Poached Pears in Spiced Cranberry Syrup

A few months ago, my sister has kept reminding me to watch Junior Masterchef on Okto Channel.  She has so much good words for this show and after it was on air, the next day she would called me and asked "Did you watch yesterday Junior Masterchef?"  Sometimes I totally forgotten to watch it.  So the next time when it was about to start the show, my sister will text me to remind me again.  So I thought what is so special about this show.  And when I watch one episode, I was so amazed and believe me, stunned and shocked too....how those little children could whipped up such a beautiful and delicious dishes.  These children contestants are as young as 8 years old, could you believe it?  They are so much better than some of us adults cooking up a meal.

There was one episode, the contestants were split into two groups, and in the end one of the group lose out and each one of them have to prepare up one same dish that is called "Poached Pears in Spiced Cranberry Syrup, Vanilla Mascapone and Tuille" and the judges will give point to the one who makes the perfect poached pears.

I have came across most bloggers post their poached pears in red wine and thought I would like to try this poaching in fruit juice instead.

Ingredients
750ml cranberry juice
125ml rose verjuice (I used Roselle juice)
60g caster sugar
3 star anise
1 cinnamon quill
2 just-ripe pears, peeled (I used Forell)

1. Combine cranberry juice, Roselle juice, sugar, star anise and cinnamon in a medium saucepan and bring to
    a simmer.

2.  Peel the pears, keeping the stalk intact, then place into the liquid, turning pears occasionally, for 35
     minutes or until tender – this can be checked with a skewer inserted into the thickest part of pear.
     Remove from heat then carefully remove the pears from the liquid.

3. Place 2 ladles of poaching liquid into a clean saucepan (approx 200ml) including the cinnamon and star
    anise and return to the boil, simmer for 5 minutes or until syrupy. Stand until ready to serve.

   Since I loves dessert alot, this poached pear is indeed delicious to me.  Do try it if you prefer using fruit
   juice instead of red wine to poach the pears!

   And I remember when I was a young girl, my mum used to poached apples for us.  Delicious!