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Thursday, August 14, 2008

Gettin' Figgy Wit' It

The last time I ate a fig, it was probably in a Fig Newton. And it probably wasn't even a real fig, but rather some processed dried fruit crap. But despite my inexperience with the seedy fruit, I've always loved the smell of Bath & Body Works Brown Sugar and Fig Body Spray, so I figured I must like figs.


I bought these babies at the farmer's market last Saturday with no clue what to do with them. They were overpriced ($6 for about 12 figs ... a vendor down the way was selling them for $4, but the damage had already been done when I stumbled on those). They were also a little over-ripe. Some were even bursting open.

I ate a few of the not-so-ripe ones raw. They were tasty, but I knew they'd end up rotting in my fridge if I didn't find some way to use them in a recipe. I searched the Internets, and found this great recipe for Caramelized Fig Spread:


The spread contains broiled, caramelized figs and onions, balsamic vinegar, and olive oil. I tried it on an everything bagel with Tofutti cream cheese. Hot damn! This is good stuff! Way better than raw figs.

I'd also picked up a crap ton of tomatoes and a cute little jalapeno pepper at the market. And I bought a lemon and some Granny Smith apples at the Piggly Wiggly.


While the figs were broiling for the fig spread, I used the above ingredients (and some evaporated cane juice) to prepare the Tomato Jam from last month's Vegetarian Times:



This was also great served on bagels with vegan cream cheese. The apples, lemon, and sugar give the jam a sweet preserve-y taste, but the tomatoes and pepper lend a bit of a savory kick. I'd never even heard of tomato jam before, but I think I have a new favorite summer tomato treat.

31 comments:

  1. Okay, now we're even. I now have "getting jiggy wit' it" in my head. Though for some reason I keep switching an f for the j.

    Damn!

    Both of those recipes sound so good!!!!

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  2. figalicious! I'll have some for my morning bagel, if you please.

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  3. Figs and tomato jam - how gourmand! The only tomato jam I have ever had comes from Portugal and it is super delish.

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  4. I looove figs (both fresh and dried) - so luscious!! And WOW does that Caramelized Fig Spread sound good.

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  5. That fig spread is beautiful! And so versatile - you could put it on ice cream, in a sandwich, on other fruits. Cheers!!!

    And the tomato jam .... I never ever would have thought of that.

    You rock, and great great title to your post.

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  6. I had never (until now) even seen a fresh fig. I would have never known what to do with them, but that spread sounds great. But that tomato jam, that is really calling my name - seriously. YUM.

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  7. Thanks for sharing ideas for some new yummy spreads! I ordered my Veg Times subscription so long ago and I can't wait for it to finally arrive!

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  8. Huh. Tomato jam sounds interesting. And, I've been keeping my out for figs at the Farmer's Market, but apparently CO doesn't grow them or something. They've been MIA.

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  9. I love love love figs! Fresh, juicy, plump figs are one of my most favourite things in the world (I admit I didn't know this until about 4 years ago...).

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  10. tomato jam and fig spread in one post! wow! I think I don't like figs, but then again I'm not even sure how the taste, so maybe it's just a bad child memory.

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  11. that. is. awesome. sweet batman, that's awesome! i need to find figs - NOOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWW! and tomato jam? - hot damn!

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  12. Daang, that looks mighty fine! I am not sure if I am allergic to figs or not, but I feel compelled to find out so I can try that recipe!!!

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  13. The fig spread on the bagel is blowing my mind! There's a fig tree growing outside of my apartment building, and they went and cut most of the branches off before they ripened last summer - how rude! So now I have to pay for them :(
    I've never cooked with figs, I always eat them plain too fast!

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  14. mmm I love figs! I'll have to try that spread =)

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  15. gosh! you really know how to treat a bagel! i want some too, please.

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  16. OK, so now I've gone and commented on some random co-worker's blog (which was actually interesting, BTW) instead of yours. Greaaaaaaaaat.

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  17. \/\/ Not saying your blog is not interesting!! Quite the opposite!!

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  18. your figs are so cute... as are you binanca! getting figgy with it.. adorable!

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  19. What a lovely mix even if I never tasted figs in my life. I know what they are but they do not see here in a preserved form either. I love the pic with the bagel and the figs.
    Good job Bianca

    To answer your question about avocado and pears here. If someone says they want a pear here we know they mean avocado because pears (the fruit) are not widely used in our cooking. Yes it is confusing

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  20. The fig spread sounds awesome! I haven't purchased figs before either. Sounds like you found a great way to use them.

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  21. Yay figs! That tomato jam is making me intrigued, too. My boyfriend say your bagel pictures while I was looking at them and was all "What's that? Can you make that?"

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  22. I love figs so you can imagine just how much my stomach is growling right now. Caramelized fig spread.....those words are music to my ears!

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  23. Figs are one of my absolute favorite foods. I just wish fig season weren't so short.

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  24. I love my figs...in any way, shape or form.

    And they're so damn good for you, too.

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  25. one thing i dont think ive ever had before is fig.. the only time was maybe a fig newton when i was little but thats about it.
    now i must try it..it looks so versatile! :)

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  26. yum!
    figs!
    caramelized figs!
    piggly wiggly!

    I have a piggly wiggly magnet on my fridge.

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  27. I am pretty inexpereienced with figs as well... but your photos now have me seriously craving a bagel with cream cheese and fig spread...

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  28. Tomato jam?? Wha?? Sounds A-mazing. I love tomato anything. Figs are good too, but tomato jam? crazy!

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  29. I have to boo you for the post title, so "booooooooo". Both the spreads look fab though, I'm of the opinion that anything tastes good on an everything bagel.

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  30. I love the idea of this blog...that we can in fact uphold our cultural traditions without supporting the meat industry. I really respect your interest in making vegan food accessible to people with all sorts of tastes!

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