Dried Fruit Compote

Ingredients

2 pounds mixed dried fruit (Any combination of dried fruits is delicious. Try figs, apricots, cherries, cranberries, apples, prunes, or blueberries.)
2 cups boiling water
1/2 cup fresh orange juice
1/4 cup cognac
3/4 cup water
1/4 cup sugar
2 cinnamon sticks
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
1 vanilla bean, split

Instructions

Place the dried fruits in a large bowl and cover with 2 cups of boiling water. Let the fruit sit for about 1 hour, then drain. Place the fruit in a medium saucepan with the remaining ingredients, making sure the vanilla bean pod is scraped and the pod and seeds are added to the mixture. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and allow mixture to simmer gently for 50 minutes to 1 hour. The fruit should be tender but not falling apart. Add more sugar or orange juice, to taste, if needed. Remove and discard the cinnamon stick and vanilla bean pod.
†
Refrigerate the compote in its syrup overnight before serving. Serve the compote chilled, with hot Pecan Waffles.

Yield: about 6 cups