Pears Poached in Red Wine in Slow Coooker

By nancytripp

Ingredients

• 1 (750-ml) bottle red wine (I used an inexpensive merlot)
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 2 star anise
• 6 tablespoons sweetened whipped cream (for garnish, after cooking)

Preparation

Step 1

Use a 6-quart slow cooker. Drain pears, and plop them into your empty crock. Add the entire bottle of wine (if you are wearing a new white blouse, it'd be a good idea to put on an apron. grrr.). Stir in the sugar, being careful to not break up the pear halves. Add vanilla, and float the cinnamon stick and star anise on top. Cover and cook on low for 5 hours, or on high for about 2.