Brandy Fruit Pot Recipes

FRIENDSHIP BRANDY FRUIT STARTER

Steps:

• TO START: Combine all ingredients in a clean, large glass jar.
• Stir gently with wooden spoon.
• Cover and let stand at room temperature for three weeks, stirring at least twice a week.
• Fruit is fermented when it is translucent.
• CARE AND FEEDING: Stir mixture daily.
• Every two weeks add one cup sugar and one cup of fruit and stir gently. Alternate fruits each time.
• Cover and let stand at room temperature at least three days before using.
• Do not add fruit more often than once every two weeks.
• Do not delay adding fruit for more than one or two days past schedule.
• IMPORTANT: To keep the starter going, retain at least three cups at all times.
• SHARING: Whenever you have more than six cups of fermented fruit, you may divide it into two portions, being sure there are at least three cups in each portion.
• Do this just before you would do a normal feeding.
• Feed each portion.
• Give one portion to a friend (with Care and Feeding directions) and keep one for yourself.
• Search on "friendship fruit" to find recipes that use this.
• There is also a Friendship Sourdough Starter (Recipe #647936) - yum!

BRANDY FRUIT POT

Steps:

• Combine fruit and sugar.
• Let stand 3 hours.
• stirring once or twice. Tie cinnamon in cheesecloth bag.
• Add to fruit and brandy.
• Cover loosely and let stand at least 1 week, stirring once a day.
• To keep pot going, add 1 cup sugar and 2 cup fruit to replace every 2 cup removed.
• The fruit pot may be started at the beginning of the summer with strawberries, oranges and grapes.
• Add more fruit and sugar as they come into season - e.g.
• raspberries, peaches, pears, melon balls.
• Keep refrigerated or in a cold room.
• You can keep one going all year round in your refrigerator.

BRANDIED FRUIT COMPOTE

Steps:

• Drain all canned fruit syrup into measuring cup.
• Pour 1/2 of syrup in small sauce pan.
• Add brown sugar, extracts and spices.
• Simmer until reduced by half. Stir in brandy. Place canned fruits in clean quart jar and pour brandy syrup mixture over fruit. Cool and store in refrigerator.

BRANDIED FRUIT TOPPING

Steps:

• In a large saucepan combine raisins, mandarin oranges, prunes, sugar and water to cover. Simmer over medium heat until syrupy, about 10 minutes.
• Stir in peaches, pineapple and brandy. Store in refrigerator.

BRANDIED DRIED FRUIT

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the currants, cranberries, cherries, pears and apricots. Zest the orange and add the zest to the bowl. Add the lemon, ginger, anise seeds, black pepper, nutmeg, cinnamon and cardamom.
• Juice the orange and add the liquid to the bowl. Add the brandy and stir to combine. Transfer the mixture to a jar, cover and refrigerate. (If you don't have a jar that's large enough, keep the mixture in the bowl and cover with plastic wrap.) Allow the fruit to sit in the liquid for 2 to 14 days before using. The flavor of the fruit, spices and brandy will improve with time. At least once a day, turn the jar upside-down (or thoroughly stir the mixture if it's in a bowl) to make sure all the dried fruit gets coated in the brandied liquid. The mixture keeps in the refrigerator for months, stored in an airtight container.