Cherries Poached in Vanilla - Cerises Pochées
From: Rita

Poached Cherries in vanilla and lemon syrup can be served straight up, garnished with soy cream/yoghurt etc

SERVES 20

• 3 cups water
• 1 vanilla bean
• 3/4 cup sugar (for extra special flavor use Lavender Sugar With Vanilla)
• 1 lemon, juice and zest of, fresh
• 2 lbs cherries, pitted and stems removed

Combine the water, sugar, vanilla bean, and lemon zest in a medium saucepan. Place over low heat and stir until sugar dissolves.
Raise the heat to high and bring the syrup to a boil.

Stir in the fruit and the lemon juice. Cover the fruit with a lid slightly smaller than the diameter of the saucepan. This will keep the fruit submerged in the syrup.

Reduce the heat to low and cook about 8 minutes.

Allow the fruit to cool in the syrup, still covered, to room temperature. Transfer to a serving bowl, cover and chill at least 30 minutes before serving.