Gingerbread With Dried Fig Apricot And Cherry Compote Food

DRIED-CRANBERRY-AND-APRICOT COMPOTE

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, bring cranberries, apricots, wine, and 1/2 cup water to a rapid simmer over medium. Cook, stirring occasionally, until liquid is almost absorbed and fruit is softened, 10 minutes. Stir in ginger and season with salt, pepper, and vinegar. Serve at room temperature.

APRICOT-FIG COMPOTE

Steps:

• Bring 2 cups water, the ginger, fennel seeds, and cardamom seeds to a boil in a small saucepan. Add tea bags; remove from heat. Let stand 3 minutes. Remove bags with a slotted spoon and discard.
• Add apricots, figs, and sugar to tea mixture in pan. Return to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, partially covered, until fruits are tender and liquid is reduced to a thick syrup, 20 to 25 minutes. Compote can be served warm or at room temperature. Serve yogurt on the side, with a little of the syrup drizzled on top.

GINGERBREAD WITH FIG-WALNUT SAUCE

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in molasses (mixture will appear curdled)., In a small bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, ginger, aniseed, salt, cinnamon, allspice and cloves. Add to the creamed mixture alternately with buttermilk and lemon juice, beating well after each addition., Pour batter into a greased and floured 10-in. fluted tube pan. Bake at 350° until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 40-50 minutes., Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack to cool completely. Dust with confectioners' sugar if desired., For sauce, in a large skillet, cook figs and walnuts in oil over medium heat for 4 minutes. Stir in the spices; cook until aromatic, 1-2 minutes longer., Stir in the water, sugar, lemon juice and salt. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, until thickened, 8-12 minutes, stirring occasionally. Cool to room temperature. Serve with gingerbread.

GINGERBREAD WITH DRIED FIG, APRICOT AND CHERRY COMPOTE

Steps:

• Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 350°F. Generously butter and flour 12-cup Bundt pan. Sift flour, baking soda, ground ginger, cinnamon, cloves and salt into medium bowl. Combine melted butter and brown sugar in large bowl. Beat until well blended. Gradually beat in molasses. Beat in eggs. Add dry ingredients and beat until well blended. Gradually beat in hot water. Stir in chopped crystallized ginger.
• Transfer batter to prepared pan. Bake until tester inserted near center of cake comes out clean, about 55 minutes. Cool cake in pan on rack 10 minutes. Turn cake out onto rack and cool completely. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Wrap in plastic; let stand at room temperature.)
• Cut cake into wedges. Place on plates. Spoon some compote alongside each wedge. Garnish with sweetened whipped cream and serve.

DRIED FIG, APRICOT AND CHERRY COMPOTE

Steps:

• Combine 2 1/2 cups water, sugar and cinnamon sticks in large saucepan. Stir over medium heat until sugar dissolves. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low; cover and simmer 5 minutes. Add figs and simmer uncovered 3 minutes. Remove from heat. Mix in apricots, cherries and then brandy. Return to heat and simmer uncovered until all fruits are tender but still retain shape, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in crystallized ginger. Cool. (Compote can be prepared 3 days ahead. Cover and refrigerate.) Serve at room temperature or chilled.

SWEET DRIED FRUIT COMPOTE

Steps:

• Combine 2 cups of the water with the dried fruit in a large bowl. Let soak for 1 hour.
• In a small saucepan, combine the remaining 2 cups of water, orange juice, sugar, and lemon zest over medium-high heat. Add the fruit and the soaking liquid to the pan. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. Reduce the heat to medium-low and add the cinnamon and clove. Simmer 40 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the fruit has softened and the mixture has thickened. Remove from the heat and set aside to cool. Serve warm or cold.
• Cook's Note: If using store bought dried fruit, chop the pieces into 1/2-inch chunks and simmer the mixture an additional 15 to 20 minutes.

FIG AND GINGER SCONES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 230 Celsius.
• Sift flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and ground ginger together and place in a large bowl.
• Rub in the butter with your fingertips until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. Add the crystallized ginger and figs then add the combined milk and water and mix gently but thoroughly until the dough comes together.
• Turn out the dough, adding a little flour if the dough is sticky. Knead very briefly until the dough is manageable - do not overmix.
• Flatten the dough to about 1 inch thickness then use a 2 to 2 1/4 cutter to cut out rounds.
• Place the cut rounds on a non-stick baking sheet then gather up any remaining scraps and knead briefly. Cut as many more rounds as possible then place these on the sheet.
• Brush the scones with a little milk then bake for 10-12 minutes until golden.
• Serve with butter, marmalade or jam.

APRICOT DRIED FRUIT COMPOTE

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, combine all ingredients, except orange extract. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer uncovered, 20 minutes.
• Remove and discard cinnamon stick.
• Stir in orange extract.
• Serve hot or cold.