Poached pears

Ingredients:

• 4 medium-size firm pears (e.g., Anjou, Bartlett, Bosc.); you can try using peeled pears from a
• can, but they may be too soft
• 1 bottle robust read wine (e.g., cabernet sauvignon, merlot)
• ½ cup sugar
• 1 vanilla bean, cut in half lengthwise
• 1 whole cinnamon stick
• peel from 1 orange
• peel from 1 lemon
• 2 whole cloves
• 1 star anise
• 1 whole bay leaf

Instructions: