Brandied Apple Cranberry Compote

This was a concoction that simply struck my fancy one evening, when I had a bag of cranberries left over from Christmas and some beautiful green apples. It was cold out, and it just seemed right to make a lovely warm fruit compote.

This can be eaten "as is" (which, admittedly, is how I polished off every bit of it without sharing). It can be stirred into oatmeal. It can enhance roasted pork or chicken. Wrap it up in squares of puff pastry and make turnovers.

The choice is yours ....

Brandied Apple Cranberry Compote

• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 Granny Smith apples
• 2 tablespoons brandy
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1/2 cup fresh cranberries

Place apples and butter into a small saucepan; cook over medium heat for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add remaining ingredients, cover, and cook for another 5 minutes until apples are tender and cranberries have burst.

Makes about 1 cup of compote.