Spice-poached quinces

I love the flavour of quince, whether it’s poached, as in this recipe, or slow-roasted to ruby perfection in the oven. It’s a sweetly perfumed fruit that does take a little bit of time to cook, but the rewards are great.

I have to admit that I also buy quinces for decorative purposes. As soon as they appear in the market, I buy a large bag, of which half is cooked and half is piled into a