Instructions

1. Set a medium saucepan over medium-low heat, and add the red wine, orange juice, honey, orange peel, cloves, cinnamon sticks, and peppercorns. Bring the sauce up to a low simmer and cook uncovered for 5 minutes.

2. Once the sauce has been simmering for 5 minutes, add the peeled pears and cover the saucepan with a lid. Let the pears simmer in the sauce for 20 to 25 minutes, gently flipping them every 5 minutes to ensure that they cook evenly. They should be soft enough to poke through with a paring knife without much resistance. If the pears are still hard, poach them for an additional 5 minutes, then test them again for doneness.

3. Use a slotted spoon to scoop the pears out and into a medium bowl.

4. Let the sauce simmer and reduce uncovered for 10 to 15 minutes, until it takes on a thick, syrupy texture.

5. Set a fine mesh sieve over a medium bowl and strain the sauce into it. Discard the spices and orange peel.

6. Serve warm or at room temperature with drizzle of red wine sauce and a scoop of vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.