CRANBERRY POACHED PEAR WITH YOGURT CREAM SAUCE

CRANBERRY POACHED PEAR WITH YOGURT CREAM SAUCE
4 pears ( must be ripe but still hard and firm) Keep stem on.
1 ½ cup cranberry juice
¼ cup honey
2 tablespoons brown sugar
2 whole cinnamon sticks
1 tablespoon grated orange peel

With all ingredients in a saucepan except the pears, heat until sugar is dissolved and bring to a boil.
Add peeled pears, simmer covered for 30 to 35 minutes until soft.
Allow pears to cool in liquid.

Yogurt Cream Sauce:
½ cup fresh cream, chilled
2 tablespoons icing sugar
½ cup natural yogurt
½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Just before serving, beat cream until stiff.
Add icing sugar, vanilla and yogurt and mix.
Spoon cream into serving dish.
Place pear and some of the sugar syrup on top. Drizzle pear with some of the liquid as well.
Garnish with mint leave (optional).

Recipe: Amanda Conradie
Photo: Elize de Kock