Cider poached pears with ginger sauce

Serves 4

Ingredients:

• 200ml of cider (+ glass for chef)

• 150g sugar

• 4 cloves ( optional)

• 1 vanilla pod (split) or 1tsp vanilla essence

• 1tbsp lemon juice

• 4 pears

• Vanilla ice cream to serve (carte d'or is excellent)

• Ginger sauce

Method:

1.  Put the cider, sugar, cloves, vanilla pod, lemon juice and 200ml of water in a pan big enough to hold 4 pears standing upright.

2. Stir gently until sugar has dissolved.

3. Peel pears, keep the stalk and put them whole upright in syrup. Cover, simmer for about 10 minutes, until soft.

4. Serve with vanilla ice cream and ginger sauce.