Brandied Fig Peach Chutney Food

BRANDIED FIGS

Steps:

• Wash figs a few at a time by quickly dipping them in a bowl of cool water. (Do not soak.) Place in a single layer on a kitchen towel; drain. Sprinkle 3/4 cup sugar evenly in a wide nonreactive pot. Top with figs, then sprinkle with remaining 3/4 cup sugar. Cover; refrigerate at least 12 hours and up to 2 days.
• Place pot over low heat, uncovered, and bring figs to a bare simmer. (Tilt pan from side to side or swirl a bit to help sugar dissolve, but do not stir, or fruit may get damaged.) Partially cover and simmer 10 minutes; remove from heat. Cover; let stand 4 hours.
• Repeat step 2 twice; figs should turn translucent in final simmering stage. (If necessary, allow to simmer longer than 10 minutes in final simmer, until they do.)
• Carefully spoon hot figs into hot sterilized canning jars (ideally pint-size or smaller). Bring syrup to a boil, skimming any scum that rises to surface. Turn off heat; stir in brandy. Taste; add more brandy as desired. Pour hot syrup over fruit to cover. Seal and process in a hot-water bath 10 minutes. Figs can be stored in a cool, dark place up to 1 year.

FRESH FIG CHUTNEY

Steps:

• In a large saucepan combine the vinegar, sugar, onion, ginger, mustard seeds, lemon zest, cinnamon stick, salt, allspice, and cloves and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook until mixture is thickened and reduced by 2/3, forming a thick syrup. Add the figs and cook gently until the figs are very soft and beginning to fall apart and most of the liquid they've given off has evaporated, about 30 minutes.
• Transfer the chutney to a non-reactive container and allow to come to room temperature before serving. The chutney may be made up to 3 weeks in advance and stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container. (Alternately, hot chutney may be ladled into hot sterilized canning jars and processed in a hot-water bath according to manufacturer's directions.)

FIGS IN BRANDY RECIPE (HIGOS AL BRANDY)

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• Rinse figs and place in a large pot.
• Combine the sugar with 2 cups (16 ounces) of water and dissolve the sugar.
• Add the sugar and water mixture to the pot. Add more water if necessary, to cover the figs. Heat on medium to medium-high until the water begins to boil. Reduce the heat. Allow it to simmer until the liquid is reduced to a thick syrup, approximately 20 to 30 minutes. Set aside to cool.
• Grate the orange zest.
• In a small saucepan, place the ground cinnamon, orange zest, brandy, and sherry. Heat on low and slowly bring to a boil. Stir to mix well, then remove from heat.
• Carefully remove the figs from the pot one by one, using tongs if needed. Place in a large open serving dish or bowl, or place on individual serving plates. Reserve the syrup.
• Pour the brandy sauce over the figs. Drizzle 4 to 6 serving spoonfuls of the syrup over the figs.
• Allow figs to cool (outside of refrigerator), marinating in a pool of the sauce for at least an hour before serving.
• If you will serve with almonds and whipped cream, add a dollop of whipped cream to each plate just before serving. Sprinkle almond slivers on top.

PEACH CHUTNEY

Steps:

• In a large skillet, saute onions in oil until tender. Add peaches; cook and stir for 3 minutes. Add sugars, raisins, molasses, salt, pepper, allspice and 5 tablespoons of vinegar; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from the heat; stir in lemon juice and remaining vinegar. Serve at room temperature with ham, pork or poultry. Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks.

