Compote
- loosely based on recipe from Joy of Cooking
Cut up and combine in a saucepan several of the following. I like to use some dried fruit, either apricots or prunes, and some fresh, berries or apples etc. Frozen is fine too.
1-2 pears dried or fresh
1-2 apples or unsweetened applesauce
1/2 cup raisins
2-3 prunes
7-8 apricots (dried)
blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, currants
mango
Add 1/2 stick cinnamon, 3-6 whole cloves, star anise if you like.
Simmer with some water to keep it from burning until all fruit is soft but not necessarily mushy.
Add 1/2 cup sherry or marsala wine.
No sugar is needed in this as the fruits are quite sweet. I recently made this with canned pears and used the syrup - wow it was reeaaally sweet.
Serve warm or cool on cereal, ice cream, yogurt, or use your imagination. Also good alone with a touch of heavy cream.
Can be served as a chutney with a meal.