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FIGS – friendship, preserves, and cookies

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If you have figs in your knapsack, everyone will want to be your friend.
(Albanian Proverb)

Hi there,

I love to play golf. Now, that doesn’t mean I am any good at it, but I just like being outside taking a walk and bashing a ball in a beautiful place with friends. Who wouldn’t, right?

Recently, I have been having some problems with the walking around part due to a problem most upright mammals suffer from – a bad back. I am fortunate to have the nicest man, Bill, who is the Caddy Master at our golf course. When he saw that I was struggling, he helped me out with the cart so that I could continue to enjoy the sport.

I wanted to thank him for his kindness and friendship. I recently got these beautiful figs in my CSA box from Honey Brook Farms and made fig preserves. I gave Bill a jar of my fig preserves. Bill took them home, and his wife Marie made a melt in your mouth cookie and gifted some back to me along with the recipe.

What follows is my recipe for the fig preserves and Marie’s recipe for Mother’s Cookies.

FIG PRESERVES

Ingredients:

3 sprigs of thyme
8 cups of figs
1/2 cup honey Aleppo pepper
1/2 tsp pepper flakes
1/4 cup of Mike’s hot honey
1/4 cup basaltic
Shredded lemon peel
2 cups of sugar
1 package of liquid certo

Directions:

  • remove the thyme leaves
  • chop the figs into small junks
  • in a large saucepan add all the ingredients
  • bring to a rapid boil
  • turn down and simmer for 25 minutes
  • pour into clean jars and either freeze or water bath can

MARIE’S MOTHER’S COOKIES

Ingredients:

  • 1 and 1/2 cup of butter
  • 2 cups of sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 tsp vanilla
  • 4 cups of flour
  • 1/4 to 1/2 tsp. allspice
  • small jar of jelly/jam of your choice
  • powdered sugar for dusting

Directions:

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees
  • cream butter and sugar in a large mixing bowl
  • add eggs one at a time until totally combined
  • beat in vanilla until fluffy
  • add flour one cup at a time and allspice
  • beat until totally combined
  • spread 1/2 of the dough evenly onto a 15 x 10 sheet pan
  • spread jelly/jam evenly over dough
  • drop remaining dough into little pieces on top of the jelly/jam
  • bake for 30 to 35 minutes
  • cool and slice into small squared

Thank you Bill for your kindness and thank you Marie for sharing your recipe. It is delicious.

Talk soon ❤️💕 Bernadette

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31 responses to “FIGS – friendship, preserves, and cookies”

  1. LoseWeightWithAng – Hi, I'm Ang! I've conquered weight loss and binge eating and would love to help you too. Follow for fitness and weight loss tips, motivation, and health advice! To become the best version of yourself, visit https://loseweightwithang.com/
    LoseWeightWithAng says:

    My mom loves figs! This would be a great surprise for her this Christmas

    Reply
      • LoseWeightWithAng – Hi, I'm Ang! I've conquered weight loss and binge eating and would love to help you too. Follow for fitness and weight loss tips, motivation, and health advice! To become the best version of yourself, visit https://loseweightwithang.com/
        LoseWeightWithAng says:

        I’m happy to hear I brightened your day!

