Apples in glory (poached apples with a syrup glaze)

Ingredients

• 10-12 cooking apples
• 850 ml water
• 225 g sugar
• 1 dozen candied cherries (about 60 g)
• 2 bananas
• 1 strip lemon peel
• 12 cloves
• 1 small cinnamon stick

Missing an ingredient?

• What to use instead of sugar
• What to use instead of candied cherries
• What to use instead of lemon

Instructions

1. Put the water, sugar, lemon peel, cloves and cinnamon (tied in cheesecloth) in a large pot over low heat until the sugar dissolves.
2. Peel and core the apples, leaving them whole. Put them in the syrup and simmer until very tender but not falling apart.
3. Lift them out into a warm glass dish, press them down a little with a spoon so the surface is smooth and slightly domed in the center, and let them cool.
4. Strain the syrup into a saucepan and reduce it over medium heat for 15-20 minutes.
5. Thinly slice the bananas and arrange the slices over the apples, with a cherry in the center of each one.
6. Pour the syrup over the top: if it's reduced enough, it sets right away.

Nutrition facts

Approximate, per serving (about 533 g). Calculated with data from USDA FoodData Central.