Montrachet Cheesecake With Winter Fruit Compote Food

WARM WINTER FRUIT COMPOTE

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients in a large saucepan. Cover and simmer 20 minutes. Remove cover and simmer an additional 35 minutes or until liquid is reduced to desired consistency. Serve warm with turkey or pork.
• Recipe note: Compote may be made ahead of serving time. Cover and store in refrigerator. Reheat to a simmer for 10 minutes before serving.
• Garnish with sprigs of fresh rosemary, if desired.

10-MINUTE WINTER FRUIT COMPOTE

Steps:

• Tip the dried fruit, orange juice and whole spices into a microwaveable bowl. Microwave on High for 4-5 mins, stirring halfway through until the juices become sticky and the fruits are plump.
• Leave the compote to stand for a minute and serve in bowls with spoonfuls of yogurt or fromage frais.

WINTER FRUIT COMPOTE WITH SELECTION OF CHEESE

Steps:

• In a 4-quart saucepan or pot bring the first 6 ingredients to a simmer. Stir slowly to dissolve the sugar in the liquid. Add the remaining ingredients except the lemon juice and the cheese. When the liquid comes to a boil, adjust the heat and simmer for about 20 minutes to marry the flavors and soften the fruit. Turn off the heat then stir in the lemon juice. With a slotted spoon remove the fruit to a bowl. Bring the remaining syrup to a simmer and reduce until lightly thickened or when the bubbles formed on the top become small. Remove the syrup for the heat and when it is cool pour it over the fruit. The compote can be held in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
• Serve the compote at room temperature with the cheese.

FRUIT COMPOTE WITH CRUMPETS

Steps:

• Place all the compote ingredients in a saucepan and bring to a simmer. Cook 10 minutes then turn off the heat and let plump 30 minutes. Cool to room temperature.
• Toast the crumpets in the toaster and spread with honey then toast a few more seconds. Place on a plate and top with a spoonful of the dried fruit compote and a dollop of vanilla yogurt.

TRES LECHES PECAN SHORTCAKES WITH DRIED FRUIT COMPOTE

Steps:

• In a large bowl, stir together the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and pecans. Using a pastry blender, flat beater attachment on an electric mixer or your fingertips, work in the shortening until the mixture resembles coarse meal. Mix in the evaporated milk and 3 tablespoons of the rum to form a soft dough. Knead it for 10 seconds, then lightly flour it and pat it out 3/4-inch thick. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour until firm. Set a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 375 degrees. Cut out 2 1/4-inch round biscuits and arrange them at 2-inch intervals on a nonstick or parchment lined cookie sheet. If necessary, pat the scraps together, re-chill for 10 minutes and cut more biscuits to make a total of 8. Bake for 20 minutes or until slightly tanned and springy. Set the cookie sheet on a rack to cool. In the meantime, in a saucepan, cover the dried fruit with white grape juice and bring to a simmer. Cook for 3 minutes. Let cool in juice then drain. Add canned fruits. Mix together the sweetened condensed milk, coconut cream and remaining tablespoon of rum. With a serrated knife, split the biscuits in half. Fill with fruit and spoon on sauce.

WINTER FRUIT COMPOTE WITH COGNAC

Steps:

• Put the figs, kumquats, prunes, sugar, Cognac and lemon zest in a saucepan with 2 cups/500 ml water and bring to a boil. Cook until the fruits are plump and the sauce syrupy. Turn off the heat and let the fruit macerate for 30 minutes. Pour into a serving dish (a cut glass bowl looks lovely) and let cool. Serve with creme fraiche and toasted almonds, or with a big spoonful of vanilla ice cream.

OLD-FASHIONED FRUIT COMPOTE

Steps:

• Drain pineapple, peaches and oranges, reserving the juices; set drained fruit aside. In a Dutch oven, combine fruit juice, dried fruits, lemon zest strips and cinnamon stick. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer until dried fruit is tender, about 30 minutes. Add reserved canned fruit and cherries; heat just until warmed through. Serve warm or at room temperature.

WHITE CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE WITH RHUBARB COMPOTE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4. Line the base of a 23cm springform tin with baking parchment. Whizz the biscuits in a food processor until they resemble breadcrumbs. Pour in the butter, whizz briefly again, then tip the mixture into the tin and press down firmly. Bake for 10 mins, then cool.
• Reduce oven temperature to 140C/fan 120C/gas 1. Wrap a double layer of foil, lined with cling film, around the base and sides of the tin to make it watertight. Break 400g chocolate into a pan, then pour in the cream and heat until the chocolate has melted. Leave to cool slightly. Rinse the bowl of the processor, then blend the cream cheese, eggs and vanilla essence together with the melted chocolate and cream until smooth.
• Put the tin in a deep roasting tray, then pour in the filling. Half-fill the roasting tray with boiling water, bake for 1 hr, then turn the oven off. Leave to cool in the oven with the door slightly ajar for 1-2 hrs. Lift the cheesecake from the water, discard the foil, then cover with cling film and chill. The cheesecake can be made up to 3 days ahead. Grate the remaining chocolate over the cheesecake before serving.
• For the compote, heat oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4. Mix the rhubarb and sugar in an ovenproof dish. Scrape the seeds from the vanilla pod on top of the rhubarb, then drop in the pod, too. Pour the muscat over, cover with foil, then bake for 30-40 mins, stirring halfway, until the rhubarb is cooked. Leave to cool, then remove the pod. Serve the compote with the cheesecake. The compote can be kept in the fridge for up to 4 days.