  2. Dorothy's New Vintage Kitchen – I'm a writer, cook, gardener, photographer, poet, quilter, and accomplished daydreamer. I'm also a wife, mother, grandmother, sister. cousin, aunt, and friend, no particular order on any given day. I've been a writer all my life, newspaper reporter and columnist, radio news writer, and magazine contributor, and poet and short-story writer as the spirit moves. Now, I turn my attention to my cookbook, the blog, and a cooking column "Memorable Meals," which runs in our county newspaper. Besides my family, I love dogs, cats, good coffee, and my never-dwindling pile of books I intend to read. Our family ran a small Vermont Inn for 18 years, with our focus on local, organic ingredients. After many years of daily serving up of our local delicacies, cooking classes, and catering, we are now only open for special events, and the odd cooking class as the spirit moves me. We also host musicians and artists, having helped produce a musical festival and other musical events for nearly 20 years. Many incredible artists have found a place at our table. Wonderful experiences, we will treasure always. My family and friends are my practice subjects. With a family that includes nut, peanut, tree fruit, and vegetable allergies, gluten intolerance, dairy intolerance, vegetarians, vegans, heart conscious, and a couple of picky eaters, there has to be a few quick tricks in the book to keep everyone fed and happy! Personally, I do not eat red meat or most dairy (usually) for health reasons, making the occasional exception at Thanksgiving and Christmas or our anniversary if the duck is locally raised. I do eat fish and seafood, so I try to come up with alternatives and substitutions when available. I serve local organic eggs and cheeses to my family who can tolerate dairy (My husband recently had a heart attack, and I need to watch my own cholesterol so I am careful, but have been known to let a little piece of really good cheese accidentally fall on my plate!). I believe strongly that eating in a way that is good for our planet is also good for our bodies! I cook by the seasons and draw on inspiration from the strong and talented women in my family who came before me, as well as the youth in the family who look at the world with fresh eyes. Food links us all, whether sharing a meal, cooking it together, or writing about it for others to enjoy. I love taking an old recipe and giving it a modern spin, especially if I can make it a littler healthier and use foods that are kinder to the Earth and to our bodies. I believe strongly in sustainable, delicious eating of whole foods, and the wonderful flavors we have at our fingertips! And finally, I love conversing with all the talented cooks and chefs out there who dot the globe! It's a wonderful, world full of culinary pen pals, and I cherish them all! XXXOOO Dorothy
    Dorothy’s New Vintage Kitchen says:

    They are so beautiful! We have to grab them when we can around here, fleeting as they are.

    Reply
  3. Chef Mimi – As a self-taught home cook, with many years in the culinary profession, I am passionate about all things food-related. Especially eating!
    chef mimi says:

    Your jam is so pretty. What’s honey Aleppo pepper?

    Reply
  4. Angie@Angie's Recipes – Angie's Recipes is an interactive blog dedicated to sharing yummy & creative recipes, helpful cooking hints and tips. Enjoy your visit and spread the word!
    Angie Schneider says:

    I just bought a case of figs since they are in season. Delicious just as they are and great as a snack. Not sure I would have enough left to make some jam. The cookies look delectable!
    angiesrecipes
    http://angiesrecipes.blogspot.com

    Reply
  5. Jacqui Murray – Laguna Hills, CA. – Jacqui Murray is the author of the popular prehistoric fiction saga, Man vs. Nature which explores seminal events in man’s evolution one trilogy at a time. She is also the author of the Rowe-Delamagente thrillers and Building a Midshipman, the story of her daughter’s journey from high school to United States Naval Academy. Her non-fiction includes over a hundred books on integrating tech into education, reviews as an Amazon Vine Voice, and a freelance journalist on tech ed topics. Look for her next prehistoric fiction, Savage Land.
    Jacqui Murray says:

    This looks scrumptious.

    Reply
  7. sue clancy – I create visual stories: fine art and artist books – in the genres of "animals in art" and "books in art". I tell my stories on walls, in books and even on "nontraditional" surfaces like coffee mugs. My fine art is represented by Caplan Art Designs www.caplanartdesigns.com and by Joseph Gierek Fine Art www.gierek.com – Thank you for letting me tell you a story!
    sue clancy says:

    I’m so glad there was mutual niceness between you both!! Here’s hoping you back feels better today!

    Reply
  8. Angela – New England-born, Pennsylvania raised, and 100% Italian-American, I've been writing since Sister Mary Dolores taught me how. My husband's a concrete sequential Leo and I’m a daydreaming Pisces, which makes life just a bit more interesting, as do our kids, grands, and the inimitable Miss Puppy Clouseau.
    Angela says:

    Sounds so good! I love to give food away!

    Reply
  9. V.M.Sang – UK – I was born and educated in the north west of England. I trained as a teacher in Manchester and taught in Salford, Lancashire, Hampshire and Croydon. I write fantasy novels currently. I also make cards, knit, crochet, tat, do cross stitch and paint. I enjoy walking on the Downs, cycling and kayaking. I do not enjoy housework, but like cooking.
    V.M.Sang says:

    I wish I’d had your fig preserve recipe ten years ago. We had a second home in France, then, with a fig tree in the garden. So many of them went to waste as we couldn’t keep up with the production.
    The cookies sound wonderful, though, and I think I’ll try them later today, if I get the time.

