This week I am taking part in the Abel & Cole X Balance Blogger Challenge to inspire people to get their recommended 10 portions of fruit and veg a day. Organic fruit and veg specialists Abel & Cole and wellbeing magazine Balance have invited five food bloggers, of which I am one, to each share 3 recipes created from an Abel & Cole seasonal fruit and veg box. I will be sharing my 3 recipes this week here on the blog and on Instagram.

10 portions can sound quite a lot, but for me the key is to just add a few extra portions here and there to your usual meals. Today I am sharing my recipe for this super-quick fruity compote. It's a great way to use up a glut of apples or pears at this time of year. It's also very kid-friendly, so perfect if you want to get more fruit into your little ones. I use it to top my morning bowl of porridge or serve it as a quick mid-week pudding with some natural yoghurt and chopped nuts. It’s also great warmed through and served with vanilla ice cream. 

In the picture, you'll see that I also served some sliced pear on the porridge. Again, this is super-easy to do. Just thinly slice a firm pear and fry gently in a little butter with a dash of honey and cinnamon until golden. 

Apple, Pear + Cardamom Compote

5 apples
3 pears
1 tsp crushed cardamom seeds
1tsp vanilla paste or the seeds scraped from a vanilla pod
75g caster sugar
250ml water

Peel and core the apples and pears and chop them into rough chunks and place them into a medium sized saucepan. Add the cardamom, vanilla, sugar and water. Boil at a medium heat until the fruit is tender. Allow the compote to cool a little. If the compote looks a bit loose drain off some of the juice or if it looks a tad dry add a few teaspoons of water. Once you’re happy with the consistency – it’s a personal thing – blitz lightly with a hand blender, leaving a few chunks of fruit for texture.

When completely cool decant the compote into a bowl or jar and keep in the fridge.