Preheat the fan oven 180 degrees. Peel
some pears & leave whole in a heatproof dish & place 2 star
anise & a cinamon stick (snapped into 2 pieces) on pears along
with 6 chopped dates or a handful of sultanas.
In another pan heat 150ml(quarter pt)
red wine with 4tbsp orange juice, 35g(1&half oz) soft brown
sugar, stir & bring to boil (or microwave 3 mins). Mash a banana
& blend into the mixture. Pour this mixture over the pears
spooning over a few times to coat the pears well. Cover the dish &
bake up to 50-60mins until pears are soft. Remove pears & fruit
& place upright in your serving dish.
Discard spices from the red wine liquid
mixture & bring to boil stirring until reduced & thickened
(around 4 mins). Spoon over pears & dribble with delight.