Winter Fruit Compote With Selection Of Cheese Food

WARM WINTER FRUIT COMPOTE

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients in a large saucepan. Cover and simmer 20 minutes. Remove cover and simmer an additional 35 minutes or until liquid is reduced to desired consistency. Serve warm with turkey or pork.
• Recipe note: Compote may be made ahead of serving time. Cover and store in refrigerator. Reheat to a simmer for 10 minutes before serving.
• Garnish with sprigs of fresh rosemary, if desired.

WINTER FRUIT COMPOTE

Steps:

• In a 1-1/2-qt. slow cooker, combine cranberries, brown sugar, orange juice concentrate and vinegar. Cook, covered, on low until cranberries pop and mixture is thickened, 1-1/4 to 1-3/4 hours., Turn off heat; stir in apricots, raisins and walnuts. Refrigerate leftovers.

WINTER FRUIT COMPOTE WITH COGNAC

Steps:

• Put the figs, kumquats, prunes, sugar, Cognac and lemon zest in a saucepan with 2 cups/500 ml water and bring to a boil. Cook until the fruits are plump and the sauce syrupy. Turn off the heat and let the fruit macerate for 30 minutes. Pour into a serving dish (a cut glass bowl looks lovely) and let cool. Serve with creme fraiche and toasted almonds, or with a big spoonful of vanilla ice cream.

MONTRACHET CHEESECAKE WITH WINTER FRUIT COMPOTE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Bake the crust until light golden brown, about 20 to 25 minutes. Remove the crest and reduce the oven temperature to 325 degrees. When the pan is cool enough to handle, brush the sides with melted butter. In a mixer fitted with a paddle attachment (or using a hand mixer), cream the goal cheese and cream cheese until very smooth. Add the sugar and vanilla and mix. Two at a time, add the eggs, scraping down the bowl after each addition. Pour into the prepared pan and smooth the top. Prepare a water bath: Place the springform pan on a doublelayer sheet of aluminum foil, with at least 3 inches of foil all around the pan. Fold the aluminum foil up around the sides of the pan. Fill a roasting pall large enough to hold the cake pan with hot water to a depth of about 1 inch. Then lift the foilwrapped cake into the roasting pan, keeping the foil turned up so that it prevents wafer from overflowing or seeping into the cake. Be careful not to make any holes in the foil as you do this! Bake about 1 hour, until the top of the cake is golden and dry to the touch, though still a bit soft in the center. It should "shimmy" a bit when you shake the pan; it will firm up more as it cools. Lift the foil up to remove the cake from the water bath, remove the foil, and let cool 1 hour. Refrigerate at least 2 hours before serving. Serve with compote.
• Make the compote: combine 'all of the ingredients in a mediumsize saucepan. Bring to a simmer, stir, and reduce the heat so that the mixture is barely simmering. Simmer 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Turn (fit the heat, cover, and set aside to soften and infuse. I1' not using within a few hours, refrigerate until ready to serve. When ready to serve, remove the walls of the pan and, if desired, reheat the compote. Serve in wedges, with compote spooned around the sides.

10-MINUTE WINTER FRUIT COMPOTE

Steps:

• Tip the dried fruit, orange juice and whole spices into a microwaveable bowl. Microwave on High for 4-5 mins, stirring halfway through until the juices become sticky and the fruits are plump.
• Leave the compote to stand for a minute and serve in bowls with spoonfuls of yogurt or fromage frais.

DRIED FRUIT COMPOTE WITH CHEVRE

Steps:

• Bring the wine to a simmer in a small saucepan; remove from the heat. Add the raisins, blueberries, cranberries, dates, figs, and apricots; cover and let stand until the fruit is softened, about 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, whisk together the remaining ingredients, except the green onions and chevre.
• When the fruit has softened, stir in the green onions and the lemon juice mixture.
• Transfer the fruit compote to a covered container (preferably glass) and refrigerate for up to 2 weeks.
• To serve, form the chevre into a 1 ½-inch thick round. Place the cheese on a platter; top and surround it with the fruit compote and its juices. Serve with a basket of bread or crackers; provide cheese spreaders and small spoons for serving.

TWELVE-FRUIT COMPOTE

Steps:

• Combine 3 cups water and sugar in heavy large saucepan. Stir over medium heat until sugar dissolves. Add mixed dried fruits, white wine, orange, lemon, raisins, dried cherries, cloves and cinnamon sticks. Simmer compote until fruits are tender and liquid is reduced to syrup, stirring occasionally, about 20 minutes. Mix in grapes. Cool compote to room temperature; cover tightly and refrigerate. (Can be prepared up to 3 days ahead. Keep refrigerated.) Spoon compote into stemmed goblets and serve.

WINTER FRUIT COMPOTE

Steps:

• In large saucepan, combine sugar, water and ginger; bring to a boil over high heat.
• Add dried fruit and bring back to a boil; immediately reduce heat to low simmer.
• Cook, uncovered, until fruit is not quite tender, about 5 minutes.
• Add cranberries and simmer, stirring occasionally, until cranberries pop.
• Stir in orange and apple.
• Remove from heat and allow to cool down.
• For dessert, serve warm over ice cream, or at room temperature over a plain cake, such as angel food cake or pound cake.
• Can also be served with yogurt; makes a particularly nice breakfast.

CHERRY COMPOTE

Steps:

• Bring cherries, Port, wine, sugar, cinnamon stick, pepper, and a pinch of salt to a boil in a 1-quart heavy saucepan over moderate heat.
• Stir together cornstarch and vinegar until smooth, then stir into boiling liquid. Boil 1 minute.
• Remove from heat and cover, then let stand 15 minutes. Serve warm.