Microwaved Honey and Cardamom Poached Apples or Pears

A warm dessert is as comforting as candlelight and a warm hearth (and heart) in chilly mid-February weather. When available, try Ontario Bosc pears in place of apples. Choose small, ripe but firm pears.

Preparation Time: 5 minutes

Cooking Time: 3 to 5 minutes

Makes: 2 servings

Ingredients
Ontario Apples, such as Idared or Empire	2
Liquid honey	3 Tbsp (45 mL)
Ground cardamom	1/4 tsp (1 mL)
Pinch of ground cinnamon
Vanilla ice cream or frozen yogurt
Toasted sliced almonds (optional)

Directions

Peel apples; cut in half and remove cores (a melon baller works well). Place, cut side's up, in shallow microwaveable dish.
In small microwaveable bowl, warm honey at High for 20 seconds; stir in cardamom and cinnamon. Drizzle evenly over apples; cover and microwave at High for 3 to 5 minutes or until apples are tender. Let stand 5 minutes.
Place apples in dessert dishes. Scoop ice cream or frozen yogurt in centre of each half. Spoon sauce over top. Garnish with almonds, if desired.

NOTE: Microwave recipes tested in a 700-watt microwave oven. Power level terminology in microwave ovens varies; check your owner's manual and use whichever word or number gives you the same percentages as in the recipe (High is always 100%). If your oven differs, cooking times may vary.

© - Source: Foodland Ontario, 2009.