Waffles With Pear Cherry Compote Food

PEAR COMPOTE

Steps:

• Bring 1/2 cup dry white wine, 1/2 split vanilla bean, 1 star anise pod and a pinch each of salt and pepper to a simmer; cook until reduced by half, 4 minutes. Add 2 tablespoons sugar, 2 chopped peeled pears and 3 tablespoons water; simmer 8 more minutes. Add 1/4 teaspoon chopped thyme, increase the heat and simmer until syrupy, 1 to 4 minutes. Let cool.

SWEDISH WAFFLES WITH BERRY COMPOTE

Steps:

• Berry compote: In a small saucepan, combine berries, sugar, and lemon juice. Gently heat until sugar is dissolved. Crush about half of the berries with a wooden spoon; allow the rest to soften but maintain their shape, 10 minutes. Set aside.
• Waffles: In a bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Make a well in the ingredients and pour in the milk and vanilla; whisk thoroughly. Then whisk in warm (not hot) melted butter until fully incorporated. The batter should be thin.
• Heat a waffle iron according to the manufacturer's directions. Brush waffle iron on both sides with some of the remaining melted butter. Ladle enough batter to evenly cover the lower plate. Close the lid and cook until the waffles are brown and crispy, about 3-4 minutes. Repeat in batches with remaining batter; make 6-7 waffles.
• Assembly: Place waffles on a serving platter, spoon berries on top, and serve.

SOUFFLE PANCAKE WITH APPLE-PEAR COMPOTE

Steps:

• Make the compote: Soak the prunes and tea bags in 1 cup boiling water, 20 minutes. Discard the tea bags.
• Transfer the prunes and soaking liquid to a small saucepan. Add the sugar, salt, vanilla seeds and pod, lemon zest and cognac and cook over medium heat until syrupy, 10 to 15 minutes. Add the apples and pears and reduce the heat to low; cover and simmer until tender, about 15 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and let cool. Cover and chill at least 2 hours or up to 1 week.
• Make the pancake: Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Melt the butter in a 12-inch cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Transfer 2 tablespoons of the melted butter to a blender (reserve the rest in the skillet off the heat). Add the eggs, salt and half-and-half to the blender and blend. Add the flour and blend until smooth. Add the orange zest, orange juice and almond extract and blend.
• Heat the skillet with the reserved butter over medium-high heat; swirl to coat. Add the batter, transfer to the oven and bake until puffed and golden, 15 to 20 minutes. Reheat the compote, if desired; discard the lemon zest and vanilla pod. Dust the pancake with confectioners' sugar; serve with the compote.

WAFFLES WITH PEACH-BERRY COMPOTE

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, combine the peaches, orange juice, brown sugar and cinnamon; bring to a boil over medium heat. Add berries; cook and stir for 8-10 minutes or until thickened. , In a large bowl, combine the flours, flax, baking powder, baking soda and cinnamon. Combine the buttermilk, orange juice, oil and vanilla; stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. , Bake in a preheated waffle iron according to manufacturer's directions until golden brown. Serve with compote.

APPLE, PEAR & CHERRY COMPOTE

Steps:

• Put the apples and pears in a pan with the sugar and 50ml water. Bring to a simmer, then gently cook, covered, for 15 mins or so until the Bramley apple has collapsed to a purée and the eating apple and pear are tender (stir to make sure it doesn't catch on the bottom).
• Stir in the cherries or cranberries for 1 min, taste and add a little more sugar if necessary. Can be chilled for 3-5 days. Serve with vanilla ice cream, if you like. See 'Goes well with' for ideas for using up the compote.