Vanilla plums

The last plums from our summerhouse garden are now preserved.

I made vanilla plums – easy and tasty – serve on ice cream, in a cake, with rice pudding or maybe cheese.

2 kg (4 pounds) plums

1 vanilla pod

750 g (4 cups) sugar (raw or white and brown 50:50)

3 TBSP rum or whisky

Wash the plums, cut them in halves and remove the stones.

Slice the vanilla pod open and scrape out the beans. Mash them together with the sugars.

Layer plums, vanilla sugar and the vanilla pod cut in 4 pieces, in a big pot and let them sit at room temperature for 6-8 hours – to the sugar is (almost) melted.

Put the pot over the heat and bring it slowly to a boil. Turn down the heat and let the plums simmer in the sugar for about 15 minutes – try NOT to stir – just shake the pot from time to time.

Remove any foam and fill plums and syrup into prepared jars swirled with rum or whisky. Put a piece of vanilla pod in each and close the lids tight.