Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Figgy Fun

Check out these babies! My grandpa's King Fig tree has been busting out some real beauties lately. I LOVE green figs. They're so beautiful and red on the inside. When I lived in the Italian country-side, there were giant green fig trees all over the place. We could walk outside our door, and in a matter of 10 minutes fill an entire bowl with luscious, ripe figs. I can't tell you how often I remember those figs trees... sigh.

See, now this is a *perfect* fig. A fig is at its single most delicious state when it splits open from its own ripeness. It's like a giant handful of heaven. Yes it is. Can you see how truly massive this fig is?

Here's another illustration of size. That's a quarter up there on the left. Now that the birds have discovered the figs, we are in a constant bidding war with them, which means picking the figs before they are fully ripened. But this first batch off the tree, before the birds caught on, they were truly spectacular.

I made the Caramelized Fig Cake from Millenium Restaurant's 2nd cookbook: "The Artful Vegan."

Here's a slice, served with Lemon Anglaise Sauce. It was a good cake, and easy too. But I don't think I'll make it again. Something's gotta be DAMN good to be worthy of sacrificing even a few fresh figs. The Lemon Anglaise sauce was darned good by the way.

12 comments:

  1. A fig tree? I'm so jealous...

    The closest I came was having a mini fig bonsai, which just passed away due to a bug infestation (RIP).

    The tart is just gorgeous.

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  2. Ahh, I too am envious of the fig tree - sounds lovely!!

    A caramelized fig tart??? Oh my, that's fabulous.

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  3. The house I am looking to buy right now has a fig tree. It's so funny-- as I am reading this post as I am listening to a women explain how to take care of a fig tree on youtube! My hubby said it's going to be my job! I am going to have to make that yummy looking tart! Mmm!

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  4. Anonymous7:38 AM

    Oh, wow! I've had dried figs before, but not fresh figs. Your Grandpa's yard must be like heaven with all the glorious fruits and veggies it produces!

    Your cake looks fantastic. I wish I had a slice right now!

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  5. Ooh, my sister has a fig tree! Those are amazing though, SO BIG!

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  6. I feel the same way about sacrificing my fresh fruits! The cake looks really lovely.

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  7. Can you believe I've never had a fresh fig before??? Now I want one even more!

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  8. I've never actually eaten a fig ... unless you count Fig Newtons when I was kid. And um, I'm pretty sure that doesn't count. I wish I could find someone around here with a fig tree.

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  9. Oh yum! Fresh figs are truly the food of the gods. My grandmother used to have a fig tree in her backyard- I still think of it to this day, just like you think of those gorgeous Italian trees...

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  10. Perfectly timed post, Amey!! I spotted some Texas figs today at the store but wasn't sure what to use them for... now I know, that cake or just by themselves!

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  12. The figs look amazing! I'm hoping to get some figs soon...

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