Ingredients
2 cups ruby port
1 1/2 cups honey
2 whole star anise
3 cinnamon sticks
1 teaspoon whole black peppercorns
1/2 vanilla bean, split
1/2 cup raisins
12 Bosc pears
Preparation
Heat oven to 300 degrees. In a large roasting pan combine the port, honey, star anise, cinnamon sticks, peppercorns, and vanilla bean. Add the raisins; set aside. Slice 1/4 inch off the bottom of each pear to level, and transfer to pan.
Bake the pears, basting every 15 minutes, until the skin appears wrinkled and the pears are golden brown and tender, about 2 1/2 hours. Remove from oven, and place on a wire rack.
When ready to serve, place pears on a serving platter. Pass the syrup through a fine strainer, discard solids, and pour over the pears.
