Summer fruit plate with lime, mint & vanilla syrup For the syrup

 For the syrup

100 g golden caster sugar

1 small bunch fresh mint, leaves picked, stalks reserved

zest and juice of 2 limes

1 vanilla pod, scored lengthways, seeds scraped out, pod reserved

Make the syrup. Place the sugar and mint stalks in a small saucepan with 200ml water and bring to the boil. Turn the heat off, then add the lime zest and juice, vanilla pod and seeds. Mix it all together and place to one side to cool down. You want a lovely thick syrup, but remember it will thicken as it cools.