Warm Pears in Cider

I buy my pears just slightly underripe, and then wait a day, so that I get the right firmness. If your pears are soft, the dish will not turn out. I learned the hard way. ;)

• Ready In: 45 mins
• Serves: 4

Ingredients

• 1  lemon
• 1⁄4 cup sugar
•  grated nutmeg
• 1  cup sweet apple cider
• 4  firm ripe pears
•  freshly made custard or   cream or  ice cream, to serve

Directions

1. Carefully remove rind from the lemon with potato peeler, leave white pith behind.
2. Squeeze the juice from the lemon into a saucepan,add the rind, sugar, nutmeg and cider, heat through to dissolve sugar.
3. Carefully peel pears, leaving the stalks on, place them in the pan of cider. Poach 10-15 minutes, until almost tender, turning frequently to cook evenly.
4. Transfer pears to individual serving plates with slotted spoon. Simmer liquid over high heat until reduced slightly and syrupy.
5. Pour warm syrup over pars, serve immediately with custard, cream or ice cream.