Low Fat Pears With Blackberry Sauce Recipe

Ingredients

1 1/4 cup granulated sugar, plus

1/3 cup granulated sugar, divided

1 piece (1-inch) vanilla bean

--or 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

8 fresh pears, peeled, cored

-- and halved

2 cups blackberries or red raspberries

1/2 teaspoon lemon juice

2 tablespoons berry liqueur, optional

Method

1.In saucepan, bring 2 cups water and 1 1/4 cups sugar to a boil, stirring until sugar has dissolved.

Add the vanilla bean or extract; lower heat and simmer 5 minutes.

2.Add the pears and simmer gently until tender.

Poach half the pears at a time if necessary, turning them to poach on both sides.

(Microwave instructions: In microwaveable bowl, combine water and sugar.

Cover and cook on High until mixture boils.

Remove lid, stir and add vanilla bean.

Cook at 50 percent 1 to 2 minutes longer.

Place pears in syrup, spooning syrup over fruit.

Covet and cook on High 7 to 10 minutes, turning pears once, until nearly fork-tender.)

3.Drain and transfer pears to a bowl.

Cool, cover and chill.

4.In food mill, processor or blender, puree the berries.

Strain through medium sieve into a saucepan; stir in 1/3 cup sugar, 1/4 cup water and the lemon juice.

Heat, stirring until the sugar has dissolved.

Add berry liqueur.

Cover and chill.

5.Divide pear halves among 8 plates.

Just before serving, spoon berry sauce over pears.

Makes 8 servings.

Preparation time: About 20 minutes.

Cooking time: About 10 minutes.

Per serving: About 259 cal, 1 g pro, 1 g car, 65 g fat, 3% cal from fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 3 mg sod, 1 g fiber.

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