Poached Pear Galettes

I have a multitude of childhood memories that involve me sitting down at the dinner table to a roast, then being offered a taste of red wine. My response would be to screw my face up in disgust, and exclaim “no way!” Or on the off chance I wanted to demonstrate how grown up I was, I would take a gulp, recoil, then splurt it back into the glass. This was then followed by a chorus of  ‘just you wait…give it ten years and you will love the stuff’ from all adults present. I don’t know whether it was due to the maturing of my taste buds or the forcing down of surplus red wine at various teenage house parties (inevitally nicked from various parents drinks cabinets) but they were right! Without sounding too much like an alcoholic I have developed a bit of a penchant for vin rouge and an even bigger one for cooking with it.

If you love a bit of boozy fruit then this recipe (courtesy of Delia Smith) is for you. The smell of wine drenched pears, cinnamon & vanilla drifting through your home is simply wonderful. Imagine Christmas come early. You can serve them with the red wine sauce that comes as part of the recipe but I have found that melted dark chocolate or double cream go just as well.

Whether you are using them as a posh pud or taking them out on a picnic I do hope you enjoy them!

Click here for the recipe for the galettes and here for the flaky pastry recipe.