Dried Fruits In Cognac Recipes

DRIED FRUITS IN COGNAC

Steps:

• Tip the sugar into a measuring jug and pour over boiling water to the 400ml mark. Add the cinnamon stick, broken in two, and stir to dissolve the sugar.
• Put the fruits and cognac into a pan, pour over the syrup and bring to the boil. Simmer, partly covered, for 15 mins, then remove from the heat and leave to cool for a few minutes if serving warm, or chill if serving cold. Serve with some crème fraîche or ice cream.

JAMES BEARD'S COMPOTE OF DRIED FRUITS

Steps:

• Put the fruits in a four-quart saucepan, cover with water and bring to boil. Add lemon slices and sugar, reduce heat and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes or until puffed. Add the bourbon, cognac or rum.
• Turn off heat and let the fruit remian in the pan for a few minutes to absorb the flavor of the spirit.
• Transfer to a serving dish and allow to cool slightly. Serve with desired type of cream.

COGNAC-GLAZED DRIED APRICOTS WITH CINNAMON-SPICED YOGURT

Steps:

• For yogurt:
• Stir yogurt and cinnamon in medium bowl to blend. Cover and chill at least 1 hour and up to 1 day.
• For apricots:
• Cook orange peel in boiling water 5 minutes. Drain and reserve peel.
• Melt butter in medium skillet over medium heat. Whisk in sugar. Add apricots; toss. sauté until beginning to brown in spots, about 8 minutes. Add 1 cup orange juice and reserved orange peel. Simmer uncovered until juice is reduced to thick syrup and apricots are tender, stirring occasionally, about 8 minutes. DO AHEAD Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover; chill. Bring to simmer before continuing.
• Add Cognac to simmering apricots; ignite with long match. Let flames subside, shaking skillet occasionally. Mix in remaining 2 tablespoons orange juice and simmer 1 minute, stirring.
• Spoon chilled yogurt into 6 dessert dishes. Spoon warm apricots and syrup over. Sprinkle with pistachios and mint.

BRANDIED DRIED FRUIT

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the currants, cranberries, cherries, pears and apricots. Zest the orange and add the zest to the bowl. Add the lemon, ginger, anise seeds, black pepper, nutmeg, cinnamon and cardamom.
• Juice the orange and add the liquid to the bowl. Add the brandy and stir to combine. Transfer the mixture to a jar, cover and refrigerate. (If you don't have a jar that's large enough, keep the mixture in the bowl and cover with plastic wrap.) Allow the fruit to sit in the liquid for 2 to 14 days before using. The flavor of the fruit, spices and brandy will improve with time. At least once a day, turn the jar upside-down (or thoroughly stir the mixture if it's in a bowl) to make sure all the dried fruit gets coated in the brandied liquid. The mixture keeps in the refrigerator for months, stored in an airtight container.