Harvest Fruit Spread – 12 Days Of Christmas Blog Tour Day #2

Hello friends! You may not know it, but you have stumbled upon DAY #2 of the 12 Days of Christmas Blog Tour! Traci, the fabulousness behind the blog Traci & Co., has organized a special blog tour of recipes, crafts, and gift tutorials to get us all ready for the holidays! There is a different blogger each day so don’t forget to click here to see all the amazing stuff we have for you!

And it gets better! There is a HUGE giveaway after the tour wraps up so be sure to head over to see what is happening each day and to enter the GIVEAWAY! There will be several winners and, among other outstanding prizes, one lucky friend will win a copy of my holiday eCookbook, Cooking Through The Holidays, releasing November 1! It has been quite the project and I am thrilled to be able to announce its debut here on the 12 Days Of Christmas Blog Tour!

So what do I have for you today?
The gift of food!

I am all about passing along a plate of cookies or a fruit cake to the neighbors (or RECEIVING a plate of cookies or fruit cake…) but occasionally I try and shake things up. A little jar of this Harvest Fruit Spread will definitely bring a smile to whoever enjoys it! Tuck it into a gift bag and pass it on as a hostess gift at an upcoming holiday party or top it with big bow and leave it for a teacher! This spread would be perfect as a secret santa gift. Make a gift for under the tree and fill a pretty mixing bowl biscuit mix, a fun mixing spoon, a seasonal kitchen towel, and a little jar of this! Boom! Better than Santa! Just don’t forget to save some for yourself!

The ingredient list may be a bit different, but cooked down, it becomes a smooth, spiced spread that has been know to make a fellow swoon. The flavor is a bit sweet, a bit tart, and perfectly spiced!  If you plan to make a batch or two and want to share the love with family and friends, I made a handy dandy printable to make that a bit easier! Although a ribbon and a holiday tag work just as well!

harvest-fruit-spread-printable

Harvest Fruit Spread

This will make you house smell divine! The mix of flavors is comforting and just a little addicting! Be sure to cut the squash extra small; it will take the longest to cook. Any variety of apple and pear will do!

2 c small cubes fresh butternut squash or fresh pumpkin

1 large apple, peeled, cored and cubed

1 large pear, peeled, cored, and cubed

1 c raisins

7 ounces dried figs, snipped into small pieces

1 scant T freshly grated ginger or 1 tsp ground ginger

1/2 tsp cinnamon-or 1 whole tsp if you like things nice and spiced

1/4 tsp ground cloves

1/2 c apple cider

2 cinnamon sticks

1 c water

Combine all ingredients in a large saucepan and place over medium heat. Simmer gently until fruit and squash is VERY tender and falling apart. If the pan starts to go dry before everything is soft, add more water. This will vary depending on the ripeness of your fruit and how big the chunks are! When everything is soft and most of the moisture has evaporated, let the mixture cool a bit. When ready, remove the cinnamon sticks and pulse in a food processor until desired consistency. I like it uniformly smooth, but not to the point of baby food. You decide! Alternatively, you can use an immersion blender to puree the spread. Mix well and be sure to give it a taste! If your fruit is extra tart and the mixture makes you pucker a bit, now is the time to stir in some honey. This spread is not supposed to be like candy, but feel free to adjust it to your liking. I won’t tell! Store it sealed, in the fridge for up to two weeks or freeze for later for several months. Enjoy!

Note~These are all the ways we devour this fruit spread:

• smeared on a panini with turkey, cheese and mustard
• spooned over pancakes and waffles
• as a dip for graham crackers
• spread on a tortilla with cream cheese and rolled up for a snack
• on a peanut butter sandwich
• paired with salty butter on these Sweet Potato Biscuits (Good LORD its good!)
• on cinnamon raisin toast
• smeared on crostini, topped with crumbled goat cheese, and served as an appetizer
• tucked onto a cheese plate and served with crackers and brie
• directly out of the jar with a spoon 🙂

Don’t miss out on all the fun! Click here to go to ALL of the handmade tutorials for The 12 Days Of Christmas Blog Tour and to enter the GIVEAWAY!!