Zinfandel Sorbet With Poached Pears Recipes

POACHED RED PEAR ZINFANDEL

Steps:

• Core pears from bottom, leaving stem intact.
• Using a paring knife, peel a spiral channel from tip to bottom of fruit, if desired.
• Slice the very bottom off pears to allow them to stand upright.
• Stand pears up in the bottom of a large saucepan then add wine and vanilla.
• Bring mixture just to boiling.
• Reduce heat and simmer pears, covered, for 10 to 15 minutes or until pears are just tender.
• Using a slotted spoon, transfer pears to four dessert dishes.
• Add sugar to liquid in pan and bring to boiling.
• Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, for 12 minutes or until liquid is reduced to 2/3 cup and is the consistency of a thin sauce.
• Spoon sauce over pears.
• Drizzle honey on top.
• Serve warm or chilled.
• Garnish sauce on each plate with fresh mint leaves, if desired.

PEAR AND RED WINE SORBET

Steps:

• Peel, core and quarter the pears. Place them in a medium saucepan with the sugar, red wine, water, cinnamon stick and vanilla extract. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer, uncovered, until the pears are soft and translucent. This will take 15 to 20 minutes if the pears are ripe and soft to begin with, or about 30 minutes if they're somewhat hard. Add the pepper.
• Using tongs, remove the pears to a bowl. Remove the cinnamon stick from the poaching liquid, and discard. Turn up the heat, and reduce until the mixture has the consistency of a thin syrup. (This step may be unnecessary, depending on how long you cooked the pears and how juicy they were.)
• Place the pears, in batches, in a blender, or place all of them in a food processor fitted with the steel blade. Purée until smooth. Slowly add the poaching liquid and the lemon juice, and blend together. Transfer to a bowl, and chill. Meanwhile, place a 1-quart container in the freezer.
• Freeze in an ice cream maker following the manufacturer's instructions. Transfer to the chilled container, and freeze for at least two hours before serving. If frozen solid, allow to soften in the refrigerator for 15 to 30 minutes.