Figs

[EcclesCake]

Everywhere I go at the moment I am coming across gorgeous looking plump, fresh figs.

I had one sliced on a pizza the other evening and tomorrow I will stuff some with cheese and wrap in prosciutto before baking.

If you have never had a fresh fig do buy one and tuck in over the next few weeks, they really are lovely and worth a try.

[boxtops]

I'll look out for them - I love figs.

[ethandron]

Figs are one of the few..very few..things I just can't stand, all those little seed and the slimy figgy texture, bleurrgh!

[tiggerblue10]

Most of my family have fig trees growing in their gardens so we get loads every summer. I've got a tree in my garden but only got one or two out of it this year.

[tiggerblue10]

I love fresh figs on their own but I dislike them when they're cooked, dried or as a fig roll.

[ethandron]

Yes, we have a fig tree in the garden too tigger, and usually get loads of fruit but this year we've only had a couple. The squirrels and birds usually get the benefit of them.

[EcclesCake]

The flippin' squirrels snaffle my figs :-(

Eth, I understand where you are coming from as the few foods I dislike are all driven by texture.......more figs in the world for me though :-)

It really does seem to have been a fantastic harvest this year and I look forward to it continuing!!!,

[ethandron]

Supposing I was to give them another go, stuff 'em with cheese and wrap in prosciutto (actually sounds tasty), how long would you bake them for, and would you eat the skin?

[tiggerblue10]

They're quite pricey in the shops.

When I used to go back to Cyprus as a kid we had bucket loads of them, red and green. That's where we got the cuttings from.

[tiggerblue10]

You can eat the skin but just peel the stalk bit off and it will remove some of the thicker skin.

I don't like them cooked but I've seen Jamie Oliver prepare them with prosciutto ham and mozzarella.

[Prudie]

I had a fresh fig once on holiday in Malta, it was gorgeous but then I didn't make it to the bathroom in the middle of the night. Never dared have one since I was sooo embarrassed.

[EcclesCake]

I snip off the stalk and slash into quarters to about 2/3rds down. Cut a slice of cheese, mozzarella is popular (but bland in my book) or soft blue cheese and fill the cross section. Fold a slice of prosciutto in half and wrap around the fig and whack in a hot (180c) oven for ~12 mins or until cheese is beginning to give, the ham is crisping and the fig is warmed.

Serve with a drizzle of good balsamic vinegar a walnut or two and some baby leaves or micro herbs.

[ethandron]

Yikes prudie, hadn't thought if that aspect of figs, maybe I'd better not in view of recent..er..events in my life ;)
Thanks Eccles, it does actually sound really nice, I love balsamic, and nuts of any description. Will have to hold that one in abeyance for a little while..

[EcclesCake]

Figs are a good way to make you a 100m candidate :-(

[ethandron]

Eccles, do you bake..cakes and things...as well as cook? Have you ever made one of those Swedish princess cakes they did on Bake Off? Or any special cake type thing?

[kloofnek]

Eccles...I LOVE figs!!!
Where have you been seeing them
...like the sound of them being stuffed with cheese...are you having a dinner party or something as they sound quite posh!!!!

[Obiter]

All I can remember about figs, and dates, is that a box of them turned up every Xmas, also a box of Newberry Fruits. it was a seasonal thing round our way.

[EcclesCake]

I don't have sweet tooth so baking cakes isn't my bag really.....I do a mean rich fruit cake though!!!

I can and have made all manner of fancy cakes.....including Dobos Torte!!!

Gimme savoury every time......

[Obiter]

Of course, Syrup of Figs was a different matter entirely!

[ethandron]

We had Newberry fruits and dates but not figs.

[kloofnek]

Eccles..I have a VERY sweet tooth..can you not send me a box of your fancy cakes....Yummy...!!!