Poached Quince With Cranberries Food

POACHED PEARS WITH QUINCE PASTE IN PARMESAN CLOAKS

Steps:

• Peel pears, leaving stems intact, then core from bottom with melon-ball cutter to create a 2 1/2-inch-deep cavity. Rub pears all over with lemon juice in a large bowl.
• Bring wine, sugar, vanilla bean, and zest to a boil in a wide 6-quart heavy pot (at least 12 inches in diameter) over moderate heat, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Add pears, arranging them on their sides in 1 layer, along with any lemon juice from bowl (pears will not be covered by liquid), then reduce heat to low and poach pears, covered, turning occasionally, until just tender, 15 to 20 minutes. Carefully transfer pears with a slotted spoon to a 13- by 9-inch baking dish, standing pears upright and reserving liquid in pot.
• When pears are cool enough to handle, fill cavities with quince paste and stand pears upright in dish again.
• Boil liquid in pot over high heat until syrupy and reduced to about 3/4 cup, 10 to 15 minutes. Pour syrup over pears and cool, basting occasionally with syrup. Chill, covered, basting occasionally with syrup, until cold, at least 2 hours.
• Drizzle each pear lightly with syrup and slip a parmesan cloak over stem. Serve with cheese shavings on the side.

CRANBERRY QUINCE CHUTNEY

Steps:

• In a large saucepan combine all ingredients except onion and simmer, stirring occasionally, 30 minutes. Add onion and simmer 20 minutes, or until chutney is thickened. Chutney may be made 1 week ahead and chilled, covered.
• Serve chutney chilled or at room temperature.

SPICY QUINCE AND CRANBERRY CHUTNEY

Steps:

• Stir the sugar, cloves, allspice, cinnamon, and salt together in a large saucepan. Stir in the water, then bring to a boil over high heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Add the quince, and reduce heat to low. Cook and stir until the quince have turned rose colored, 4 to 5 minutes.
• Stir in the orange zest, orange juice, vinegar, and cranberries. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat to medium-low, and cook until the cranberries have burst and the chutney has thickened, about 20 minutes. Cool completely before serving.