I'm a sucker for desserts that feel elegant without requiring a ton of fancy cooking tricks. It may sound like a tall task, but a dessert like wine poached pears proves that it's possible. Fresh pears ...

These are delicious on their own, but a crisp cookie is a lovely accompaniment. If you have any pears left over, you can refrigerate them in their syrup. Slice them and use as a crêpe filling or as a ...

Pears poached in red wine make for a festive and easy make-ahead dessert. Look for crisp — very slightly under-ripe — pears with no blemishes. Bosc or Anjou are winning options as they can withstand ...

1. Peel pears and leave stem intact. In a large saucepan, bring wine and an equal amount of cold water to a simmer. Split vanilla bean lengthwise and add to wine and water mixture. Add cinnamon sticks ...

Brave New Restaurant8 pears (stewing)1 bottle of red wine3 cloves2 cinnamon sticks1 tbsp dark brown sugar1 orange - grated zest only1 lemon - grated zest only1/4 tsp freshly grated nutmegCarefully ...

To make the wine syrup, in a 3-quart saucepan (or the size that holds your pears snuggly on their sides but not pressed together), combine the sugar, water, wine, and lemon zest. Bring to a boil over ...