Pierced and poached fruit

Pods -- dried, or still fresh -- are great for poaching fruit. To get the most flavour out of the pods and into the fruit, run the pods through the fruit -- think skewer! The punch of vanilla beans is a fantastic combination with almost every stone fruit as well as with apples, pears, and prunes. Oh, and don't forget to save the syrup. Depending on what spices you added, it is the perfect addition to sweeten tea, serve over ice cream, or to poach more fruit.