Compote (or compôte) is French for “mixture.” Tait Farm compote is basically a sweet, chunky fruit sauce. The fruit and shrub are cooked on the stovetop for a brief time until the fruit has softened. It is scrumptious when served warm alongside mascarpone, over ice cream, or topped with whipped cream.

INGREDIENTS:

4 large apples; peeled, cored and sliced (or pears)

4 Tbs. butter

1/2 C. dried cranberries or raisins

1/3 C. Tait Farm Shrub of choice* (Fall/winter favorites for this recipe include Spiced Apple, Spiced Vanilla Pear, Cranberry, Spiced Cranberry Orange)

8 oz. mascarpone (or substitute ice cream or whipped cream)

2-3 Tbs. honey

1/2 C.+ crushed gingersnaps

If serving with marscarpone, stir the honey into the mascarpone by hand until well blended. Set aside. Melt the butter in a skillet. Add apples and cranberries. Stir and cook until the apples soften. Add the shrub and stir to coat and glaze the fruit. Stir until the sauce thickens somewhat. Spoon into bowls; sprinkle with gingersnap crumbs and top with a dollop of the Mascarpone (or ice cream or whipped cream). Serve warm.

(Serves 4)

*Ginger, Ginger Lemon and Spiced Vanilla Pear Shrubs are nice with pears. Spiced Cranberry Orange and Spiced Apple Shrubs are nice with apples. Cranberry and Raspberry Shrubs also work well with a variety of fruits.