First, remove the core from the pears. You can easily do this with a small sharp knife. Start from the bottom, remove the flower and then the core. The pears should be able to stand upright, so trim the bottoms a bit if they "tip" or are a little wobbly.
Next, peel the pears.
Split the vanilla bean and scrape out the seeds.
Bring water to a boil with sugar and vanilla seeds.
Add the pears to the water when it boils. Let them boil under a lid until they are tender. This takes about 20-25 minutes, but keep an eye on them. You can place a small plate or a saucer on top of the pears to keep them submerged in the syrup.
Remove the pot from the heat and let the pears sit in the syrup while they cool for about an hour.
Serve with a delicious crumble and crème anglaise, vanilla ice cream, or raw cream. You may want to eat it with both a dessert fork and a spoon - use the fork to hold the pear steady and the spoon to "cut" the pear into pieces. Enjoy your meal!
