STEAMED PEARS WITH RED WINE AND RASPBERRIES

Serves 3

* 3 firm, not quite fully ripe pears
* 1 star anise
* 1 vanilla bean
* 1 cinnamon stick
* 1 cup dry red wine
* 3 tablespoons sugar
* 1/2 pint fresh raspberries

1. Peel, halve and core the pears. Put them in a shallow bowl, cut sides down. Add star anise, vanilla bean and cinnamon stick. Bring water to a boil in a large saute pan or wok. Place bowl in steamer basket and place in pan. Cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer until pears are tender when pierced with the point of a knife, about 30 minutes depending on the ripeness of the pears.

2. Meanwhile, combine the wine and sugar in a large serving bowl; stir to dissolve the sugar. Add the pears, vanilla bean, cinnamon stick and star anise to the bowl along with the raspberries, and let stand until cool. Serve at room temperature or chilled.