Flambeed Vanilla-Poached Pears with Apricot Sauce Recipe

Bring 1 1/2 cups water sugar and vanilla extract to a boil in a saucepan over high heat. Add 3 or 4 pear halves reduce heat to medium and simmer gently until the pears have just turned tender about 5 minutes. Remove cooked pears to a warm chafing dish or metal serving dish and continue to cook the remaining pears.

Increase heat to medium-high and boil the syrup until it has reduced to 1 cup. Stir in apricot preserves and return to a boil. Dissolve the cornstarch in 2 tablespoons of water and stir into the simmering syrup. Cook and stir until thickened and clear about 30 seconds.

To serve pour the hot sauce over the pears and sprinkle with the rum. Carefully ignite the rum tableside with the lights turned low. Let the alcohol burn out before serving.