Gingered Pear and Cranberry Trifle Recipe

Ingredients

• Pears and Syrup
• 5 cups water
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 12 -inch piece fresh ginger, coarsely chopped
• 1 lemon
• 4 ripe but firm pears (about 2 1/2 pounds),peeled, halved , cored
• Custard
• 4 ½ cups milk (do not use low-fat or nonfat)
• 9 large eggs
• 1 cup sugar
• 3 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1/3 cup minced crystallized ginger
• Cake
• 1 ¼ 1-pound pound cakes
• 2 16-ounce cans prepared whole berry cranberry sauce
• 5 tablespoons pear liqueur, brandy or pear nectar
• 1 cup chilled whipping cream
• 3 tablespoons slivered almonds, toasted
• fresh mint sprigs