Dried fruit...

Can you gather this merry mix

Of dried apricots, figs, and tart cherries?

Maybe also raisins, apples, dried oranges,

Prunes, and cranberries? Sprinkle

On salt, cinnamon, cloves, and a little sugar

To sweeten the stew. Please

Enjoy this delightful treat, a gift from me to you.

Years ago, a very dear friend shared this recipe with me in a card. I have been making it ever since and enjoy a dollop of it on my cereal every morning. It freezes well, too.

In a large pan, combine:

3 C. mixed chopped dried fruits

2 apples, peeled, cored, and chopped into bite-size pieces

¼ to ½ C. brown sugar

Heaping ½ tsp. ground cinnamon

¼ tsp. ground cloves

¼ tsp. salt

Almost completely cover the fruit with water. Stir the mixture. Bring to a boil and then lower heat to simmer until the fruit is good and soft, stirring occasionally. 

It keeps well in a glass jar in the fridge or frozen in an airtight container. When I freeze it, I usually lay a folded piece of wax paper over the surface before putting on the lid. This seems to discourage freezer burn. Thaw in fridge.

It’s great on cereal, on a bagel with cream cheese, mixed into fresh ricotta or yogurt, etc. The tart cherries and dried mandarin oranges give it an extra special zing. ENJOY!