Start May off with a Cinco de Mayo Celebration
Fig Mezcal Margarita Cinco de Mayo Cocktail
Looking for something festive to enjoy on Cinco de Mayo? This year celebrate with a cocktail that features Orchard Choice or Sun-Maid California Mission Figs. This cocktail may be a bit more involved than your typical Cinco de Mayo cocktail, but it’s absolutely worth it!
Plan ahead. You’ll need to soak the California Mission Figs in mezcal for a week until they are nice and plump and the mezcal has taken on their figgy flavor. The great news? The fig-infused mezcal lasts for up to a month. You’ll have sweet, smoky, gingered fig margaritas to sip on for Cinco de Mayo, and then all month long—or until the mezcal runs out!
Fig Mezcal Margarita Cinco de Mayo Cocktail
Ingredients:
Fig-Infused Mezcal:
1 cup (5 ounces) Orchard Choice or Sun-Maid Mission California Figs, stemmed and sliced
1 3/4 cups mezcal
Ginger Syrup:
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup water
3 tablespoons peeled and chopped fresh ginger
Fig Margaritas:
2 ounces Fig-Infused Mezcal
1/2 ounce Ginger Syrup
Juice of 1 lime
Ice
Garnishes:
Coarse salt
Lime wedges
Orange wedges
Orchard Choice or Sun-Maid Mission California Figs
Instructions:
Make Fig-Infused Mezcal:
- Combine figs and mezcal in a glass container with a tight-fitting lid. Seal and leave at room temperature to infuse for 1 week.
- Pour into a blender, blend until figs are completely puréed. Strain through a fine mesh strainer into a large measuring cup. Press on the solids to extract all mezcal. You should have about 1 cup of Fig-Infused Mezcal.
- Use right away or keep in a tightly-sealed container for up to a month at room temperature.
Make Ginger Syrup:
- Combine all the ingredients for the ginger syrup in a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium heat. Whisk to dissolve the sugar and simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and steep until cool. Strain out the ginger.
- Use right away or keep in a tightly-sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 2 months.
Make Fig Margaritas:
- Rub a lime or orange wedge on the rim of a cocktail glass. Dip in coarse salt and fill glass with ice.
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add Fig-Infused Mezcal, Ginger Syrup, and lime juice. Shake vigorously. Strain into prepared glass. Garnish with a Orchard Choice or Sun-Maid California Dried fig, an orange wedge and a lime wedge. ¡Salúd!
Recipe and photos by Kate Ramos
If you make this recipe, snap a photo and tag us @valleyfig —we’d love to see what you’re cooking on Instagram and Facebook!
Stay tuned for the easiest summer sandwich featuring our California Calimyrna Figs.
Make Memories in May with Orchard Choice and Sun-Maid California Figs
When May comes close, we begin thinking about summer, but not until we celebrate our moms for Mother’s Day and our veterans during Memorial Day. We’ve got easy ideas for both kinds of gatherings coming your way on Facebook this month. But if you’re deep in planning mode already, find Mother’s Day Recipe inspiration and Fig Breakfast Ideas for a leisurely brunch.
Nutrition Notes for Summer Fun
Summer is right around the corner and getting in shape is top of mind. For many getting in shape means losing weight. So, what to do?
Get moving. Aim for a total of 60 minutes a day. Take your dog for a walk or offer to take the neighbor’s dog for a walk. Pop up from your desk and walk around your work space. Clean the house. Bike with a friend. Walk to the store. Try water workouts. How about jump roping? Visit a local museum and you’ll be surprised how many steps you tally. Do something every day! Ten minutes here, ten minutes there, adds up.
Fight hunger with fiber and protein. When you wait too long to eat, you get so hungry that you may not make smart food choices. Eat a small snack that combines a protein with a food that’s high in fiber. A few Orchard Choice California Figs and a handful of almonds work great. These are filling but not packed with a lot of calories. Check out your local farmers market and choose a variety of colorful fruits and veggies.
Cut down on screen time. Television, computers, smart phones, and work all make it easy to sit. Instead of sitting, aim for your hour a day of physical activity. Find activities you enjoy. Get a buddy and get going. Add some muscle building activities at least twice a week, such as push-ups, pull-ups, or lifting weights.
Slow and steady for the win
It’s tempting to look
for a quick fix when you want to lose weight. A good rule of thumb to
keep in mind — if it’s too good to be true, it probably is. Here are
some solid tips:
Avoid fad diets. Fad diets often focus on only a few types of food. That means you are not getting all the nutrients you need. You may lose weight initially, but inevitably you gain it back quickly.
Don’t eat too little. Your body needs fuel to be healthy. Women should be able to lose a pound a week eating 1,500 calories a day and being active. If you eat fewer than 1,200 calories, you may not get the nutrients you need such as calcium, magnesium and protein.
Don’t expect to lose weight quickly. Losing about one to two pounds a week is a healthy way to lose weight.
Enjoy the taste of good health with Orchard Choice and Sun-Maid California Figs!
