Dried Fruits In Cognac Recipes

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.

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.

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.

Steps:

• Blend the fruits, citron, peel, spices and suet and place in a bowl or jar. Add 1/4 cup cognac, cover tightly and refrigerate for 4 days, adding 1/4 cup cognac each day.
• Soak the bread crumbs in milk and sherry or port. Combine the well-beaten eggs and sugar. Blend with the fruit mixture. Add salt and mix thoroughly. Put the pudding in buttered bowls or tins, filling them about 2/3 full. Cover with foil and tie it firmly. Steam for 6-7 hours. Uncover and place in a 250°F. oven for 30 minutes. Add a dash of cognac to each pudding, cover with foil and keep in a cool place.
• To use, steam again for 2-3 hours and unmold. Sprinkle with sugar; add heated cognac. Ignite and bring to the table. Serve with hard sauce or cognac sauce.