Braised Carrots With Dried Plums Prunes Food

NO-PEEL BRAISED CARROTS

Steps:

• Heat the vegetable stock, then tip the carrots into a deep frying pan. Add the butter, sugar, fennel seeds and the hot stock. Season to taste.
• Simmer, uncovered, over a medium heat for 25-30 mins or until the carrots are cooked through and the liquid is reduced and glossy.

BRAISED CARROTS

Steps:

• Cut carrots into 1/8 in rounds or 1/4 in dice.
• In a wide, low pot melt butter over medium heat, add carrots and cook about 3 minutes, stirring frequently until carrots have a "glazed" look.
• Add, sugar and cook another minute.
• Add salt and 1/4 cup hot water, cover, reduce heat to medium low and let cook until carrots are done, checking and stirring occasionally. Add a little more water if necessary to prevent sticking. Dish should be almost dry when done.
• I usually cook for 10 minutes but cooking time can vary considerably due to age and sort of carrots as well as your your personal preference.
• When done serve sprinkled with a little parsley or chervil (which is nice with fish).

BRAISED CARROTS WITH DRIED PLUMS (PRUNES)

Steps:

• Cut the prunes in half, and cut the carrots into 1/2-inch-thick slices.
• In a 3-qt. saucepan, combine all ingredients. Heat to boiling on high. Reduce heat to medium; simmer, stirring occasionally, 15-20 minutes or until liquid evaporates and carrots are glazed. Serve at once.

SPICED ITALIAN PLUMS (PRUNES) IN PORT

Steps:

• Cut plums in half and remove pit. Combine sugar, water, orange peel, cinnamon sticks and cloves in a large pot. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer a few minutes. Add plums, a layer at a time to heat through, about 2 minutes. Remove plums from syrup.
• Pack hot plums into hot pint jars, leaving 1/2 inch headspace.
• Repeat with remaining plums.
• Reheat syrup to a boil. Remove from heat; discard cinnamon sticks. Stir in port.
• Pour over plums, leaving 1/2 inch headspace. (add a few cloves and pieces of orange peel to each jar). Remove air bubbles. Adjust caps.
• Process 20 minutes in boiling water bath.

BRAISED PORK WITH PRUNES

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a flame-proof casserole pan and cook the pork, turning occasionally, until it is golden brown all over, about 10 mins. You need plenty of space in the pan, so cook in 2 batches if the meat starts to steam. Remove from the pan to a plate. Tip out any burnt bits, then add the butter and cook the onion for 3-5 mins until softened.
• Stir in the flour, then return the pork and juices to the pan. Pour over the wine and enough stock to cover the meat. Bring to the boil, reduce to a simmer, put the lid on and cook for 45 mins, stirring occasionally. Tip in the prunes, top up with stock or water if the meat isn't covered, and cook 45 mins more, uncovered, until really tender. Serve sprinkled with parsley.

PERFECT PLUM CRISP

Steps:

• In a saucepan, combine the first four ingredients; simmer 15 minutes and set aside.
• Sift flour and salt; add brown sugar, cut in butter; add oats and coconut.
• Spread half of dry mixture in 8" square pan; spoon prune mixture over top; spread remaining dry mixture over two layers.
• Bake at 325 degrees for 45 minutes.

STEWED PRUNES

Steps:

• Combine all the ingredients into a medium saucepan. Cover. Bring to the boil, give a stir or 2 and then turn the heat down and simmer covered for 15 minutes. At the end of the 15 minute cooking time turn the heat off and leave on the stove for 10 minutes. Pour into a dish large enough to contain the contents of the saucepan. Cool. When cool, cover (so nothing in the fridge falls into or spills into the dish), and put in the fridge. Eat!

WALNUT-STUFFED CHOCOLATE-COVERED PRUNES.

Steps:

• Slit prunes with a small sharp knife and remove the stones.
• Place pitted prunes in a small bowl and cover them with the cognac and allow them to soak for at least 30 minutes.
• Open up each prune and insert a walnut half and then press it closed again. The cut sides should stick together and the walnut be completely enclosed.
• Repeat with all prunes.
• Melt chocolate in double boiler and dip each stuffed prune into the melted chocolate with a pair of tongs.
• Place onto a foil-lined tray and sprinkle with remaining walnuts that have been finely chopped.
• Allow to set at room temperature (avoid refrigeration as it takes away the glossy finish and makes them look dull).
• Each piece can be put into a pleated paper cup for an attractive presentation.
• Dried apricots can be substituted for prunes but they are a little drier and harder to stuff.

