Caramelized Apples & Pears

this looks so delicious i wish i hadn't already eaten my food budget of the week.. mmm :)

ANNE'S FOOD (annesfood.blogspot.com)
(make 2 servings)
1 apple
2 small pears
40g sugar (any kind: white, brown, vanilla, muscovado)
1 cinnamon stick
1/2tsp whole cloves
1/2tsp whole black pepper
2 whole star anise
10g buttersplash of calvados or brandy (optional)
75ml apple juice
Directions:
1) Peel & core the apple & pears, & cut them into wedges.
2) Sprinkle the sugar in a large frying pan & place it over high heat until the sugar starts to melt & brown.
3) Add the spices & the butter, & don't stir - just shake then pan gently to mix the sugar & butter.
4) Lower the heat a little, too. Add the fruit.
5) Fry for 5-6min, turning almost constantly, until the fruit is softened & has a nice, caramelized surface.
8) Add a splash of brandy or calvados if you've got it - watch out, it might catch on fire.
9) Add the apple juice & cook until it's reduced to a syrupy sauce.
10) Remove the spices - or not - & serve it w/custard or vanilla ice cream.

**NOTE: The spices are great here - but if you want to make sure you don't accidentally bite into a peppercorn, you better count how many you put in & fish all of them out before serving. Just saying.

http://annesfood.blogspot.com/2008/04/caramelized-apples-pears.html