A popular way to use medlars is in jellies or jams. This recipe is a medlar butter. It is between a fruit puree and a jam. Perfect for porridge, cereal, or to spread on toast, perhaps with a layer of sliced banana. As well as its appearance, the way this fruit ripens to the point of being edible can put people off. Usually, if a piece of fruit goes soft and wrinkly, it is ready for the bin. Medlar fruit, on the other hand, is at its prime eating stage when they are soft and wrinkly. To get to this point, they need bletting. This is the process of turning the fruit from a hard, tart, inedible fruit to a soft, squishy, sweet state. They are edible when they look rotted. This is counterintuitive for most of us. However, don't be put off by this appearance.