PEACH AND FIG PRESERVES

Steps:

• Bring enough water to cover peaches to a boil. Put peaches in the boiling water for just 1 minute or under. Take them out with a slotted spoon and place them in cold water. Peel and slice peaches. Discard peach pits.
• In a large pot place sugar, vanilla pod and the seeds, figs, peaches, with optional cinnamon or ginger, lemon juice, zest and meat of lemon.
• Stir to release juices it will be thick. Simmer over low heat stirring not to burn. Juices will come and when it does raise heat to high stirring most of the time.
• Remove vanilla and cinnamon.
• With an immersion blender blend fruit till chunky smooth.
• Add back the vanilla and cinnamon.
• As mixture thicken, you must stir more frequently to ensure that it does not stick to the bottom of the pot.
• When it hits a rolling boil for 15 minutes all the time stirring add liquor cook 1 minute.
• To test whether the jam is ready, place a cold metal spoon in the mixture and tilt. The jam should form a single stream.
• Remove and discard bean and cinnamon.
• Pour into sterile jars and process 10 minutes.
• Optional for those that like it smoother without chunks you can blend the figs before adding to sugar or use an immersion blender while cooking.

PEACH CHUTNEY

Steps:

• Bring a medium saucepan of water to a boil and fill a large bowl with ice water. Cut a small X in the base of each peach using a paring knife, then add to the boiling water and cook just long enough to loosen the skins, 20 to 30 seconds. Remove with a slotted spoon and immediately plunge into the ice water. Remove and peel off the skins, using a paring knife as needed. Pat dry, then chop the peaches into 1/4-inch pieces, discarding the pits.
• Combine the sugar, vinegar, red onion, raisins, ginger, lemon zest, cinnamon stick, a pinch of salt and 2 tablespoons water in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally to dissolve the sugar, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in the peaches and return to a simmer. Reduce the heat to low; cook, stirring occasionally, until the peaches are tender but still hold their shape and the liquid is syrupy, 30 to 35 minutes. If the chutney seems dry, add more water, 1 teaspoon at a time.
• Let the chutney cool, then transfer to a small jar and refrigerate at least 4 hours or up to 2 weeks.

PEACH CHUTNEY

Steps:

• Melt butter, add garlic, shallot and jalapeno and sweat for 1 to 2 minutes, add diced peaches. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes, add sugar, deglaze with brandy and vinegar and allow to cook on low heat until peaches are soft. Season with salt and pepper.

FRESH FIG CHUTNEY

Steps:

• Put all the ingredients in a pan and bring to a gentle simmer for 1 hr, uncovered, stirring occasionally until it gets sticky and jammy. Spoon into a clean Kilner jar. That's it. You're done.

BRANDIED PEACHES

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Using the tip of a paring knife, make a shallow "X" in the bottom of each peach. Add the peaches, one at a time, to the boiling water and cook for 1 minute. Remove the peach from the water and plunge into a bowl of ice water. Repeat with the remaining peaches. Peel off the skins, then pit the fruit and quarter the flesh.
• In another large pot, combine 3 cups water and the sugar and bring to a boil. Add the peaches and simmer until just soft.
• Have the jars, bands and new lids scalded and ready. (To scald, dip the jars and rims in boiling water. You don't need to sterilize the jars, as you will be processing them for more than 10 minutes.) Simmer the lids in hot water to soften the rubberized flange. Gently pack the peaches into the jars.
• Boil the leftover syrup until it thickens slightly, then spoon it over the fruit, filling the jars ¾ full. Use a butter knife to release any air bubbles caught in the jars. Pour in enough brandy to fill the jars, leaving ¼ inch of headroom. Wipe the rims, cover with the lids and screw on the bands fingertip-tight. Place the jars on a rack in a big pot and cover with 2 to 3 inches of water. Cover the pot and bring to a boil over high heat, then lower the heat to medium and gently boil for 20 minutes. Remove the cover and then, after about 5 minutes, remove the jars. Allow them to cool, untouched, for 4 to 6 hours. Check the seals and store in a cool, dark place for up to a year. Refrigerate after opening.

BRANDIED FIG PEACH CHUTNEY

Steps:

• Put figs in a wide bottom bowl, add brandy to just about cover them. Set aside for at least 10 minutes. Put sugar and vinegars in a saucepan and heat on medium, stirring often, until sugar completely dissolves. Pour brandy off the figs (fig flavored brandy can be used in something else), and add figs to vinegar mixture. Add the rest of the ingredients, bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer until chutney reaches desired consistency, about 1 hour. Can or store in refrigerator.