Soused Prunes Recipes

SOUSED PRUNES

Steps:

• In a large heavy saucepan combine sugars, vinegar, water, and spices and boil, stirring, until sugars are dissolved. Add maple syrup, orange and lemon slices, and prunes and simmer, covered, until prunes are plump and very tender, about 25 minutes. Transfer prunes with a slotted spoon to a bowl and boil syrup until thickened and reduced to about 1 1/2 cups, 15 to 20 minutes. With a slotted spoon remove spices, orange, and lemon and discard.
• With a small knife cut a slit in side of each prune and stuff with a pecan half. Divide stuffed prunes among 3 clean 12-ounce jars and pour enough hot syrup into each jar to just cover prunes. Add 2 tablespoons rum to each jar and cover tightly, turning jars a few times to distribute rum. Prunes keep, covered and chilled, 1 month.

PORK TENDERLOIN WITH SHALLOTS AND PRUNES

Steps:

• To brine the pork: Dissolve the salt and brown sugar in 2 cups cold water in a glass or stainless steel bowl large enough to hold the tenderloin. Add the allspice, peppercorns, bay leaves and thyme. Submerge the meat, cover and refrigerate at least 8 hours (overnight is better). Before cooking, remove the tenderloin, pat dry and bring to room temperature. Heat the oven to 400 degrees.
• To make the sauce and roast: Simmer the prunes in the red wine until slightly softened, about 5 minutes. Turn off the heat, stir in the ginger and orange zest, and steep for 10 minutes
• Heat the olive oil in a heavy stainless steel skillet over medium-high heat. Lightly brown the tenderloin, about 3 minutes per side. (Turn off heat and use the same pan to make the sauce.) Transfer the tenderloin to a small roasting pan. Roast uncovered for about 15 minutes, until an instant-read thermometer registers 140 degrees. Let rest for 10 minutes before slicing. (Residual heat will cause the meat to continue to cook a bit while resting.)
• To finish the sauce, melt the butter in the reserved skillet over medium heat. Add shallots and thyme, and season lightly with salt and pepper. Cook for about 5 minutes, until softened, stirring with a wooden spoon. Scrape up any browned bits to enrich the sauce. Add chicken broth, turn up the heat, and simmer 2 minutes. Stir in the prunes and wine, and simmer for another 2 minutes. Add the Madeira if using. Taste and correct the seasoning, then add the potato starch mixture and cook for another minute to thicken. Spoon sauce and prunes over the sliced tenderloin.

MY GRANDMA'S NATURAL REMEDY FOR CONSTIPATION (STEWED PRUNES)

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, place prunes, water, and orange juice. Bring to boil, cover, and simmer for 30 minutes.
• Prunes will absorb most of the water, and the remaining water will thicken into a consistency of syrup. If there is a lot of liquid remaining, simmer, uncovered, for a few minutes until sauce reduces.
• Transfer hot prunes and syrup to a bowl. Pour cold milk over the prunes to cover. Eat with a spoon.
• HINT: This remedy should work within 24 hours and can be safely eaten as often and as long as needed.
• NOTE: If you do not have constipation and just like the taste of stewed prunes, you may add 1/8 teaspoon of ground cinnamon to the prunes mixture before cooking (Cinnamon, oranges, and prunes pair well together.) However, do not add the cinnamon if you are using this for constipation because cinnamon is used as a natural cure for diarrhea and will have the opposite effect of a laxative.
• One cup prunes contains 1274 mg of potassium, which prevents muscle cramps, and 12 grams of fiber to relieve constipation.