Poached Pears

Ingredients for 4 Servings

• 1 quart (1l) water
• 1 1/3 cup (265 g) sugar
• 4 Bosc pears; peeled, cored, and quartered
• Additions: One cinnamon stick, 2 teaspoons whole cloves, black peppercorns or allspice berries, one lemon half, one split vanilla bean, 2-3 star anise, 6-8 fresh ginger slices