Pears With Chocolate Sauce And Cracked Black Pepper

Total Time: 25 mins Preparation Time: 5 mins Cook Time: 20 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 4
• 4 pears, peeled,but left intact,stems and all
• 6 ounces nestle baking chocolate
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 2 cups water
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 1 1/2 fluid ounces calvados or 1 1/2 fluid ounces apple brandy or 1 1/2 fluid ounces cognac (optional)
• 2 tablespoons butter
• fresh ground black pepper

Recipe

• 1 place water in a medium sized saucepan, add sugar and bring to a boil (to make the syrup).
• 2 boil 5 minutes, and then add pears.
• 3 boil 10 more minutes (or until tender, but not mushy--they should still be firm), gently turning several times.
• 4 allow pears to cool to room temperature in the syrup.
• 5 heat cream, butter and chocolate over medium heat, stirring constantly until chocolate is disolved.
• 6 add a little bit of the syrup from the pears and the liquer and whisk until the sauce has a smooth texture, not too thin.
• 7 place pears in serving bowls or dessert cups, and cover with chocolate sauce.
• 8 sprinkle with just a bit of freshly ground black pepper.