Hey yo! How’s life these days? Hopefully you are taking a break from all the politics, sad facebook posts, puppy rescue videos, and grab them by the pussy remixes *shudders*.

So, today, I will give you something that will take your mind off of things, so you can simply cook, relax, and have a moment to yourself. Don’t worry, this won’t take long, which is why I love this recipe – but – compromising on time doesn’t mean compromising on flavour; these apples and mandarins simmered in sweet hibiscus tea are super tasty and oh so comforting. They are the gateway to all of the holiday deserts that are about to invade us.

I served mine with a bit of ice cream, because, ice cream! But feel free to just eat as is. You could even blend it a bit and use it as stuffing for hand pies or as a spread for cake. I just like it as is, chunky, fruity, and tangy.

Get the full recipe after the jump!

Let’s get in the kitchen and let’s get’er done!

Apples, Mandarins, Simmered in Sweet Hibiscus Tea

Serves 4-6

Ingredients:
– 1 tablespoon coconut oil
– 5 apples, cored, cubed (you can mix and match varieties)
– 6 mandarins, peeled, segments separated
– 1/2 cup orange juice
– 1 cup water
– 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
– 1/4 cup brown sugar
– 1 cinnamon stick
– 1 star anise pod
– 3 tablespoons hibiscus flowers (this is just the dry flowers which you can buy at almost any latin store, if you don’t find this kind, use a couple tea bags).

Instructions:

1. Grab a heavy pot and put it over medium heat, add the coconut oil and heat it up for a minute, then add the apples and mandarins and do not touch them! Let them brown for a couple minutes.
2. Add the orange juice, water, vanilla, and sugar and gently stir a few times to incorporate. Bring mix to a gentle simmer and lower the heat to the lowest it can go. Add the cinnamon stick, anise, and hibiscus flowers and let it simmer for 10 minutes. Stir gently a few times and simmer for another 10 minutes or until fruit has soften and has started to soak up the tea. Remove from heat and cool down at room temp.
3. Serve the fruit on some nice looking glasses, pour a nice amount of the sweet tea on top, and top with vanilla ice cream.

Voila! Looks kinda like a classic dessert your grandma would make, but a bit more hip with the hibiscus, yes?

Enjoy!