Gather together your favorite dried fruits:
- prunes
- apricots
- apples
- raisins
- pears etc.
leave out dates and figs.
Place about a pound in a good sized pan and cover with water. Slice a well-scrubbed lemon or orange in thin rounds and add. Bring to boil and simmer for about an hour. Traditionally, you should serve this in small cut-glass compote dishes.
It's a great sweetener for pan cakes.