Fruit Compote
Did you know its National Ice Cream month? Former president Ronald Reagan declared July as the month, and called for the people of the United States to observe the month with “appropriate ceremonies and activities”. Thank you, President Reagan, as I like just about any reason/excuse to enjoy a bowl of ice cream.
Ice cream is delicious on its own, but if you’re looking to go the extra mile to fulfill your civic duties, a nice fruit topping from our produce department is the way to go. It can be as easy as slicing up some ripe Texas peaches or organic berries and calling it a day. Or, with just little extra work, you can elevate these already delicious fruit toppings by creating fruit compote (definition: fruit cooked in syrup). There are many recipes available online, with the basic technique being relatively the same: a couple of cups of fresh fruit, some sweetener (sugar, honey), maybe some lemon for a little acid, or vanilla extract for enhancing the flavor.
You combine the ingredients in a saucepan over medium heat until the fruit softens (about 12 minutes). Then you let it cool to room temperature and serve; it’s easy enough to make that you may have fun letting your kids help! Experiment with different ones until you find your favorite. Here are a couple of recipes from the web for you to try: