Plum Apple Butter Food

PLUM BUTTER

Steps:

• Place plums in a large stockpot and add enough water to cover the bottom of stockpot; cook over very low heat, stirring occasionally, until plums are broken down, about 2 hours. Remove stockpot from heat and cool for 2 hours.
• Return stockpot to stovetop over low heat; cook gently for 2 to 3 hours. Remove from heat and keep at room temperature, 8 hours to overnight.
• Cook plums over low heat, stirring occasionally, about 2 hours. Remove from heat and let stand at room temperature for 2 hours.
• Bring plums to a boil; add sugar, lower heat, and simmer until thickened, about 15 minutes.
• Sterilize jars and lids in boiling water for at least 5 minutes. Pack plum butter into hot jars, filling to within 1/4 inch of the top. Run a clean knife or thin spatula around the insides of the jars to remove any air bubbles. Wipe the rims of the jars with a moist paper towel to remove any food residue. Top with lids and screw on rings.
• Place a rack in the bottom of a large stockpot and fill halfway with water. Bring to a boil and lower jars into the boiling water using a holder. Leave a 2-inch space between the jars. Pour in more boiling water if necessary to bring the water level to at least 1 inch above the tops of the jars. Bring the water to a rolling boil, cover the pot, and process for 15 minutes.
• Remove the jars from the stockpot and place onto a cloth-covered or wood surface, several inches apart, until cool. Press the top of each lid with a finger, ensuring that the seal is tight (lid does not move up or down at all). Store in a cool, dark area.

PLUM CRISP

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease an 8x8-inch baking dish.
• Spread the plums out into the prepared baking dish and sprinkle with 1/4 cup sugar. In a bowl, mix together 3/4 cup white sugar, flour, baking powder, and salt. Combine with beaten egg and spoon the mixture over the plums. Drizzle batter with melted butter.
• Bake in the preheated oven until the topping is brown, about 40 minutes.

ULTIMATE PLUM & APPLE COBBLER

Steps:

• For the fruit, put all the ingredients in a saucepan. Cook over a low heat, stirring until the butter has melted and the sugar has dissolved, then leave to simmer until you have a chunky fruit compote, then set aside.
• Heat oven to 190C/170C fan/gas 6. Whisk the egg into the milk and set aside. Rub the butter and the flour together until it has the texture of chunky breadcrumbs, then stir in the caster sugar, cinnamon, baking powder and a large pinch of salt. Pour in the milk mixture and bring together to form a thick, batter-like texture.
• Tip the compote into a baking dish and top with large spoonfuls of the cobbler mix, making sure there are a few gaps for the fruit to bubble through, then sprinkle everything with the demerara sugar. Bake for 35-40 mins or until the topping is golden and just cooked through. Remove from the oven and leave to rest for 5 mins before serving straight from the dish with generous spoonfuls of clotted cream.

PLUM BUTTER

Steps:

• Split plums in half, remove pits, and cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces. Do not peel. Place in a 6-quart nonreactive saucepan, and add 1 cup water and the sugar. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and cook until fruit is very soft, about 20 minutes. Remove from heat; puree fruit and liquid in a food mill or food processor.
• Rinse saucepan and return puree to pan along with cardamom and cinnamon. Cook over low heat, stirring frequently to prevent scorching, until thick enough to spread, 2 1/2 to 3 hours. Remove from heat and let cool. Store in an airtight container.

PLUM & APPLE COBBLER

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to fan 160C/ conventional180C/gas 4. Butter a 1.5 litre ovenproof pie dish.
• Peel, core and slice the apples. Halve, stone and quarter the plums. Put the apples in a pan with the lemon juice, sugar and 1 tbsp water. Bring to the boil, then cover and cook gently for 5 minutes. Add the plums and cook for a further 5 minutes.
• Turn the fruit into the prepared dish. Tip the flour and cinnamon into a bowl, add the butter, cut into small pieces and rub in with your fingertips. Stir in the sugar, then add the egg and milk and mix lightly to a soft batter (this can be done in the food processor).
• Drop tablespoonsful of the batter over the fruit, leaving gaps where the fruit peers through, then scatter over the nuts. Bake for 25-30 minutes until the topping has a crisp brown crust.

ALL-DAY APPLE BUTTER

Steps:

• Place the apples in a slow cooker. In a medium bowl, mix the sugar, cinnamon, cloves and salt. Pour the mixture over the apples in the slow cooker and mix well.
• Cover and cook on high 1 hour.
• Reduce heat to low and cook 9 to 11 hours, stirring occasionally, until the mixture is thickened and dark brown.
• Uncover and continue cooking on low 1 hour. Stir with a whisk, if desired, to increase smoothness.
• Spoon the mixture into sterile containers, cover and refrigerate or freeze.