Apricot Fig Compote Recipes

Steps:

• Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 350°F. Generously butter and flour 12-cup Bundt pan. Sift flour, baking soda, ground ginger, cinnamon, cloves and salt into medium bowl. Combine melted butter and brown sugar in large bowl. Beat until well blended. Gradually beat in molasses. Beat in eggs. Add dry ingredients and beat until well blended. Gradually beat in hot water. Stir in chopped crystallized ginger.
• Transfer batter to prepared pan. Bake until tester inserted near center of cake comes out clean, about 55 minutes. Cool cake in pan on rack 10 minutes. Turn cake out onto rack and cool completely. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Wrap in plastic; let stand at room temperature.)
• Cut cake into wedges. Place on plates. Spoon some compote alongside each wedge. Garnish with sweetened whipped cream and serve.

Steps:

• Combine 2 1/2 cups water, sugar and cinnamon sticks in large saucepan. Stir over medium heat until sugar dissolves. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low; cover and simmer 5 minutes. Add figs and simmer uncovered 3 minutes. Remove from heat. Mix in apricots, cherries and then brandy. Return to heat and simmer uncovered until all fruits are tender but still retain shape, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in crystallized ginger. Cool. (Compote can be prepared 3 days ahead. Cover and refrigerate.) Serve at room temperature or chilled.

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients with 1/2 cup water in a small saucepan. Cover; bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce to a simmer; cook, partially covered, until fruit has broken down, 20 to 30 minutes.
• Let cool slightly; remove thyme sprig. Press mixture through a large-holed sieve with a rubber spatula.

Steps:

• Using a zester, remove the zest of one orange in long strips.
• Using a sharp knife, carefully remove the pith from all the oranges, so the flesh is fully exposed. Slice the oranges crosswise into sections 1/4 inch thick. Remove seeds, and place the slices in a bowl.
• Blend the sugar and water in a small saucepan. Stir well to dissolve the sugar completely. Bring the mixture to a boil, reduce heat and simmer 10 minutes or to a syrupy consistency. Remove from heat, and add grenadine syrup. Blend well. Set aside.
• Place 4 figs snugly in a small saucepan. Pour just enough syrup over them so they are 90 percent covered. Add the strips of orange zest. Bring to a boil, cover and simmer 10 minutes. Remove and refrigerate.
• Place the 4 cooked figs over the marinating orange slices in the bowl. Pour over the cooking liquid and 4 tablespoons of Grand Marnier. Cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate.
• Just before serving, slice the 4 uncooked figs lengthwise into four sections.
• Distribute the chilled orange slices and their juices over 4 chilled plates. Lay four uncooked fig quarters over each serving, and top with a poached fig. Sprinkle with the 2 remaining tablespoons of Grand Marnier, and garnish each with a sprig of mint.