20Walnut Halves - toasted - Keep 12 whole and roughly chop the rest
Instructions
In a deep pot combine red wine, honey, cinnamon sticks, orange juice and peel and the rosemary sprigs.
Cover the pot and bring to a boil and over medium low heat simmer for about 10 minutes. Stir well.
In the meantime peel the pears but leave the stalks on. Cut a little off the bottom from each so that the pear can stand upright straight. With a teaspoon remove the core from bottom.
Gently place the pears upright in the pot, cover and simmer over medium low heat for 25 to 30 minutes.
Time to time spoon the wine syrup over the pears to cook even. With a knife test the pears to make sure they are tender but still firm.
With a slotted spoon remove the pears and set aside.
Continue to simmer the spicy wine syrup for about 15 minutes or until the liquid is reduced by half.
To serve place pears in individual bowls and spoon some of the wine syrup over.
For an extra special treat we cut the pears in half place them over the wine syrup and spoon a dollop of Mascarpone cheese on top. Decorate with walnuts halves and sprinkle the chopped nuts.