August 26, 2020 4 min read 13 Comments
When I saw a selection of fresh purple figs, I immediately snapped up two boxes. {this picture is from France, it's quite a feat to distance, mask on, buy fruits and vegetables and speak audibly to the farm hands. : ) Throw in the need to shoot a photo and it was just too much!}
FIG HISTORY: Figs have a long and symbolic history, they represent fertility, peace, and prosperity. Among the oldest fruits eaten by humans, figs were used to sweeten food before sugar became widely available. Their latin name is Ficus carica, the word fig was first recorded in the English language in the 13th century. The fig derives its name from the French word figue. Fig trees appear in both the Old and New Testament of the Bible {some scholars believe the forbidden fruit picked by Eve was a fig rather than an apple} - but it has been cultivated for much longer. Sumerian stone tablets dating back to 2500 B.C. record culinary use of figs, and remains of fig trees were found during excavations of Neolithic sites from 5000 B.C. Some historians consider it the first domesticated crop. The Greeks and Romans spread the fig throughout the Mediterranean. In the 1700's, Spanish Franciscan missionaries brought the fig with them to Southern California, creating the variety of figs called Mission Fig. A fig tree can live as long as 100 years and grow 50 feet tall, but most stay between 10 to 30 feet. Figs grow well in warm, dry climates, they need to be in the sun to ripen. Our neighbor's tree isn't the prettiest tree on the block, but once those figs ripen, it's certainly beautiful! Figs pair beautifully with soft goat cheese, balsamic vinegar, and honey. The perfect balance between sweet and sour. The base for this easy appetizer is just the figs. On top, the goat cheese shines with a splash of the balsamic, and a tiny drizzle of organic honey. Here in our FrenchGardenHouse garden, we serve these as often as we can! Everyone loves these...they are fresh, and oh so delicious! Because I need to be gluten-free, I always make them like this. But, if you love good crusty bread, by all means serve the same ingredients to guests with slices of bread. I make Ina's crostini ahead of time, so that making this variation is just as easy! EASY FIG APPETIZER INGREDIENTS: * Ripe Figs. They can be the purple or green variety. * Soft cheese, like a goat cheese. But I've used other kinds of soft cheese with great results! * A good quality aged balsamic vinegar. * Honey DIRECTIONS: 1. Select large, ripe figs, wash, and cut each in half. Make sure to cut off the little stem. 2. Put a small slice or a dollop of the soft cheese on each fig half. 3. Drizzle the balsamic vinegar over each fig. 4. Drizzle a tiny amount of honey over each fig.SHOP THE AUTUMN AT HOME COLLECTION >
A BIENTOT
Shop for the best in French Antiques, furniture with the patina of age, vintage accessories to delight you and your family & friends, and French Country utilitarian pieces. Treasures that make your home fresh, beautiful, inspirational and above all uniquely yours. Visit our shop FrenchGardenHouse.comAugust 27, 2020
They are beautiful! Sadly, our neighbor’s tree is a little short on branches and leaves….but full on the fruits!
August 26, 2020
No! We pick them up like a bite sized appetizer. But a spoon would work…the figs are actually sturdy enough to just be a bite sized delight.
August 26, 2020
And not only are they delicious, but the leaves are lovely.
A branch of them in a simple vase is so elegant,
not to mention wrapping a fig leaf around a votive candle in a glass
and tying it on with raffia.
That’s decorated many a tabletop for the magazines!
Thank you, Miss Lidy!
August 26, 2020
Oh Y.U.M!
Do you eat them with a spoon, Lidy?
August 26, 2020
Alice, what great ideas! I’m going to try that quesadilla idea today for lunch, it sounds wonderful!
August 26, 2020
It’s called Evolvulus glomeratus…or Evolvulus Blue Daze. Blue Daze has true-blue ruffled petals and silvery-green leaves, the small 1" flowers bloom during the day, and will close if rain approaches! They love sun, and warmer climates. They do very well in our back garden, and they are such a beautiful color, aren’t they?
August 26, 2020
Yum. This is a delicious recipe and I also make quesadillas with goat cheese and figs and honey. We can’t grow them here in Colorado so must get those in the grocery store that aren’t fresh. My sister lives in NC. She has two trees. The fig have been plentifully this year. She has been making preserves and giving them away. I love to can them in simple syrup and have them in Winter for breakfast. They are Divine.
August 26, 2020
Hi I love the fig info but could you also share the name of the flowers displayed also.
August 26, 2020
Sharon, I hope you love it! I have used the honey goat cheese from Trader Joe’s, also a soft herb cheese, both were wonderful too!
August 26, 2020
Thank you for sharing your recipe! It looks and sounds so delicious – I can’t wait to try it!
August 26, 2020
My mouth is watering reading this! Oh, how I love fresh figs! That sounds like a perfect combination of tastes. A couple more weeks before they’ll be at peak here in my region, but anxiously waiting.
August 26, 2020
Such an easy but yet elegant appetizer or treat. Thank you for sharing!
Enjoy your day my friend…
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Gloria
August 28, 2020
I brandied figs this year to preserve them whole, I hope during the holidays I can use your receipt to serve them. I also make fig mustard, I also dry figs to use in stuffing. It’s work but it is wonderful to be able to enjoy them later in the year. I have a wonderful friend who has a twenty year old tree. She let’s me know when they are ready to pick. Our season in Raleigh is just about over. Thank you for the receipt.