Ingredients:

  Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
--------  ------------  --------------------------------
   6      large         Ripe -- firm fresh pears
   1      cup           Apple juice
   1      teaspoon      Vanilla
   1      tablespoon    Butter or reduced-fat marg.
   1                    Cinnamon stick
   1      12 oz. jar    apricot preserves

Preparation:

Peel pears, leaving them whole with stem intact. Place in slow cooker. Add apple juice, vanilla, butter and cinnamon stick. Cook on high for 3-4 hours. Remove pears with slotted spoon. Place in individual dessert dishes. Heat apricot preserves in small saucepan until melted. Top each pear with preserves sauce.