The quince is unique, in fragrance and flavour either fresh or cooked. Quince trees have been cultivated for thousands of years and ancient civilizations including the ancient Greeks prized them for their taste and beauty in the garden.
In Ancient Greek legend it was a quince that Paris awarded to Aphrodite as the most beautiful goddess at wedding celebrations on Mount Olympus. He had to choose between Aphrodite, Athena and Hera. They tried to bribe him to choose among them – Hera offered ownership of all of Europe and Asia, Athena offered skill in battle, and wisdom, and Aphrodite offered the love of the most beautiful woman on Earth, Helen of Sparta. Paris chose Aphrodite and in so doing choose Helen, and so began the story of Helen of Troy.
So you could say in it’s own way the mighty quince was instrumental in the creation of the Trojan wars. A recipe for a family dinner party, a romantic dinner or just the perfect desert for Melbourne in Spring. Enjoy, celebrate and love.
Ingredients – Serves 6 people (half a fruit each)
- 3 quince , peeled, halved and cored
- zest of one lemon
- 2 cups of sugar
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 3 or 4 cloves
- 3 bay leaves
- 1 tablespoon of vanilla sugar
Preparation
Peel, halve and core the Quince, and place in a baking tray. Combine all other ingredients, making sure you mix them well and add enough water to cover the fruits.
Cover the baking tray with foil and cook for 45 mins to 1 hour. Check by pressing the fruits to see if they are nice and soft.
Remove the fruits from the tray, and reduce the syrup on top of the stove for 15 minutes.
Pour the syrup over the quince and cover until you are ready to serve them.
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