Fruits poches en poncho

• 3 juicy, ripe pears–Comice or Bartlett–with stems, if possible
• 3 tasty apples–Golden Delicious

Peel the pears and apples, taking care not to disturb the stems; core, the fruit carefully from the bottom and trim slightly, if necessary, to help them sit flat. Bring the maple syrup and the bourbon to a simmer in a medium-sized saucepan. Poach first the pears, and then the apples, for 4 to 8 minutes, turning and basting them with the syrup until they are beginning to be tender when pierced w