Spiced Stone Fruit Chutney Food

STONE-FRUIT CHUTNEY

Steps:

• Combine fruit, brown sugar and water in a skillet and bring to a boil.
• Reduce heat and simmer until just tender, about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Add orange juice and ginger, curry powder and a pinch of ground cloves. Simmer, reducing mixture to desired thickness.
• Partly cool, then stir in raisins and toasted nuts (like macadamia), and serve.

GRILLED STONE FRUIT WITH FARMER'S CHEESE AND SPICED HONEY ALMONDS

Steps:

• For the spiced honey almonds: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Lightly spray a baking sheet with nonstick spray.
• Spread the almonds on the prepared baking sheet, then transfer to the oven and toast lightly, 8 minutes.
• Combine the honey, sugar, allspice, nutmeg and a pinch of salt in a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a simmer and cook until the sugar melts.
• Put the toasted almonds in a small bowl and toss with half of the honey mixture until evenly coated; reserve the remaining spiced syrup. Using a heat-proof spatula (the mixture will be hot), spread the coated almonds in an even layer on the baking sheet. Set aside until hardened, 15 minutes to 1 hour--the almonds will remain slightly sticky. Once hardened, coarsely chop or use whole.
• For the grilled stone fruit: Heat a grill pan over medium-high heat until very hot. Brush the cut sides of the fruit with a bit of oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Grill the fruit, cut-side down, to mark and caramelize slightly, about 2 minutes. Brush the tops with a bit more oil, sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper and then flip and grill on the reverse side just to soften slightly, 1 to 2 minutes more.
• Transfer the grilled fruit to a platter, cut-side up. Dollop the farmer's cheese around the fruit, drizzle some of the reserved spiced syrup over everything, and scatter the almonds on top. Serve immediately.

LAURA'S FRUITY CHUTNEY

Steps:

• Halve, stone and chop the plums (about the same size as you would for an apple pie - not too big, not too small). Drop them into a large saucepan. Core, peel and chop the apples and pears in the same way. Peel, stone and chop the mango. Put all the fruit in the pan.
• Stir sugar, vinegar, onions, ginger, garlic, mustard seeds, coriander, crushed chillies and salt into the pan, then drop the cinnamon stick on top. Heat slowly for about 20 mins, giving an occasional stir, until the sugar has dissolved. Now leave the chutney to simmer at a steady pace, without a lid, stirring occasionally until reduced and thickened, but still with a nice balance of syrupy juice. This will take about 1½ hrs. You don't want to cook it until all the liquid has gone, as it will thicken once it cools. Discard the cinnamon stick.
• Using a heatproof jug, pour the chutney while still hot into sterilised jars. It will keep for about a year in a cool, dry place.