Pear Soup with Chocolate Swirl

With a decorative drizzle of chocolate, this soup is elegant and distinctive.

4 D'Anjou or Bosc pears, peeled and coarsely chopped
2 cups white grape juice
1 cup vanilla rice milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
Fresh lemon juice, as needed
2 tablespoons semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 teaspoon oil or margarine

Peel, core, and coarsely chop pears. In a medium saucepan, combine pears with grape juice. Bring to a boil, then lower heat and simmer until pears are tender, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat and drain pears, reserving poaching liquid. Allow pears and juice to cool. In a food processor, puree pears with 1/2 cup of the poaching liquid. (Reserve remaining poaching liquid for further poaching or chill and drink as a beverage.) Transfer pear puree to a large bowl and whisk in rice milk and vanilla. Taste for sweetness and add lemon juice as needed. Chill until serving time. To make chocolate swirl, combine chocolate chips with margarine or oil in a small bowl and microwave for 10 seconds. Stir and continue to microwave, 5 seconds at a time, until chocolate is melted. Transfer chocolate to a parchment cone or small zip-lock bag. Cut a very small hole in the cone or one corner of the bag. Ladel soup into individual bowls and pipe on chocolate swirl.

Makes 6 servings.

Source: Veggie Life Magazine