October/November/December 2008 Fig Focus

Figs Give the Holidays Style and Flavor

Christmas, Hanukkah, and Thanksgiving offer wonderful opportunities to add style and flavor to your holidays with dried California Figs

Melt bittersweet chocolate as package directs. Stir figs and nuts into melted chocolate.  Spread on foil-lined baking sheet to thickness of about 1/4-inch. Chill until firm, about 30 minutes. For white chocolate drizzle, melt white chocolate as package directs. Scrape into small plastic bag; seal bag. Snip tiny hole in corner of bag. Squeeze bag to drizzle chocolate over bark. (Or dip teaspoon in chocolate and drizzle over bark.) Chill 30 minutes or until firm. Peel bark off foil and break into irregular 1 1/2- to 2-inch pieces. Store in airtight container at room temperature. Makes 24 to 28 pieces.

*Or chopped, toasted almonds, hazelnuts, pecans, pistachios, cashews, walnuts or a combination.

Happy Hanukkah!

Host a dessert party for a new spin on Hanukkah celebrations. Sweetly greet guests with brightly decorated Hanukkah Sandwich Cookies cut in seasonal shapes and filled with a fig orange filling.

Filling:

• 1-1/2 cups packed Orchard Choice or Sun-Maid figs (stems removed)
• 1/3 cup honey
• 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 3 tablespoons orange juice
• 1 tablespoon orange zest

In small bowl, combine flour, baking powder and cinnamon; mix well.  In large bowl, beat butter and sugar with electric mixer until light and fluffy.  Beat in eggs and almond extract.  Add flour mixture to butter mixture 1 cup at a time, mixing after each addition.  Place cookie dough on plastic wrap; shape into a 12-inch disk.  Refrigerate at least 1 hour. Preheat oven to 375°F.  On well-floured surface, roll out dough to about 1/8-inch thick.  Cut out cookies with Hanukkah-shaped cutters, making sure to dip cutters in flour before each use. Bake on ungreased cookie sheet 9-11 minutes or until cookies are lightly browned.  Remove to wire rack; cool completely.  Decorate 1/2 the cookies as desired; leave remaining cookies without decoration. In food processor, puree figs, honey, cinnamon, orange juice and zest until almost smooth.  Spread about 1 tablespoon filling on undecorated cookies.  Top with decorated cookies. Makes about 2 dozen 3-inch sandwich cookies.

Thanksgiving, November 27

This Thanksgiving why not offer to bring the cranberry sauce and make our doubly fruity Fig Cranberry Sauce with Oranges and Port . Order figs ahead from the Grower’s Store.

Something to add to the Thanksgiving dinner conversation

Consumers are Looking for Fiber and Dried Figs Deliver in Tasty Abundance

By Cherryl Bell, RD, MS

Fiber is where it’s at when it comes to reading the nutrition label. According to a report recently published by the US Department of Agriculture, consumers are checking the fiber content of their foods more than any other item on the Nutrition Facts panel. In fact, the report notes that fiber is the only label component to show an increase; whereas, sugar remained steady and calories, fats, cholesterol and sodium declined.

The Food and Drug Administration is currently considering changes to the format and content of food nutrition labels to encourage increased use. According to USDA Economic Research Service report on the study titled, The Decline in Consumer Use of Food Nutrition Labels, 1995-2006, the increase in use (of fiber) may be the result of the increasing popularity of low-carb diets, interest in identifying whole grain foods, or an aging population that is more aware of dietary fiber’s health benefits.

This is great news for figs. As fig lovers know, three to five dried figs provide 5 grams of dietary fiber. Considering that’s 20 percent of the daily value, that’s a lot of sweet tasting good health. So, all you fig lovers need to spread the word, “find fiber in figs.”

Holiday eating doesn’t mean you have to throw your interest in fiber out the window. Here are some great, and might I say from personal experience, absolutely delicious tips from Marie Simmons. Her book, fig heaven, makes a great holiday gift.

• Plump dried figs in boiling red wine for 15 minutes. Marinate in the wine overnight. Drain and serve with cheese.
• Add diced moist dried figs to cooked brown rice, couscous, or pilaf.
• Add sliced dried figs, golden Calimyrna and dark Mission, along with toasted walnuts hazelnuts, or almonds to a mixed green salad. Toss with a light vinaigrette. Or add chopped figs to Waldorf salad for a sensational winter fruit salad.
• Plump 8 ounces of figs in boiling salted water to cover for 10 minutes. Drain, and toss with a drizzle of olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon each of dried oregano, crushed fennel seeds and grated orange zest, a pinch of kosher salt and a grinding of black pepper. Marinate for 24 hours.
• Halve a moist dried fig and push a 1/2 chunk of cheese such as Stilton, dry jack, cheddar, or Parmigiano-Reggiano into the center. Wrap with a thin ribbon of Black Forest ham and serve.

Healthy Holiday Gift Ideas!

Dazzling Drizzle

Make Marie Simmons’ Classic Fig Drizzle and put in a decorative bottle. Add her book, fig heaven, a wedge of cheese, one or two Orchard Choice trays of figs, and a small decorative ceramic platter and wrap for a gift this holiday season.

Figs Spotted on Food Pages Across the Country

Happy Holidays from all of us at Valley Fig Growers!