Port Syrup Recipes

Steps:

• Stir together all of the ingredients in a small saucepan over medium heat. Cook, stirring constantly, for 5 to 10 minutes, or until the sugar dissolves and the syrup is very hot.
• Pour the syrup into a container with a lid and allow it to cool to room temperature before covering and storing in the refrigerator.

Steps:

• Pour the port into a large pan with 600ml water, add the sugar and cinnamon, then heat until the sugar dissolves. Add the pears, bring to the boil, then cover and simmer for 20-30 mins until tender all the way through. They are ready when a cocktail stick can be easily pushed through each one. Depending on the size of your pan, you may need to cook the pears in 2 batches using the same port syrup, or turn the pears several times as they cook so they become an even colour. Let the pears cool in their syrup, preferably overnight to allow the syrup to really stain them. Will keep for 3 days in the fridge.
• Check the consistency of the syrup. If it is very thin, boil it in a pan to reduce the amount and concentrate the flavour.
• To serve, whip the cream with the sugar and vanilla until it holds its shape, then fold in the meringue. Sprinkle with the cinnamon. Arrange the pears in a shallow dish and spoon over the syrup. Allow guests to help themselves to both pears and cream.

Steps:

• Combine first 5 ingredients in heavy medium saucepan. Bring to boil, stirring twice. Reduce heat to medium; simmer 5 minutes. Add pear halves to liquid. Simmer pears uncovered until tender, turning occasionally, about 20 minutes.
• Using slotted spoon, transfer pears to large bowl. Boil cooking liquid until reduced to thin syrup (about 1 1/4 cups), about 15 minutes. Pour syrup over pears in bowl. Cool to room temperature. Cover and chill until cold, about 4 hours. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Keep chilled.)
• Mix yogurt and powdered sugar in small bowl. Spoon cold syrup onto plates. Place 1 pear half, flat side down, on each plate. Spoon yogurt mixture over pears. Garnish with mint, if desired, and serve.

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, over medium-high heat, bring the port and honey up to a boil.
• Reduce heat and simmer slowly until reduced by half.
• Set aside and cool to room temperature, the syrup will thicken upon standing.
• Cut the goat cheese into 8 equal pieces, about 2 teaspoon each and roll each piece into a ball.
• Place the figs upright and carefully make four cross cuts, slicing each fig into eight sections, BEING CAREFUL NOT TO GO ALL THE WAY THROUGH.
• Gently separate the figs outward to form a "flower"
• Place a ball of goat cheese in the center of each fig and drizzle with the port syrup.
• Garnish with walnuts.

Steps:

• Put the plums, port, water, brown sugar, cinnamon, cloves, and peppercorns in a saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat to maintain a gentle simmer and cook until the plums are soft but still hold their shape, 12 to 15 minutes. Transfer the plums to a bowl with a slotted spoon, remove the spices, and cover to keep warm. Increase the heat to medium-high and cook the remaining liquid until thick and syrupy, 3 to 4 minutes.
• To serve, put a crepe on each of 4 dessert plates. Put a spoonful of plums on one quarter of each crepe. Then, fold the crepe over the filling to create a triangle shape. (The crepes can also be served folded in half like an omelet, or rolled.) Top each filled crepe with a dollop of whipped cream, then drizzle the warm port syrup over the top of each.