Caramel Pears with Lavender

• 6 pears, peeled and cored
• 6 teaspoons Demerara or light muscovado sugar
• 3

Put the pears in a heavy saucepan and add the sugar, a tablespoon of water and three sprigs of lavender. Cover with a tight-fitting lid, cook gently until the pears are tender, which may take from 15 to 45 minutes depending on variety and ripeness, and transfer them to individual dishes or a serving bowl. Remove the lavender from the pan, bring the syrup to the boil and cook until it begins to