Confiture de Vieux Garçon

This is more of a ritual than a recipe. Vieux garçon means hardened bachelor, and this is a dish to warm the cockles of a lonely heart over the winter months. It is simply layers of fruit macerated in alcohol. The trick is to make it in -the tallest, most beautiful jar you can find. The fruit needs to be unbruised and carefully prepared - topped and tailed - as for jam. Use eau de vie, Cognac or any fruit-based alcohol. As the seasons pass, add layers of fruit and a good splash of alcohol. There’s no need to stir.