Golden Caramelised Pears
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4 large beurre bosc or 8 small corella pears, firm and not overripe
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Juice of 1/2 a lemon
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3 tablespoons brown sugar
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1 tablespoon white sugar
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2 tablespoons butter
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4 tablespoons dessert wine or bourbon
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2 vanilla beans, cut into pieces, the seeds scraped out
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Vanilla ice cream or pouring cream to serve
Step 1 - Preheat oven to 180C/350F. Peel and core the pears and quarter them. Rub lemon juice over them to stop them browning and set aside.
Step 2 - In a pan with an oven proof handle and lid, place the brown sugar, white sugar, butter, dessert wine or bourbon, vanilla beans and scraped out seeds on medium heat and stir until combined and melted. Add the pears cut side down and bake in the preheated oven for 45 minutes, turning over halfway through. If the sauce is too thin, drain the liquid into a small saucepan and boil until the quantity of sauce has reduced.