Spring is in the Air
In 2014, spring begins with the vernal equinox on March 20 at 12:57 P.M. EDT. The word equinox is derived from Latin words meaning, “equal night.” Days and nights are about equal everywhere and the sun rises and sets due east and west.
Ah, spring! This season brings increasing daylight, warming temperatures, and salads to the table. Try some grain-based salads full of nutty-flavored golden figs and wheat berries or earthy green salads brimming with vegetables and sweet, dark purple Mission Figs. Salads make great side dishes as well as main dish entrees for lunch and dinner. Add a protein source such as grilled salmon, marinated chicken or chickpeas. Valleyfig.com offers a big variety of salad recipes. Here are a few choices to get you started: Curried Chicken Salad with Figs and Cashews, Greek Style Chickpea Chicken and Fig Salad, Salad of Dried Figs, Fennel and Manchego.
Mesclun Salad with Blue Cheese, Figs, and Prosciutto
- 1/3 c. ruby port
- 8 Orchard Choice or Sun-Maid California Figs, stemmed and quartered
- 2 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar
- 2 shallots, minced
- 1/3 c. extra-virgin olive oil
- 7 oz. (7 cups) mesclun
- 8 (1/8-inch-thick) slices prosciutto
- 6 oz. blue cheese, crumbled (1 1/2 cups)
- Salt and pepper
Combine port and figs in bowl and microwave, covered, until port is bubbling, about 1 minute. Let sit until figs have softened, about 5 minutes. Strain figs, reserving port.
Combine vinegar, shallots, and reserved port in large bowl. Slowly whisk in oil until combined. Add mesclun, prosciutto, blue cheese, and figs to bowl with dressing and toss to combine. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve
Recipe provided by Cook’s Country TV. Valley Fig Growers is a proud sponsor of Cook’s Country TV.
Introducing Valley Fig Growers’ 2014 “Try ‘Em, You’ll Like ‘Em” Healthy Lifestyle Tips
Each month we bring you a simple healthy lifestyle tip to try. Like we say about our California Dried Figs, “Give ’em a try, they’ll make you a little healthier and a little happier!”
The Super Three
Get to know your blood pressure, waist size, and cholesterol numbers. These three numbers will give you great insight into your health and where you’ll want to make changes to improve your health and reduce your risk of developing heart disease, diabetes and other serious diseases.
Healthy numbers for a healthy heart are:
1. Blood pressure 120/80 mm Hg or less
2. Waist size:
Women 35 inches or less
Men 40 inches or less
3. Total Cholesterol 200 mg/dL or less
LDL (bad cholesterol) 100 mg/dL or less
HDL (healthy cholesterol) 50 mg/dL or more for women; 40 mg/dL or more for men
Next month: Go Fish
Going Green Is Going Strong
The solar panels we recently installed are doing a great job—see for yourself using our Valley Fig Growers Green Link.
