Mixed Fruit With Vanilla Apple Syrup Food

FRUIT SALAD WITH ORANGE-VANILLA SYRUP

Steps:

• Place the sugar, 1 cup water, orange zest, juice and vanilla bean in a small pan and stir to dissolve the sugar. Then bring to a boil. Turn the heat to low and simmer for about 15 minutes to thicken. Set aside to cool.
• Prepare all the fruit in a large bowl, pour the cooled syrup over the top and toss together. Decorate with mint leaves and chill until ready to serve.

MIXED BERRIES WITH SPICED MAPLE SYRUP

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, combine the syrup, cinnamon, star anise, cloves and salt. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, then reduce the heat and simmer gently for 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and allow the mixture to cool completely. Strain the syrup through a fine mesh strainer, discarding the spices. Cool to room temperature.
• In a medium bowl, combine the heavy cream, creme fraiche, 2 teaspoons of the spiced syrup and vanilla. Using a large whisk or handheld mixer, beat until the cream thickens and soft peaks begin to form (careful not to over whip).
• Divide the berries among 4 coupe glasses or dessert dishes. Dollop with the whipped creme fraiche and drizzle with 1 to 2 teaspoons of the syrup. Sprinkle with almonds, if using. Leftover syrup will keep for 2 weeks in the refrigerator in a sealed jar.

CHILLED MIXED FRUIT

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, bring sugar and water to a boil. Cook and stir until sugar is dissolved. Cool completely., Cut a thin slice from the top and bottom of each grapefruit; stand grapefruit upright on a cutting board. Cut off peel and outer membrane, starting from the top. Holding fruit over a bowl to catch juices, remove grapefruit sections by cutting along the membrane. Repeat with oranges., Place lemon juice, sugar syrup, citrus sections and reserved juices in a large bowl; toss to combine. Refrigerate, covered, 8 hours or overnight. Stir in remaining fruit; refrigerate, covered, 1 hour longer.

MACERATED FRUIT

Steps:

• Combine your ingredients of choice in a medium bowl and toss together until the fruit is evenly coated. For inspiration, try some of my favorite fruit, herb and spice combinations, such as Peach and Ginger, Blackberry and Mint, Cherry and Cinnamon and Strawberry and Vanilla.
• Cover the bowl with reusable or regular plastic wrap and refrigerate for 24 hours, stirring about halfway through and gently pressing the fruit with a rubber spatula until the liquid completely covers the fruit.
• After the 24 hours, strain the liquid through a fine-mesh sieve, gently pressing on the fruit with a rubber spatula to extract as much juice as possible. Reserve both the fruit and the liquid. Discard any other solids, such as herb sprigs, whole spices or aromatics.
• Serving suggestions for the macerated fruit: Serve immediately on top of yogurt with granola, or desserts, such as grilled pound cake or ice cream. You can also muddle the fruit into cocktails or add it to sangria. The fruit can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 or 4 days or frozen for up to 6 months. Thaw before serving.
• The macerated liquid can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 1 week or frozen in an ice cube tray. Once frozen, cover with reusable or regular plastic wrap and freeze for up to 6 months. You can use a small offset spatula to help remove individual cubes from the tray, then thaw the macerated liquid as needed.
• Serving suggestions for the macerated liquid:
• Homemade soda: For 1 serving, pour 1/4 cup macerated liquid in a tall glass filled with ice, top with 12 ounces sparkling water and serve.
• Fruit shrub: For the shrub base, combine 1 part macerated liquid with 1 part apple cider vinegar (for example, 1/2 cup of each). Mix to evenly combine. For 1 serving, pour 1/4 cup of the shrub base into a tall glass filled with ice, top with 12 ounces sparkling water and serve.
• Fruit vinaigrette: Turn your shrub base (see above) into a vinaigrette. Whisk 1 part shrub base with 1 part neutral oil (such as canola, grapeseed or vegetable oil; for example, 1/4 cup of each) in a bowl until emulsified. Season the vinaigrette with salt and pepper. Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
• Fruit syrup: Bring the macerated liquid to a boil in a small saucepan over medium heat. Cook until reduced by half and thickened to the consistency of maple syrup-it should coat the back of a spoon without running off very quickly. Let the syrup cool completely, then serve over ice cream, pancakes, oatmeal, or yogurt and granola. The syrup also makes for a great gift when poured into a jar. It can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 1 week.

HONEY FRUIT SALAD

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine fruit. In a small bowl, combine the honey, lime juice, zest and vanilla. Pour over fruit; gently toss to coat. Sprinkle with poppy seeds. Garnish with mint if desired.

APPLE AND MIXED FRUIT CRISP

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°F Lightly grease a 10-inch round baking dish.
• Combine fruit mixture ingredients (apples through lemon juice & zest) and transfer to prepared baking dish.
• Combine dry topping ingredients (oats through nutmeg) then cut in butter (I use my fingers to combine) until crumbly. Sprinkle topping over fruit mixture.
• Bake until fruit bubbles and topping is browned, 35-45 minutes.
• Serve warm.

FRUIT SALAD WITH APPLE VANILLA SYRUP

Steps:

• Place apple juice and lemon zest in a pot.
• Slice the vanilla bean in half, and scape out the seeds into the juice. Add bean pod to the pot as well.
• Bring to a boil over medium high heat.
• Reduce to medium low and simmer for 30 minutes, or until mixture is syrup-like and reduced to 1/3 cup.
• Remove lemon zest and vanilla bean, and cool to room temperature.
• Sometimes I strain the cooled syrup through a mesh strained if there are pieces of the bean pod still left behind.
• Toss mangoes, strawberries and blueberries with the syrup and serve.