Prunes with tea

The Zuni Cafe cookbook has a recipe for prunes steeped in tea that I gave a try the other day and although the pictures I took are the worst, the prunes themselves are absolutely delicious.  Prunes do not photograph well.  If you try this recipe and take a picture of it to share with your friends (or us), you will see.  I always wrote off prunes as old people food.  I grouped them with bran muffins, and I'm regretting that a little bit right now.  These turned out fantastic and I have been eating a few in the morning along with breakfast, but I am sure they could be used in countless desserts.  I also tried this with dried figs and they are also mouthwateringly good.

Recipe for Prunes with Tea

2 cups of 180*F water

6 teaspoons of Foxfire Teas Golden Yunnan black tea

3 tsp of sugar

4 thin slices of lemon peel

1 pound of prunes, (I used pitted)

*I also split the recipe between 1/2lb prunes and 1/2lb figs

Directions:

1. Steep tea for 8 minutes

2. Strain into a container that you can easily pour from or use 16oz teapot and remove tea basket

3. Add sugar, stir to dissolve

4. Let tea cool until it reaches 100*F (we added a few ice cubes to speed up the process)

5. Place prunes in 1 or 2 jars, packed loosely, add lemon peel to each jar and fill with steeped tea

6. Let cool completely and refrigerate

7. Eat!

Next up Apricots with Tea!