Poached apricots

PREP: 10 minutes; COOK: 20 minutes; MAKES: 4 servings.

1 large lemon

1 cup water

8 large apricots, each cut in half and pitted (pits reserved)

6 2/3 cup sugar

1/8 teaspoon vanilla extract

1. From lemon, grate ¾ teaspoon peel and squeeze 3 tablespoons juice. 2. In 2-quart saucepan, combine water, apricot pits, sugar and lemon juice and peel; heat to boiling over high. Reduce heat; cover and simmer 10 minutes. 3. Strain syrup into small bowl. Return syrup to same clean saucepan along with apricots and heat to boiling; reduce heat and simmer just until apricots begin to soften, about 2 minutes. Stir in vanilla.