BEEF BRISKET BRAISED WITH DRIED FRUIT, YAMS AND CARROTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°F. Heat oil in heavy large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add onions and garlic and cook until beginning to brown, stirring frequently, about 15 minutes. Add 1 teaspoon paprika, allspice and crushed red pepper and stir 20 seconds. Add chicken stock, wine and bay leaves. Boil 10 minutes to blend flavors.
• Sprinkle brisket with paprika and rub in. Add brisket to pot, fat side up. Add dried apricots and pitted prunes. Cover and bake 1 1/2 hours.
• Add yams and carrots to pot. Cover and cook until brisket is very tender, about 2 1/2 hours longer. Remove from oven and let stand 20 minutes. Remove brisket from pot and slice thinly across grain. Arrange on platter. Degrease pan juices. Spoon pan juices over meat. Arrange fruit and vegetables around meat. Garnish with minced fresh parsley and serve. (Can be prepared 2 days ahead. Cover and refrigerate before slicing meat. To serve, remove meat from pot and slice thinly across grain. Remove any solid fat from sauce. Return sliced meat to pot. Place pot in 325°F oven and bake until brisket is heated through, about 30 minutes.)

BRAISED PORK LOIN WITH PRUNES

Steps:

• Heat 2 tablespoons oil in 5-quart pot over moderate heat until hot but not smoking, then cook onions, garlic, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper, stirring occasionally, until onions are soft and golden, about 20 minutes. Transfer onions to a bowl and reserve pot.
• Simmer prunes and Armagnac in a 1- to 2-quart saucepan 5 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
• Make a hole for stuffing: Insert a long thin sharp knife into middle of one end toward center of loin, then repeat at opposite end to make an incision that runs lengthwise through roast. Enlarge incision with your fingers, working from both ends, to create a 3/4-inch-wide opening.
• Pack about 20 prunes into pork, pushing from both ends toward center (reserve remaining Armagnac and prunes). Pat pork dry and season with 1/2 teaspoon salt and remaining 1/4 teaspoon pepper.
• Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 375°F.
• Wrap parsley, thyme, sage, bay leaf, peppercorns, and cloves in cheesecloth and tie into a bundle with kitchen string.
• Brush pork with mustard, then evenly coat with brown sugar. Heat remaining 2 tablespoons oil in reserved pot over high heat until hot but not smoking, then brown meat on all sides (not ends), reducing heat if necessary to keep from burning, about 6 minutes total.
• Transfer pork with tongs to a plate, then add white wine and reserved Armagnac (but not prunes) to pot. Bring to a boil, then remove from heat.
• Add broth, onions, and cheesecloth bundle to pot with Armagnac mixture, then add pork with any juices accumulated on plate and turn pork fat side up. Bring to a boil over high heat, covered, then transfer to oven and braise 30 minutes.
• Add remaining prunes and braise until thermometer inserted diagonally 2 inches into meat (avoid stuffing) registers 150°F, about 15 minutes.
• Transfer pork to a cutting board and cut off and discard string, then cover with heavy-duty foil (temperature of pork will rise as it stands).
• While pork stands, skim fat from surface of sauce (if necessary) and remove and discard cheesecloth bundle, then stir in vinegar and remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and pepper to taste.

MOROCCAN SPICED PORK TENDERLOIN WITH DRIED PLUMS

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, whisk together all of the ingredients for the marinade and pour over the tenderloins. Marinate the pork tenderloin for 30 minutes in the refrigerator.
• While the pork is marinating, heat the oil in a skillet over medium heat and add the onions, shallots, thyme, salt and pepper. Cook until the onions are soft, about 5 minutes. Turn off the heat and set aside in the pan.
• Preheat the oven to 350°F.
• Remove the tenderloins from the marinade and pat them dry. Season with salt and freshly cracked pepper. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the tenderloins on all sides in the dry, hot skillet and finish cooking in the oven until the pork is just cooked through, about 12 to 15 minutes.
• Place the tenderloins on a cutting board and let them rest 2 to 3 minutes before slicing.
• Meanwhile, place the onion mixture over medium heat and add the dried plums. Cook for 1 minute and add the apple cider. Bring to a boil and cook until the cider reduces a little and becomes syrupy, about 2 to 3 minutes.
• Slice the pork, place a few slices on each plate along with some of the dried plum mixture and a drizzle of the cider syrup.