When the weather in Miami starts behaving like a moody young
lady and no fortuneteller can predict its spasmodic changes, everyone knows
it’s That time of the year – it’s fall. We got no yellow foliage here, no
swishing falling leaves, no cozy sweaters and scarves – none of that
sentimental garnish of fall. We’ve got the cake, but no cherry on it. Our palms
stay green and our shorts stay short. What we do get is the weather’s mood
swings: rainy, windy, sunny, cold, hot, totally unpredictable. I am not
complaining! Not at all! I love when Miami gets gloomy and I don’t sweat all
over a second past stepping outside; when it’s actually chilly and grey grumpy
clouds let my imagination fly.
It’s also time for making hot drinks to stay warm! Today I’d
like to share a recipe of one of my favorite drinks as a child - a traditional Russian kompot. Kompot is a
non-alcoholic drink made from fruit (dried, fresh, or frozen) simmered with
water and sugar. You can drink it hot or cold (I prefer hot kompot) and it is both
so very delicious and nutritious.
Kompot Recipe:
Basic proportions are 1 pound of fruit + 4 quarts of water +
1 cup of sugar, though this is not a must follow rule. If you make an excessively concentrated drink, you can always add some boiled water to dilute
it.
As for the ingredients, almost any varieties of fruit will
make a tasty drink. I like preparing kompot from dried fruits, for one reason
mostly – the taste evokes nostalgic memories, as that’s how my parents used to
make it in Russia when I was a child.
Kompot Ingredients:
Dried Fruits (can be purchased at any Eastern European
Store)
Fresh Apples
Fresh Lemon (a few slices)
Sugar
Whenever I have on hand – some frozen cranberries and a cinnamon
stick
Bring all ingredients to a boil and simmer for about 15
minutes. Let stand for another 15 minutes and enjoy!
The taste is sour sweet and delicious and the smell is so fantastic - you won't want to leave the house ever!
This drink is a perfect autumn mood setter, even in Miami, where we need to take it up a notch to feel seasons :-)
Happy Tuesday!
