Specifications

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53
Ginger Poached Pears
◆
54
deSSertS
juice of 1 lemon
1 can ginger ale
2 strips lemon peel, 2 x ½"
(5 x 1.25 cm), bitter white
pith removed
6 slices (size of a quarter)
fresh ginger
4 medium pears (Bartlett, Anjou,
or Bosc), slightly underripe,
but fragrant – with stems
2 tablespoons (30 ml) chopped
crystallized ginger
Honey Yogurt Cream (page 54)
No time to fuss with dessert – here is one to fix and forget.
Served chilled it is an easy, do-ahead dessert that is healthy too.
Makes 4 servings
Combine lemon juice and 4 cups (1 L) water in a medium bowl. Place the ginger ale,
lemon peel, and fresh ginger in the ceramic pot of the Cuisinart
®
Slow Cooker; stir.
Peel the pears, leaving the stem intact; cut a thin slice from the bottom of each pear
so that it stands upright. As each pear is peeled, dip into the lemon water to prevent
darkening and stand it in the ginger liquid in the Slow Cooker.
Cover and press the On/Off button to turn the unit on. Set time to 4 hours and press
Low. When pears are tender, turn Slow Cooker off. Allow pears to cool in poaching
liquid. Chill in liquid. (If desired, before serving, liquid may be thickened to a syrup-
like consistency by simmering until it is reduced by half.)
To serve, arrange each pear on a deep plate (rimmed soup bowl works well). Spoon
poaching liquid over pears. Garnish with a dollop of Honey Yogurt Cream and
sprinkle with chopped crystallized ginger.
Nutritional information per serving:
Calories 174 (5% from fat) • carb. 44g .• pro. 1g • fat 1g
• sat. fat 0g • chol. 0mg • sod. 14mg • calc. 43mg • fiber 5g
Honey Yogurt Cream
deSSertS
4 ounces (115 g) fat free vanilla yogurt
4 ounces (115 g) light sour cream
2 tablespoons (30 ml) honey
1 teaspoon (5 ml) vanilla extract
¼ teaspoon (1 ml) almond extract
Place vanilla yogurt in a yogurt strainer or strainer lined with a coffee filter. Let drain
for 2 hours to remove whey; discard whey. Place strained yogurt, sour cream, honey,
and extracts in a medium bowl. Whisk until smooth and blended. Keep refrigerated
until ready to use.
Nutritional information (per 2-tablespoon [30 ml] serving):
Calories 73 (21% from fat) • carb. 12g • pro. 3g • fat 2g • sat. fat 1g
• chol. 10mg • sod. 47mg • calc. 81mg • fiber 0g
Chocolate Glaze
6 ounces (170 g) semisweet chocolate
¼ cup (50 ml) unsalted butter
2 tablespoons (30 ml) light corn syrup
Combine the ingredients in a 1½-quart (1.4 L) Cuisinart
®
saucepan. Stir over low
heat until melted and smooth. Let cool 10 minutes before using.
Nutritional information per 1-tablespoon (15 ml) serving:
Calories 87 (64% from fat) • carb. 89g • pro 0g • fat 7g • sat. fat 4g
• chol. 8mg • sod. 4mg • calc. 4mg • fiber 0g
Makes about 1 cup (250 ml)
Makes about 1 cup (250 ml)