    Reply

    • Ah, to live in France with a fig tree in the yard. Now that had to be a little bit of heaven. Have your book loaded on my kindle. Can’t wait to get started.

      Reply
  11. V.M.Sang – UK – I was born and educated in the north west of England. I trained as a teacher in Manchester and taught in Salford, Lancashire, Hampshire and Croydon. I write fantasy novels currently. I also make cards, knit, crochet, tat, do cross stitch and paint. I enjoy walking on the Downs, cycling and kayaking. I do not enjoy housework, but like cooking.
    V.M.Sang says:

    Thanks for getting my book, Bernadette. Which one have you got?

    Reply
    • V.M.Sang – UK – I was born and educated in the north west of England. I trained as a teacher in Manchester and taught in Salford, Lancashire, Hampshire and Croydon. I write fantasy novels currently. I also make cards, knit, crochet, tat, do cross stitch and paint. I enjoy walking on the Downs, cycling and kayaking. I do not enjoy housework, but like cooking.
      V.M.Sang says:

      I hope you enjoy it.

      Reply

  13. I have never tasted fig jam and I love figs! What a nice person to help you out of the cart and a nice wife to gift you cookies and share the recipe! Both look delicious!!!!

    Reply
  14. CarolCooks2 – Udon Thani – Enjoying life in The Land Of Smiles I am having so much fun researching, finding new, authentic recipes both Thai and International to share with you. New recipes gleaned from those who I have met on my travels or are just passing through and stopped for a while. I hope you enjoy them. I love shopping at the local markets, finding fresh, natural ingredients, new strange fruits and vegetable ones I have never seen or cooked with. I am generally the only European person and attract much attention and I love to try what I am offered and when I smile and say Aroy or Saab as it is here in the north I am met with much smiling. Some of my recipes may not be in line with traditional ingredients and methods of cooking but are recipes I know and have become to love and maybe if you dare to try you will too. You will always get more than just a recipe from me as I love to research and find out what other properties the ingredients I use contain to improve our health and wellbeing. This is now taking me into other areas like deforestation, chemicals and preservatives in the food chain. Exciting for me hence the title of my blog, Retired No One Told Me! I am having a wonderful ride and don’t want to get off, so if you wish to follow me on my adventures, then welcome! I hope you enjoy the ride also and if it encourages you to take a step into the unknown or untried, you know you want to…….Then, I will be happy!
    CarolCooks2 says:

    Hope your back is much improved Bern…I love figs but getting fresh figs here is virtually impossible unless they are imported…the fresh figs mainly grown here are not the same genus and are used for animal feed although I have sourced a place where they do grow them but haven’t tried them yet…Both recipes sound and look delicious…3 ingredients I didn’t recognise… one someone else asked the question Honey Aleppo and Mike’s hot honey I googled..basaltic not sure if it’s salt/or another name for balsamic? or totally different…:) x

    Reply

    • Hi Carol, the hot honey can be bought on Amazon. Basaltic is a typo – I meant basalmic🤪. Interesting that the figs are animal feed in Thailand. I wonder if they make the animals taste better? Sort of like feeding pigs certain nuts in Italy. Anyway, thanks for the questions and for stopping by.

      Reply
      • CarolCooks2 – Udon Thani – Enjoying life in The Land Of Smiles I am having so much fun researching, finding new, authentic recipes both Thai and International to share with you. New recipes gleaned from those who I have met on my travels or are just passing through and stopped for a while. I hope you enjoy them. I love shopping at the local markets, finding fresh, natural ingredients, new strange fruits and vegetable ones I have never seen or cooked with. I am generally the only European person and attract much attention and I love to try what I am offered and when I smile and say Aroy or Saab as it is here in the north I am met with much smiling. Some of my recipes may not be in line with traditional ingredients and methods of cooking but are recipes I know and have become to love and maybe if you dare to try you will too. You will always get more than just a recipe from me as I love to research and find out what other properties the ingredients I use contain to improve our health and wellbeing. This is now taking me into other areas like deforestation, chemicals and preservatives in the food chain. Exciting for me hence the title of my blog, Retired No One Told Me! I am having a wonderful ride and don’t want to get off, so if you wish to follow me on my adventures, then welcome! I hope you enjoy the ride also and if it encourages you to take a step into the unknown or untried, you know you want to…….Then, I will be happy!
        CarolCooks2 says:

        Ahhh I did wonder given the measurements.. I don’t know maybe the the meat will taste better..

