Poached Pears with Chocolate Sauce

Ingredients (Serves 4)

• 4 pears, peeled and stems left on
• 4 cups water
• 1/2 cup honey
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 4 cloves
• 4 slices lemon

Chocolate Sauce

• 100g dark cooking chocolate
• 100ml fresh cream

Method

1. Place water and honey in a large saucepan. Stir the mixture over medium heat until honey dissolves.
2. Add pears, cinnamon sticks, cloves and lemon slices. Bring to boil, reduce heat and simmer until pears are cooked. This will take about
   20 minutes. Check by inserting a fork into the pears.
3. Transfer pears into a deep bowl. Use a slotted spoon for this, strain the cooking juices over the pears. Cool at room temperature,
   then refrigerate.
4. Break chocolate into small pieces and place it into a bowl. Add cream to the chocolate.
5. Set the bowl over a saucepan of gently simmering water.
6. Heat the chocolate and cream until chocolate melts, stirring frequently. Stir until chocolate mixture looks shiny and creamy.
7. Remove bowl from the pan and leave to cool.

To Serve

Place a pear upright in a bowl with a spoonful of chocolate sauce on the side.