Guilt Free Desserts: Poached Pears with Orange and Vanilla Bean Sauce

This is another easy, tasty, and light summer dessert that will satisfy your sweet tooth without sabotaging your weight loss progress!  Be sure to buy the freshest pears you can find, any variety will work.  I really hope you all enjoy this one!

Poached Pears with Orange and Vanilla Bean Sauce

 

Ingredients:

• 3 firm, fresh pears- any variety
• 1/2 cup white wine (or increase water by 1/2 cup and omit wine)
• 3 1/2 cups water
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• 1 vanilla bean, split (or 2 tsp vanilla extract)
• 1 orange- zested and juiced
• 1/4 cup agave nectar (or honey)
• Soy or Regular vanilla bean ice cream

Directions:

1.  Using a peeler, remove all the outer skin from the pears, making sure the stems stay intact. 

2.  Turn the pears on their side, and use a small teaspoon to scrape the inside of the pears and remove the seeds.  Be careful not to remove too much of the outer fruit, so the pear stays intact when you poach it.  

3.  Add your wine, water, agave nectar, cinnamon, orange zest, orange juice, orange slices and a split and scraped vanilla bean to a medium sized sauce pot.  

4.  Add the pears to the pot and make sure they are submerged in the liquid.  If not, add a little more water until they are almost covered.  Bring mixture to a boil and then turn down to a simmer.  Simmer for 5 minutes, or until pears are tender but not falling apart.  

5.  Remove pears from the liquid and place in the refrigerator to cool while the sauce reduces.  

6.  (Sorry, I forgot the photo on this one!)  Turn the sauce back up to a boil and cook until the sauce begins to get thick, like a syrup.  This takes about 5-8 additional minutes.

7.  Place a scoop of your ice cream (or soy cream!) into a fancy glass and pour a liberal amount of your spiced syrup on top.  

8.  Place your cooled pear, stem side up, in your glass.  Garnish with an orange slice and enjoy immediately!