WINTER FRUITS AND LEMON GRASS GRILLED WITH A PALM SUGAR AND STAR ANISE SYRUP 1/2 cup red wine 1 vanilla bean, split 3/4 cup finely chopped palm sugar 2/3 cup water 1/4 cup thinly sliced fresh lemon grass 6 star anise 6 small pears* 4 Lady Finger bananas, halved 2 large Ruby Red grapefruit, peeled, thickly sliced 2 large oranges, peeled, thickly sliced Combine wine, vanilla bean, sugar, the water, lemon grass and anise in small pan; cook, stirring, until sugar dissolves.

Add pears (pan needs to be small enough for pears to stand upright and close together); simmer, uncovered, about 15 minutes or until pears are just tender. Remove pears from pan; bring syrup to boil; simmer, uncovered, until syrup has reduced by half.

Place pears, banana, grapefruit and orange in large baking dish; drizzle with a little syrup. Cook under hot grill about 5 minutes or until fruit is lightly browned.

Serve fruit drizzled with remaining syrup.

Serves 6.

NOTE: We used two pear varieties - Corella and Beurre Bosc.

Per serving: 0.5g fat, 229 calories.

[Simply Lite Food, A Collection Of SimplyLite's Best Recipes]