Cherry Compote

Rinse the cherries thoroughly under cold water and pat them dry with a clean kitchen towel.

Pit the cherries using a cherry pitter or small knife, discarding the pits and reserving the fruit in a clean bowl.

Pour the water into a heavy-bottomed pot or saucepan and bring it to a gentle boil over medium heat.

Add the pitted cherries and the vanilla stick to the boiling water, stirring gently to combine.

Sprinkle in the sugar and stir until it dissolves completely into the liquid.

Reduce the heat to low and let the compote simmer gently, stirring occasionally, until the cherries have softened and the liquid has thickened slightly.

Remove the vanilla stick and discard it, then taste the compote and adjust the sweetness if needed.

Transfer the warm compote to a serving bowl or individual glasses and allow it to cool to room temperature before serving, or chill in the refrigerator until ready to serve.