Plums In Red Wine Food

PLUM AND RED-WINE SORBET

Steps:

• Stir together all ingredients and a pinch of salt in a heavy medium saucepan and cook, covered, over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until plums fall apart, about 25 minutes. Discard cinnamon stick and zest. Purée in batches in a blender until very smooth (use caution when blending hot liquids). Force purée through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl, discarding solids. Cool, uncovered, then chill, covered, until cold, at least 2 hours.
• Freeze purée in ice cream maker, then transfer sorbet to an airtight container and put in freezer to harden, at least 1 hour.

BROWN SUGAR MERINGUES WITH RED WINE PLUMS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 140C/fan 120C/gas 1. Line a large baking sheet with baking paper. Blend together the cornflour, vinegar and vanilla to make a paste. Whisk the egg whites until they are stiff and glossy, then whisk in the sugar in three goes, adding a little paste and whisking back to firm peaks each time. Keep whisking until the meringue is thick and heavy.
• Spoon six meringue heaps onto the baking sheet, spaced apart, then shape into nests by making dips in the centres with the back of a spoon. Bake for 1 hr, then turn off the oven and leave to cool in the oven for a further hr.
• Put the wine, sugar and cinnamon stick in a medium pan and bring to the boil, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Add the plums, then poach gently for 4-5 mins until just tender. Remove the plums with a slotted spoon, peel off the skins, then set aside.
• Increase the heat under the sauce and boil hard until reduced to a thick syrup, about 5 mins. Pour into a jug; leave to cool.
• To serve, set the meringue nests on serving plates and spoon the crème fraîche into the centres. Place three plum halves on each and drizzle over the sauce. Serve without delay.

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.

PLUM AND RED WINE SOUP

Steps:

• Cut the plums in half, cutting around the sides of the pits. You will remove the pits after the plums have simmered.
• Combine the plums with the honey, vanilla extract, cinnamon stick, nutmeg, orange zest, rose geranium, wine and 1/2 cup of the orange juice in a heavy, medium saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat, cover and simmer for 30 minutes. Remove from the heat. Remove the cinnamon stick, rose geranium sprig and orange zest.
• Allow to cool, then remove the pits from the plums and transfer to a food mill fitted with the medium blade. Press the plums through the food mill into a bowl. Whisk the mixture to amalgamate. Cover and chill for at least an hour and for up to a day.
• Just before serving, whisk in the remaining orange juice. Ladle into bowls. Garnish with thin slices of lighter-fleshed plums and serve.