POACHED PEARS IN RED WINE AND STAR ANISE
Serves 4-6
Ingredients
1 ½ cups dry red wine
¾ cup sugar
2 star anise
6 medium pears
3 thick strips of lemon rind
Instructions
1.
Place wine, sugar and star anise into the slow cooker.
Cover and cook on HIGH until sugar is dissolved.
2.
Place pears into the slow cooker, turning then to coat well
with the sugar syrup. Ass lemon peel, cover and cook on
HIGH for 2-3 hours or LOW for 4-6 hours, turning
occasionally to coat.
3.
To serve, remove the pears from the slow cooker and
place on to a serving plate. Pour syrup over pears. Serve
with whipped cream if desired.
STEAMED CHRISTMAS PUDDING
Serves 6
Ingredients
500g mixed dried fruit
½ cup firmly packed brown sugar
90g butter or margarine
¼ cup water
1 tablespoon sherry or brandy
½ teaspoon bi-carbonated of soda
2 eggs lightly beaten
1 cup self raising flour
½ teaspoon mixed spice
Instructions
1. In a saucepan, combine mixed fruits, brown sugar, butter,
water and sherry. Heat until butter begins to melt and
mixture begins to boil.
2. Remove from heat, add bi-carbonate of soda and allow to
cool completely.
3. Grease a 6 cup capacity pudding bowl.
4. Ass eggs to the cooled mixture and mix until well
combined. Fold through flour and spices.
5. Pour mixture in to the prepared bowl, cover with a double
layer of foil and tie firmly with string to form a good seal.
6. Place into the slow cooker. Pour in sufficient amount of
water to come two thirds of the way up the sides of the
pudding bowl. Cover and cook on HIGH for 5-7 hours.
7. Re-heat pudding by cooking pudding in water on HIGH for
2-3 hours prior to serving. Serve with brandy custard.
