Crunchy Spiced Plums Food

POACHED PLUMS

Steps:

• To prepare the plums: wash and cut them into quarters, then remove the stones.
• Tip the sugar into a pan with 225ml water, the cinnamon and vanilla. Gently heat until the sugar dissolves.
• Slide the fruit into the syrup. Bring the pan to the boil, then let it simmer for 5-10 mins - depending on the ripeness - until the plums are soft. Leave to cool slightly and serve as they are with something creamy.

FRESH PLUM CRUMBLE WITH SPICED CRUMB TOPPING RECIPE

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• Preheat oven to 375 F. Butter a shallow 2-quart baking dish.
• Combine plums and brown sugar, stirring well to blend.
• Spoon plum mixture into prepared baking dish.
• Sift together flour, granulated sugar, salt, and cinnamon in a medium bowl.
• Add beaten egg, stirring lightly with a fork until mixture is crumbly.
• Sprinkle crumb mixture evenly over plums and then drizzle with melted butter.
• Bake plum crumble for 35 to 45 minutes, or until plums are tender and topping is lightly browned.
• Serve warm with whipped topping or ice cream.

CRUNCHY SPICED PLUMS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6. Mix the sugar with 2 tbsp water in a baking dish, add the star anise, then pop in the plums, cut-side down. They should fit quite snugly. Dot with the butter. Roast for about 5 mins until the plums are starting to soften on the bottom, then turn them over. Roast for another 5 mins or until tender - this will depend on how ripe your fruit is.
• Roughly crush the Hobnobs, then spoon a little on top of each plum half. Return to the oven for a few mins more until the biscuit topping takes on a dark gold colour. Serve the plums and their scented, syrupy juices with custard or ice cream.

SPICED PLUM CHUTNEY

Steps:

• Halve the plums and remove the pits if possible -- if the plums are very firm then leave the pits in to prevent wasting any flesh. In this case, allow 2 1/4 lbs. in weight.
• Cut the peeled and cored apples into small dice. Peel and chop the onions. Peel and mince the garlic.
• Put the plums, apples, onion and garlic into the pan with 1 1/4 cup vinegar, mixed spice, curry, ginger and cinnamon.
• Simmer gently until the fruits are soft. Remove the plum pits (if necessary)at this point.
• Add the sultanas, sugar and remaining 1 1/4 cup of vinegar. Stir over low heat until the sugar has dissolved. Boil steadily until the consistency of a thick jam, stirring occasionally.
• Add salt and pepper to taste, then spoon into the hot jars and seal down.

PLUM CRUMBLE

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Put the plums into the base of a shallow gratin dish about 28cm long. Mix together the sugar, orange zest, cinnamon and flour and sprinkle over the plums. Trickle over 2 tbsp water.
• Put all the crumble ingredients into a food processor, and using the pulse button, whizz until the mixture just starts to clump together. Take care not to over process at this stage. Alternatively, rub the butter into the flour using your hands and then stir in the other ingredients.
• Scatter the crumble over the plums and bake in the oven for 30-40 mins until golden brown. Leave for about 15 mins before serving with custard or cream.