Stewed Holiday Fruit Food

WARM FRUIT STEW

Steps:

• Put the fruit in a frying pan and add the syrup. Cook over medium heat for 2 minutes, shaking the pan gently to coat the fruit with syrup. Add the butter, a pinch of salt, and the lemon juice, and continue to cook, swirling the fruit and butter around in the pan, another minute, or until the butter has melted.
• Spoon the fruit compote onto 4 plates and place scoops of raspberry sorbet in the center of each serving.
• Variation: To make an uncooked compote of tropical fruits, peel and cup up a ripe mango and a ripe papaya. Put in a bowl and add 1 cup of warm medium sugar syrup and the juices/pulp of 2 ripe passion fruits. Mix in a pinch of salt and chill for 1 hour. Serve with coconut ice cream, or plain in a hollowed-out meringue. For a warm compote put all the fruit in the syrup as above and cook in the same way as the berry compote, then serve on polenta pound cake.
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 cup water
• Put the sugar and water in a pan. Bring the water to a boil, stirring constantly, until all the sugar is dissolved. Simmer 5 minutes, then let the syrup cool. Use as needed.

STEWED FALL FRUIT WITH BUTTERED CRUMBS

Steps:

• In a large non-reactive Dutch oven, combine the apple cider, ginger, cinnamon, and allspice and bring to a simmer. Let cook for 5 minutes. While the cider is simmering, peel and core the apples and pears. Cut the apples into eighths and the pears into quarters or thick lengthwise slices and toss with the lemon juice. Add the apples, pears, prunes, raisins, and brown sugar to the simmering cider and return to a simmer. Cover the pan and reduce the heat to a gentle simmer and cook until the fruits are very soft and tender but not falling apart, 30 to 40 minutes, stirring very gently so as to not break up the fruit. As the pieces of fruit become very tender, use a slotted spoon to transfer the pieces 1 by 1 to a 9 by 13-inch casserole. When all of the fruit is tender and has been transferred to the casserole, increase the heat to high and cook the cider mixture at a boil until reduced enough to coat the back of a spoon. Add the brandy and cook 1 minute longer. Remove from the heat and pour the hot cider mixture over the fruit in the casserole.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• In a small bowl combine the bread crumbs and melted butter and toss to combine. Sprinkle the crumb mixture evenly over the top of the fruit and transfer to the oven. Cook until the crumbs are golden brown and the juices are bubbly, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Transfer to a wire rack to cool slightly before serving. Serve in small bowls, with ice cream or lightly sweetened whipped cream if desired.