Dinner Party

We had one of our Gourmand parties Saturday night

and I was in charge of dessert.

Aren't these pears lovely? First I peeled them,

then I poached them for an hour in spiced red wine.

While that was simmering I made a raspberry Chambord sauce.

Then I chilled the pears while I scrubbed the bathroom, hoovered all around, set the table, shopped for more chargers, and spray painted oak leaves gold in a fit of "Martha Stewart" madness!

Here's Kim's Chicken Marsala in phyllo dough.

And here are the pears in their raspberry sauce lovliness.

I'd never made poached pears before, but they turned out quite nice.

I think I might try them again sometime.