Hayden's+Vanilla+Poached+Pears

Cook Time: Total time: 20 minutes Active time: 7 minutes How Much It Makes: 4 servings

Ingredients:
 * 5 cups of water
 * 2 1/2 cups of granulated sugar
 * 4 Bosc or Anjou Pears
 * 4 (1 by 3 inch) strips of lemon zest
 * 1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise and scraped, reserving the seeds and the pod

Directions:


 * 1) Combine the water, sugar, lemon zest, and vanilla bean seeds and pod in a medium sized sauce pan and bring to a boil over high heat, stirring until sugar is completely dissolved.
 * 2) Peel pears leaving the stem intact. slice off the bottom 1/8 inch of each pear to create a flat stable base.
 * 3) Reduce heat to keep poaching liquid at a bare simmer and add the pear laying them on their sides so they are almost completely submerged. cook turning pears occasionally so they become saturated on all sides so they are just tender when pierced with a fork, about 7 minutes.
 * 4) Allow pears to cool completely in poaching liquid. Serve immediately placed upright on plate, or transfer pears and poaching liquid to an air tight container for up to 2 days.