Tuesday, August 23, 2011

A Fall Sweetness

The first year that our fig tree produced we got about a dozen figs over a two week period.  Hubby and I carefully shared them.  They were like rare pieces of candy and we were amazed at how they tasted like figs!  Imagine our surprise at not being duped by the fruit tree catalog.

This year our fig tree has produced about ten cups of figs and we hurry to pick them the day before ripeness so that squirrels and raccoons and perhaps the resident ground hog do become aware of this tree candy.  We have been eating them like popcorn because they are still a luxurious rare form of fruit for us.  Then I sliced them in half and made a lemon/fig tart as the abundance became too great. 

The tart was made with sliced lemons, honey, butter crust, figs and fennel seeds. It was sweetly delicious.  Honey and figs make me think of the Bible or some exotic tent in a desert with an Arab offering his figs.  I have so many now that I made a date bar recipe and froze half of it because it was made in a large pan.
The next figs picked as this season ends may be frozen as well, because I have read that they can be kept that way.  What on earth will I do next year as this tree gets bigger?

13 comments:

  1. I am sure you will become very creative with your recipes. Fig-stuffed chicken, fig muffins, fig duff, blue-cheese stuffed figs, figs with brie, sauteed figs, roasted figs, fig pudding, fig salad...(Is Forest Gump coming to mind?)

    I love figs...do they travel well?

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  2. oh wow that tart looks good...we grows grape and pear...and have enjoyed a fine bounty...lost lots of grape though we could not get to in time...

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  3. WOW. That is so tasty looking. I have only had figs a few times in my life; perhaps I should remedy that.

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  4. Anonymous4:29 AM

    :) am not a fan of figs though i like the indian desserts that contain figs...

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  5. That fig/lemon tart sounds delicious!

    That's the way it is with figs - the trees get bigger and more productive, yet the fruit are delicate and demand quick eating or preserving.

    My mother-in-law likes to can them, packing them in syrup. That's too sweet for my taste, and I've taken to drying them here. It's quick and easy, and leaves you with bags full of sweet, leathery fruit chips. These dried figs then freeze very well and last a long time.

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  6. Perhaps we should plant fig trees. It seems that this drought and heat has killed our six pecan trees that we have tenderly nurtured and even had some pecans on one last year. Ron thinks they may come back but I can't imagine.

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  7. I like figs too Tabor, but they must be picked at the right time. I don't have a fig tree. My neighbour gave me some this year but they were too ripe and not so nice. - Dave

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  8. My mouth is watering!

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  9. Oh the tart looks so good.
    Never thought of having a fig
    tree. Wonder would one grow in my area ? Enjoy your bounty...

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  10. I hope all your friends are fig lovers. :)

    Have you tried fig jam. Fig yogurt is good stuff too.

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  11. I LOVE fresh figs, and they cost a fortune to buy.. it's not crossed my mind before, but maybe I should also invest in a tree? Hubby is a keen gardener (not me), and we do have a giant greenhouse with many fruit trees.. hmnnnn, I am so glad I stopped by, you've given me some ideas here (grin)!

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  12. sell those fig tarts!

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  13. I don't know that I've ever eaten a fresh fig. They look delicious. I guess it's time I checked 'em out. Thanks for the nudge. :)

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