In the winter months, fresh, local fruit is an elusive commodity, but there are ways to bring a delicious and simple fruit presence into your meals. One way, which recalls earlier days when food preservation was necessary to survive long winters, is to stew dried fruits. Fruit compotes are warming and beautiful when daylight seems fleeting. The flavors and colors of the compote will vary with the fruits you choose, but therein lays the lovely variety of the compote experience. For a quick and easy start, try a recipe from Deborah Madison's book Seasonal Fruit Desserts. You may discover a wonderful new way to warm the winter months and a reason to put a food dehydrator on your wish list!