| Real Life Recipes
Winter Fruit Compote |
| Winter Fruit Compote In the late fall, when the winter months start to creep in, this is a rich, flavorful way to enjoy fruit in their dried form. The addition of cranberries balances the sweetness of the other fruit and makes it perfect for the holiday season. I often make this compote and keep it in my fridge for several weeks as an easy winter drop-in guest dessert. I prefer it with ice cream, yogurt, or a small cake-y thing. Prep time: 10 minutes Cooking time: 30 minutes Season: fall/winter 1 ½ cups fruity red wine 1 Tbsp balsamic vinegar 2 Tbsp honey ½ cup water ½ vanilla bean, split and seeds scraped 1 cinnamon stick Several sprigs thyme 1 cup dried apricots ½ cup dried prunes 1/3 cup dried cranberries In a medium saucepan, combine the wine, vinegar, honey, water, vanilla bean (pod and the scraped seeds), cinnamon stick, and thyme sprigs. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Cook the mixture for about 10 minutes or until reduced by about one quarter. Add the fruit, reduce to medium low, and continue to cook, uncovered, for about 20 minutes or until thick and syrupy. Stir the fruit occasionally to prevent scorching. If the liquid level gets too low before the apricots are tender, add a splash more water and keep cooking for a few minutes. Bring to room temperature and serve over your favorite yogurt, ice cream, or cake. Store the remainder in a well-sealed container in the fridge. Makes 6 servings |