It's best served by candlelight, even if you are alone.  As always, all flavors are to taste and can be adjusted as you like.

Wine Poached Pears with Almond Cookie Crumble

6 Organic Pears

1 Bottle of Red Wine

1/4 Cup Organic Sugar

1 teaspoon of Cinnamon

6 Thin Crisp Almond Cookies or Similar

(I bought mine at Trader Joe's)

Peel and core pears from the bottom. Leave the top stem on if possible, for a prettier presentation. Stand pears up in a large sauce pan. You may have to trim a bit off the bottom for them to stand upright. Pour over the red wine until pears are covered at least an inch up the side. Feel free to use the entire bottle if you'd like.  Add in the cinnamon. A cinnamon stick may also be used. If you would like more of a mulled wine flavor, add a pinch of cloves, nutmeg, and ginger as well. 

Sprinkle over the sugar. Bring to a simmer and allow to simmer about 15 minutes or just until the pears start to soften a little. Allow the pears to soak in the warm wine bath until ready to serve. You can even put them in the frig over night still sitting in the wine. This will make them have a very rich color.

Serve warm, room temperature, or cold if preferred. (I prefer slightly warm.)

Crumble up 1 almond cookie (cookie of your choice or even chopped nuts) and sprinkle over each pear when serving.

Optional: Remove pears from wine after they become slightly tender.  Allow wine to reduce down to a thick syrup, stirring occasionally. This may be used to drizzle over the top or over ice cream or whipped cream as an indulgence.

MADE WITH LOVE!