Ingredients

• 4 Cups water
• 1/2 Cup Sugar
• 2 Heilala Vanilla pods Split lengthways and seeds scraped
• 6 large peaches or pears halved

Or

• 10 Apricots halved
• Juice and zest of 1 lemon
• Fresh mint leaves, shredded slightly

Method

Boil water in a saucepan and reduce to a simmer. Add sugar and split vanilla pods and simmer until vanilla dissolves.

Simmer fruit in water for 2-3 minutes each side. Remove fruit; allow to cool with peaches peal off skin.

Reduce remaining syrup by simmering for a few minutes. Remove from the heat and when cooled add the lemon juice and mint.

Serve fruit and syrup with vanilla ice cream

(Adapted from recipe; The Sydney Morning Herald, 27 June 2006)