2 apples, peeled, cored and sliced
2 large handfuls blackberries
squeeze lemon juice
1 orange, finely grated zest and juice
4 pears, peeled, cored and sliced
couple of twists of black pepper
4 tbsp soft light brown sugar
230²µ/8ΒΌ΄Η³ϊ caster sugar
1 cinnamon stick, snapped in half
20²µ/ΒΎ΄Η³ϊ icing sugar
2 star anise
1 vanilla pod, seeds removed (save a third of the seeds for the cream filling), or 4 drops of vanilla extract
reserved vanilla seeds (see above) or 1 drop vanilla extract
300ml/11fl oz whipping or double cream
4 free-range egg whites, at room temperature
Β½ bottle (375ml/13fl oz) Marsala or good red wine