  15. Ashleigh HZ – An adult third culture kids from tropics living in one of the northernmost cities in the world. Other keywords: ZeroWaste/Missiology/Community Development/Foodie/Runner
    Ashleigh HZ says:

    I have been hesitant to buy any figs after live wasps filling my cutting board, but now I am tempted to try fig again. The recipes look so good!

    Reply

    • Oh, that would be a big deterrent to me too. I hope you didn’t get stung. My biggest problem has been the ants who love the figs. I wash the figs off with a hose before bringing them into the house. Thanks for stopping by.

      Reply
  16. Annika Perry – East Anglia, UK – I’m a versatile writer whose books span across various genres. My first venture into publishing is "The Storyteller Speaks" and this a collection of short stories, flash fiction and poetry. Published in January 2018 "The Storyteller Speaks" has received over twenty-five glowing reviews on Amazon. "Oskar’s Quest", my second book, it is a beautifully illustrated children’s book for younger children (and all young at heart!). "Oskar’s Quest" is an engaging story of adventure and courage. I have also completed one more story for children which is as yet unpublished. "Island Girl", my first full-length novel, is in its final edits and I’m looking forward to publishing this in due course. Writing has been a passion since childhood although it is only in the past few years that I have seriously started to write fiction. Initially, a writing course gave me encouragement and direction with my writing. Furthermore, the tutor recommended blogging and in January 2015 I set up my blog, Annika Perry’s Writing Blog. I never imagined the friendships I would make and I’ve been overwhelmed with the warmth and incredible support from people around the world. In spring 2014 I won First Prize in a Writing Magazine’s Short Story Competition which was a fantastic surprise and joy. Furthermore, I was short-listed for an Ink Tears Short Story Competition the same year. The recognition of my writing ability outside of my family and friends was a huge boost to my self-confidence and as a result, I started the mammoth undertaking of writing my first novel. Meanwhile, in early 2017 I was greatly encouraged by my friends and writers to publish some of my numerous short stories in a book. It was with great excitement and sense of achievement to launch the publication of my first book, "The Storyteller Speaks", in December 2017 with the paperback released in January 2018. The latter part of 2018 and throughout 2019 was busy with the realisation of a dream project, to publish a children’s book. Like so many parents, my son when young would request a bedtime story. These I tended to make up and a couple became his and my personal favourites. I revisited one of these stories and after much rewriting, editing and finding a wonderful illustrator, "Oskar’s Quest" was ready! Overall my road to publication has been circuitous and aided by the support of my family and friends. After gaining my BA Honours Degree in German Language and Literature from the University of Leeds I started working as a journalist. Following a serious illness, I changed career and gained a position as Administration Manager for a busy timber import company. I worked here for many years before leaving to pursue my passion for writing. I am now a full-time writer, blogger and book reviewer. I was born in Gothenburg, Sweden and at the age of six, moved to the UK with my family where we settled near Ilkley, West Yorkshire. Since then I have moved many times but now live in a small village in North Essex, England with my husband and occasionally my son, when he returns during university holidays. I am on the following social media sites and look forward to seeing you there. If you have a specific enquiry please use the form below. Twitter: https://twitter.com/AnnikaPerry68 Author Website: https://annika-perry-author.com/ Amazon Page: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Annika-Perry/e/B0789NNWFX/ Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/55576285-annika-perry Linkedin:https://www.linkedin.com/in/annika-perry-5a9ab8a6/
    Annika Perry says:

    Two terrific recipes and so beautifully presented, Bernadette! My mother would love these and I’m forwarding to her … thank you for this lovely share!

    Reply

  17. Thanks so much Annika. I hope your mother enjoys. I hope all is well with you and yours. I started your new book the other night and it is beautifully written.

    Reply

  18. Woo, yum, I love the idea of spicy ingredients with figs…and that’s my kind of cookie! Wouldn’t those be great on a tapas platter with almonds and manchego cheese? I guess I know what to do with my jar of fig preserves! 🙂

    Reply

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