Mulled Juice Poached Pears

I have always loved the idea of mulled wine. I don't drink alcohol, but the idea of a warm drink with all those yummy holiday spices thrown in... Yum! I was watching Food Network and these mulled wine poached pears were made and they looked so good! I used it as a base recipe for some poached pears I made. These were so good! Sweet and warm with spices, almost a little spice, the crunchy almonds on top added the perfect textural difference and the creamy and bright sauce was such a good contrast.

Ingredients:
4 Bartlett pears, peeled, cored and quartered
4 c cranberry juice cocktail
1/4 c honey
1/2 tsp ground cloves
2 cinnamon sticks
1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
1 tsp vanilla
4 oz Neufchatel, softened
Zest of 1 lemon
1/4 c honey
Juice of 1/2 lemon
1/2 c chopped, toasted almonds

In a pot, add the cranberry juice, 1/4 c honey, cloves, cinnamon, pepper flakes and vanilla. Bring to a boil and then add the quartered pears. Turn the heat down to medium. I used a small bowl to put on top of the pears in the pot so the weight of the bowl kept the pears submerged in the liquid. Cook for about 20 minutes, or until tender. Mine were not very ripe so it ended up taking about 25 minutes. Turn off the heat and put the pot into the fridge. The pears should still be submerged in the poaching liquid for about an hour in the fridge. While the pears are in the fridge, make the sauce. In a bowl, put the softened Neufchatel, zest, juice and other 1/4 c of honey. Mix together with a hand mixer until well combined. The sauce can go under, on top of or next to the pears. Sprinkle the toasted almonds on top and enjoy!