Winter Dried Fruit Compote
2 cups apple cider
2 strips orange peel (2 inch x 1/2 inch)
2 whole cloves
2 cinnamon sticks
1 lb. mixed dried fruit, about 3 1/2 cups (cherries, apricots, figs, raisins, prunes, mango, pineapple, peaches, pears, apples, papaya)
Insert a clove into each strip of orange peel. In a large sauce pan, add orange peel and cinnamon sticks to apple cider and bring to a boil. Simmer for 2-3 minutes.
Cut into smaller chunks the larger varieties of fruit, and even smaller chunks (1/4 - 1/2 inch cubes) the harder dried fruit like pineapple and papaya. Add all the fruit to the cider mixture and simmer for about 45 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool in sauce pan. Remove orange peel and cinnamon sticks and stir. Serve warm alone or over waffles or ice cream, or chilled sprinkled with granola. May also be pureed and used as a fruit spread on toast. Makes about 8-cup servings.
Heart Healthy Food Sponsored by the Loma Linda International Heart Institute