Dried fruit compote

Dried fruit compote is a dessert of stewed fruit eaten year-round in Poland, Ukraine, Russia, but it is especially popular in the fall and winter. It uses summer's bounty that has been preserved by drying, and then reconstituted with sugar, water and spices. It is a traditional Christmas Eve (wigilia) dessert and originally was made with 12 dried fruits to represent the 12 apostles. When made thicker, it's great dolloped on toast or ice cream. It keeps for about 1 week.