Poached Quinces with Whipped Cream

Ingredients

 * 1 1/2 cups sugar
 * 2 cups water
 * 2 lemon slices
 * 3 cloves
 * 3 large quinces, peeled but with skins reserved, cored, and halved
 * 2 teaspoons rosewater
 * 11/2 cups thickly whipped cream

Directions

 * 1) Place the sugar and water in a large heavy pot and bring to a boil over high heat. Stir constantly until the sugar completely dissolves, 2 to 3 minutes.
 * 2) Add the lemon slices, cloves, the reserved quince skins, and the quinces, turning them to coat with the syrup. Reduce the heat to low and simmer, covered, turning the quinces occasionally, until they are tender, 35 to 40 minutes.
 * 3) Remove the lemon slices, cloves, and quince skins. Stir in the rosewater and allow the quinces to cool to room temperature in the syrup.
 * 4) To serve, place a quince half on each of six dessert plates. Spoon some syrup over each quince half and top with whipped cream. If you are serving the quinces the next day and find that the syrup thickens too much, just reheat the fruit and syrup slowly and let cool.
 * 5) Serves 6