Well, it finally happened. The figs in our backyard tree are ripe and ready for harvest. To date, we have harvested about 55 pounds (about 25 Kilos) of figs. Let me be clear. That is the first harvest. We probably have 2 or 3 more to go. Prolific tree, I just wish the apricot and plum trees would take a lesson. I made several pints of fig preserve and several fig newton filling (alone with some homemade fig newtons), fig and brie tarts and froze a few pounds for future consideration.
Picking the figs proved somewhat challenging. It turns out many people are allergic to the sap and/or leaves of the fig tree. As luck would have it, all of us were, some more than others. Soap (Dawn dishwashing detergent) and water and time worked well to remove the itch and rash. It was gone the next day. Next time, long sleeves and gloves.
After the figs were washed, dried and sorted the best were sliced (about ½” thick) and frozen. Some were laid out on parchment lined baking sheets and put in the freezer. Others were sliced and put into zip lock bags and a simple syrup with Fruit Fresh added were frozen. We shall see which method we like better.
Picking Figs
Frances and I picked the first half of the harvest. Daniel, The Young and Tall, joined us after his work the next day to help with the high fruit. Rosie, the Supervisor as ever vigilant.
Washing, Sorting and Processing
The fruit was washed, dried (wet fruit spoils faster) and spread as a single layer on paper towels in the refrigerator for processing the next day (after rash). Note to self: Use gloves on day two also.
The cut figs were boiled to 220oF and either mashed with a potato masher (Frances’ method) or food processed with a couple quick pulses (my method) and canned. I added a couple more pulses for the newton filling, which seemed about right in the final product.
Here are a couple of tips about making the fig newtons. The recipe makes just the right amount of cookie batter vs. filling, try it. After cutting the rolled dough to an 8”x14” sheet, roll it as rectangular and with as straight edges as possible. It will make the cookies look better. Also, before trying to fold the dough over and pinching shut cut the sheet in half, or ever thirds, crosswise. This makes the soft dough easier to fold smoothly. More also, be bold when folding. Like flipping eggs in a frying pan. Just go for it. If you don’t fold far enough for the un-filled edges to meet, it’s a bear to try to stretch the top layer to meet the bottom to seal.
For the tartlets, be sure to use enough Brie (or other cheese) to fill half the shell. Too little and the cheese does not add enough flavor. You can always add a piece of cheese to the top to compensate. I also sprinkled the tartlets with a little flaked sea salt to offset the fig sweetness.
Homemade Fig Newtons – HGTV
INGREDIENTS
- 1 pint fresh or preserved figs or 12 ounces dried figs
- 1 1/2 cups flour
- 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 stick butter
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons orange juice
If you are using:
- Fresh figs: Remove stems and boil figs with a cinnamon stick and 2 cups of sugar in 1 cup of water for 45 minutes. Drain and cool.
- Dried figs: In a bowl, pour boiling water over figs (stems removed) and let rest 10 minutes. Drain all but 2 tablespoons water and stir in 2 tablespoons corn syrup + ¼ teaspoon cinnamon.
- Preserved figs: Drain syrup.
METHOD
- Puree figs in food processor until a thick paste forms (if too thick or thin to spread evenly, add a little water or flour until spreadable consistency is reached).
- Combine flour, baking powder and salt together and set aside.
- Cream butter and sugar in a mixing bowl.
- Add egg and vanilla, mix until smooth
- Add orange juice and combined dry ingredients to bowl and mix until dough forms.
- Optional: for dough into a flat thick disk and chill to set butter and make it easier to roll and fold.
- Roll dough out on a floured surface into a 8”x14” rectangle about ¼” thick.
- Cut rectangle in half lengthwise.
- Spread fig paste onto half of each rectangle, lengthwise.
- Cut the rectangle in half crosswise, or even thirds to facilitate folding.
- Fold dough in half lengthwise to cover fig paste and pinch edges to seal.
- Slide each newton log onto a parchment lined baking sheet.
- Bake 25 minutes at 350 degrees until crust begins to brown.
- Slice into cookie-sized segments and cool. Slice while warm to reducing flaking.
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l. Set aside until foamy, about 10 minutes.
of butter, or butter and jam, or just jam, or with bacon and eggs, or… You get the idea.
powder or baking soda as a chemical leavening agent rather than yeast. They are similar to British scones or the bannock from the Shetland Isles.”
problem, but find a jar of blackberry without that insidious word “seedless” on the label? Good luck. Either you spend an inordinate amount of time searching your supermarket, or go to a farm or specialty market and shell out twice the cash. I look for BOGO’s on berries. It’s like getting jam free, almost.
aBatteredOldSuitcase 