Fig and Raisin "Cream"

== Ingredients ==
* 125 g / 4 oz well-soaked dried figs
* 125 g / 4 oz stoned raisins
* 275 ml / 10 fl oz / 1¼ cups red wine (not too dry)
* good pinch of ground black pepper
* ⅓ teaspoon ground cinnamon
* ⅛ teaspoon ground cloves
* soft dark brown sugar to taste
* 3 teaspoons rice flour or cornflour
* a drop or two of red food colouring
* salt to taste
== Directions ==
# Drain the figs, reserving the soaking liquid.
# Discard the stalk ends of the fruit and put them in a saucepan with the raisins and wine.
# Add the spices and a teaspoon of sugar and bring to the boil.
# Take off the heat and cool slightly, then turn the mixture into an electric blender and process until smooth.
# Add a little of the soaking water if the mixture is stubbornly solid.
# Cream the rice flour or cornflour with a little more soaking water or wine and brighten the tint with a drop of food colouring.
# Blend the "cream" into the dried-fruit purée.
# Then return the whole mixture to the saucepan and simmer until it thickens slightly.
# Season with salt and a little extra sugar if you wish.
# The mixture can be served hot or cold over a sweet cereal dish, firm stewed fruit or - best of all - ice cream.
# Some versions in other manuscripts are stiffer and make a good filling for tartlets or fried puffs.
# One encloses the filling in pastry to make dumplings.
Category:Dessert Recipes
Category:Dark brown sugar Recipes
Category:Dried fig Recipes
Category:Raisin Recipes
Category:Red wine Recipes
Category:Rice flour Recipes
Category:Vegetarian Recipes