Warm Pears with Sweet Vanilla Cream
Serves 8 ( ½ pear with 2 T of cream)

INGREDIENTS
4 cups brewed green tea
2 cups apple juice
2 cups water
2 T balsamic vinegar
½ vanilla bean
Zest of 1 orange
Juice of 1 orange
1 cinnamon stick
4 peppercorns

4 pears (Bosc, Bartlett, Comice, or Anjou)

32 oz low fat vanilla yogurt, drained overnight (“yogurt cheese”)
½ vanilla bean
¼ cup fig preserves
¼ cup chopped pecans
Mint leaves (optional for garnish)

DIRECTIONS

1. In big pot, bring green tea through peppercorns to a simmer
2. Cut pears in half, core, and put in simmering liquid
3. Simmer until pears are tender, about 20-30 minutes
4. While pears simmer, stir together yogurt cheese, vanilla bean seeds, and fig preserves
5. When pears are tender, remove from poaching liquid
6. Place 2T vanilla cream mixture in each warm pear half. Drizzle with 1T of poaching liquid. Top each pear with pecans