Serves 8

Impress your guests with this elegant yet healthy dessert.

8 pears (Anjou or Bartlett are best)
4 cups red wine – (about one bottle; a fruity type is best)
1/2 cup sugar
1 tablespoon whole black peppercorns
1 tablespoon orange zest (about 1 orange)
1/4 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup bittersweet chocolate chips

Peel pears and core from the bottom, leaving stems intact.

Mix red wine, sugar, peppercorns and orange zest in a saucepan just large enough to fit the pears into it, then place pears upright in the poaching liquid. Bring just barely to a boil, and then reduce to simmer. Partially cover and simmer until soft, about 1 hour. Remove from heat and allow pears to cool in the poaching liquid.

Just before serving, heat cream over medium-high heat in a small saucepan until just barely bubbling around the edges. Remove from heat and stir in chocolate until completely melted. To serve, drizzle chocolate sauce on a dessert plate and set a poached pear in the center. Garnish with mint leaves
if desired.

Per Serving (excluding unknown items): 172 Calories; 5g Fat (25.4% calories from fat); 1g Protein; 32g Carbohydrate; 5g Dietary Fiber; 10mg Cholesterol;14mg Sodium.