Fruit Compote

Serve with Steve's Beef Tongue and Wild Rice Pilaf.

• 1 cup black raisins
• 16 dates - cut intro halves and seeded
• 16 fresh black mission or turkey figs - cut into halves
• 1 oz fresh peeled ginger root cut into thin slices
• 5 bay leaves
• 1 cup reduced tongue cooking liquid (see tongue recipe)
• 1 cup water
• ½ cup dark brown sugar
• ½ tsp salt

Place all ingredients except the figs in a medium-size pot. Simmer 10 minutes. Add the fresh figs and continue simmering for another 15 minutes. Figs should be soft but not falling apart. Remove pot from heat and let sit for 1 hour to allow the salt and sugar to penetrate the figs. This will also cause the rest of the compote to become less salty and slightly less sweet. Remove ginger slices and bay leaves. Serve with warm tongue slices.