Nectarines in Amaretto Liqueur

So my fist ever Preserved Fruit-except I haven't preserved two of the Nectarines......purely for health and safety reason:) Imagine you would keep some nectarines for weeks and when your guest turn up, you would serve a bad fruit...So I HAD to test them...:)

Nectarines in Amaretto Syrup

Ingredients

350g sugar

150ml water

450g firm, ripe nectarines(halved, and stoned)

1vanilla pod

1tsp cinnamon

150ml Amaretto liqueur

Put the sugar in a large, heavy pan with the water and heat gently, stirring until dissolved completely. Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 10minutes.

Add the nectarines to the syrup. Reduce the heat so that the syrup is barley simmering and poach the nectarines until almost tender with the vanilla seeds and pod, and the cinnamon.Turn off the heat and leave them to stand for 5 minutes: they will cook a little more as it cools.

Using a slotted spoon, lift the fruit out of the pan and pack into hot, sterilized jar.

Bring the syrup to a rapid boil and cook for 3-4minutes. Leave to cool for a 10minutes, then stir in the Amaretto liqueur. (Don't add the liqueur to the boiling syrup because the alcohol will evaporate and the syrup will lose its preserving qualities.) Pour the syrup into the jar, covering the fruit completely. 

I had it with some Amaretto poured on top(as I tested them straight after completing -it didn't have time to absorb this gorgeous liquid), some whipped cream and some vanilla ice cream.

You can have this dessert cold or hot(just put the jar into the microwave for 3 minutes) and with the ice cream: it is divine. You can also play with the sweetness contrast not just the temperature: so you have the warm sweet nectarines and some cold sorbet that not as sweet as standard ice creams.

And this is the best tip: It is an instant dessert for guest. You can prepare this a week ahead, and when the dinner guest arrive, you just have to pate it with some ice cream/sorbet and whipped cream! Perfect if you have a busy week but you need a treat!