Poached Pears in Chocolate Sauce

Miniature Forelle pears are poached in spiced syrup made of candied ginger and various other spices. Once softened, the pears are covered with chocolate sauce. 

I prepared the pears a day in advance and the chocolate sauce was made at the very last minute. It took me probably 5 minutes tops. Everyone was pleased, the cook included! The small size of this dessert makes it a perfect finish to a heavy meal. 

Medicinal Tea Recipe (Natural Cold Remedy Drink)

Ginger rice tea drink is our natural way to treat the beginning of a cold. On top of being delicious, the drink contains all the ingredients that are tought of as healing in Asian culture. I thickened the drink using the starch from rice and flavored it with fresh ginger, honey and turmeric.

If you follow me on Twitter or Facebook, you've probably noticed that my husband Lulu and I have been traveling quite a bit. We were in Las Vegas last week and we left last Saturday for to go to Texas. Lulu felt a little under the weather, so just before leaving I concocted this delicious ginger drink so he could be completely energized for our next trip. I'm certainly no doctor, but at the very least it cheered him up!