Spiced Chai Fruit Dip Food

CHAI-SPICED FRUIT COMPOTE WITH YOGURT

Steps:

• Bring 1-3/4 cups water to a boil in a 2 quart saucepan. Turn off the heat, add the tea bags and steep for 5 minutes. Discard the tea bags.
• Add the honey, apricots, prunes, and raisins to the saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to medium low and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the liquid thickens to a light syrup, 18 to 20 minutes. (It will thicken further as it cools). Transfer to a bowl, cover, and chill for at least 4 hours and up to 3 days.
• Divide the yogurt among 4 small bowls. Serve the compote over the yogurt, topped with the toasted almonds.

GRILLED FRUIT WITH SPICED CHAI SYRUP

Steps:

• For the syrup: In a small saucepan, boil 1/2 cup water. Turn off heat, add tea-bag and brew tea, leaving bag in the water until cool and tea is very dark. Remove tea-bag, squeezing out excess tea. Add honey and all of the spices. Bring liquid to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer 5 to 7 minutes, or until liquid has slightly reduced and you are left with 1 cup of liquid. Remove from heat and cool for half an hour. Using a fine-meshed sieve or tea brewer, strain out whole spices. Syrup should be thinner than honey, but still have body.
• For the bananas: Preheat grill or grill pan sprayed with cooking spray over medium-high heat. Slice bananas in half lengthwise. Grill fruit until slightly softened and light grill marks form, about 2 to 3 minutes per side. Place 2 banana halves on a dessert plate and drizzle with 2 tablespoons syrup.

SPICED CHAI

Steps:

• Mix together water and milk in large saucepan; bring to a boil.
• Add cardamom pods, peppercorns, cloves, cinnamon stick, anise, nutmeg, ginger root, and tea.
• Remove from heat and steep for 15-20 minutes, according to how strong you like your tea.
• Carefully strain tea through strainer into another pot to remove spices.
• Stir in honey, mixing well to dissolve; mix in vanilla extract.
• Pour into cups and serve warm, or chill and serve cold.