Fresh pear Compote

Combine water, sugar, and vanilla bean. Bring to boiling point. Cook, covered, for 5 minutes. While syrup is cooking, peel and halve pears. Cut out cores. Stand prepared pears in cold water to prevent darkening. Add pear halves to syrup and cook over low heat, turning pears once during cooking. Spoon syrup occasionally over cooking pears. Cooking time depends on variety and ripeness of the pears: from 5 to 15 minutes. Pears should be just tender. Do not overcook or they will be mushy. Cool pears in syrup. Serve as is or with whipped cream, if desired. Makes 4 servings. Fresh Pears Helene Prepare Fresh-Pear Compote. Place cooked pears in glass serving dish. Top with vanilla ice cream and hot chocolate sauce.