Preserved red wine pears

Ingredients for 2 servings:

• 2 kg pear(s)
• 1 vanilla pod(s)
• 1 lemon(s)
• 60 g sugar
• 1 pinch of salt
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 cinnamon stick(s)
• 2 star anise
• 2 cardamom pods
• 150 ml grenadine
• 100 ml red wine
• 500 ml white wine

Instructions

Working time approx. 20 minutes; Cooking/baking time approx. 10 minutes; Total time approx. 30 minutes

Halve the peeled pears, scrape the seeds from the vanilla pod, and zest half a lemon. Place them in a saucepan with all the other ingredients and bring to a boil, then simmer for 10 minutes to pre-cook the pears and allow the alcohol to evaporate. The pears should be completely covered with liquid. Carefully place the pears in preserving jars, fill the jars with the liquid, and reduce the liquid to a boil. If you want to serve the pears immediately, simmer for 5 minutes longer, then remove them from the liquid and add 50g of butter to the liquid, then boil until a syrup forms. Pour the cooled syrup over the pears and serve with ice cream, if desired.