Woo-hoo! It's time again for another Small Measure Giveaway! For those of you new to the contest, or to this blog, I'm staging a giveaway each month from now until the release of my book, Homemade Living: Canning & Preserving with Ashley English. Each month one lucky person will win an artfully crafted canned item featured in the book and made by yours truly. From my pantry to yours, this month I'll be giving away a jar of Fig & Thyme Jam. During the photo shoot for this recipe, there was some anxious foot-tapping and serious stomach growling in anticipation of finishing the shoot and devouring the jam. We'd slathered it on top of wheel of brie, wrapped the brie in phyllo pastry, and then baked the whole concoction until golden, oozy, and delicious. The kitchen smelled INCREDIBLE! You could also add it to a turkey sandwich, smear it on hot buttered toast, or serve it alongside mascarpone cheese and biscotti. Any way you serve them, with figs, you really can't go wrong.
To enter: Simply leave a comment to THIS specific post by telling me your favorite way of cooking, serving, or simply eating figs. Your comment MUST link to your particular blog or web site (and therefore to your contact information) or include your e-mail address. Otherwise, I won't be able to get in touch with you if you win. Any entries that do not include some way of getting in touch will be disqualified.
Deadline: Comments must be received by midnight EST September 22nd, 2009. Odds of winning will depend upon the number of eligible entries received.
Other rules:
1. You must have a mailing address in the United States of America. (Sorry, international folks!)
2. Only one entry comment per person.
How it works: Each comment will be assigned a sequential number. The winning number will be selected from a random number generator, so there'll be no favorites, simply a game of chance.
Keep coming back each month to see the next tasty item up for grabs!
52 comments:
I'd love to tell you my favorite way to eat figs . . . but sadly, I don't think I've ever had one! I'm pretty sure I would like them, though, and would love to make some fig jam.
If I can still be considered . . . my website is http://www.skittermagoo.com/blog
--Chris (cingle23@gmail.com)
oh it's hard to choose my favorite way to eat them but i think it has to be with goat cheese and honey on a cracker. simple and delicious!
http://eatmakeread.com/2008/08/26/how-to-eat-supper-figs-with-honey-goat-cheese/
p.s. can't wait for the book!
I love the way the colonel in the movie "Babette's Feast" eats his figs, with a fork and knife, gently removing the fruit from the skin and eating with blissful, closed eyes. So elegant!
I love figs cut in half, with a little bit of rosemary-infused chevre with each bite...Delicious!
Umm, that sounds so good! I love figs just about any way, but I do have a special place in my heart for the simple delight of halved fresh figs with a bit of blue cheese slathered on top.
Unfortunately, I'm in the same boat as Chris, I haven't had a fig in my entire life! It's a sad state of being, I realize, but I'm slowly filling in the gaps of my culinary experiences after a past very bare of extensive variety and a heavy reliance on local-only foods (which isn't bad, it just means that there are whole cultures of food that have never appeared on my plate). Your fig and thyme preserves sound delightful, though, and I think that figs will be one of the next up on my list of things to taste.
I have a fig tree in my basement. I have it by my sliding glass door. My favorite way of eating figs is just going by the tree and checking if one is ripe, then eating it right off the tree. My husband does not like to put the tree outside because it drops its leaves and by the time the figs are ripe, the weather is too cold for the tree. My in-laws built a greenhouse type structure around their tree and keep it outside year round. They are going away for 2 weeks on a cruise, so I will have to look after the tree. Oh well, more great figs for me!
figs and goat cheese are the best! really fig jam with any kind of robust cheese is delightful.
I've only had plain fresh and dried figs, but now am thinking I need to try them with cheese! Goat cheese and figs sounds soooo good.
Ohhh, Figs sliced in half with goat cheese and honey dribbled on top, then cooked until warm and gooey!!! Yum!!! I have two little fig trees in my yard that I planted last fall. One has about 8 figs on it and I'm so excited to taste them!!
My favorite way to eat figs is to grill them on the BBQ. You don't have to halve them, marinate them or coax them. The flavor intensifies just like a roasted tomato and damn, is it good! You could go further and pair them with goat cheese, but plain and hot off the grill are amazing.
http://www.theurbanfieldguide.wordpress.com
Thanks! Looking forward to your book!
I am dying to try them another way, but, for now, my favorite way to eat figs is to stuff them with local goat cheese. I just got a canner and I am so excited for your book to come out!
stephanieschilling@gmail.com
I have never had a fig :( but reading your description of the fig jam on top of brie and wrapped in phyllo made my mouth water and now it is all I can think about!!!!
Mary
kvetinkamarie@hotmail.com
I haven't had fig jam but I'm sure it would be real nice on my bread that I make.
I've only had a fig once in my whole life. We were somewhere in New Mexico that grew figs, and allowed you to pick them fresh for your enjoyment. I remember my grandfather selecting one and sharing it with me... SO delicious!
fresh figs, sliced in half, over greek yogurt, drizzled with agave necter. yum! nikki
My favorite way to eat figs is to pluck them from the tree away from the hungry birds. Wash. Devour. I especially love slicing them and putting them on freshly picked greens from the garden. But that may all change if I am lucky enough to taste the fig and thyme preserves.
I bought a jar of fig jam last year at the market from our local jam lady, it lasted about 2 weeks if that because i either had it on toast every morning with a cup of hot tea or on crackers with goat cheese.
I also like chocolate dipped or ganache filled figs...i find it amazing how you can stuff a fig and it just...makes room.
I have only had dried figs, and more recently fresh figs. Once I made a raw dessert using figs, crushed almonds, and dates. It was delicious. But I'll have to try them with goat cheese and honey, too!
I love fig jam over cream cheese on crackers, possibly with a side of country ham if I feel the need to gild the lily...
I'm saddened by those who have never eaten a fig before...go buy a basket at the market quick!
I love to eat them fresh, or as a jam with cheese, but one of my favorite preparations is sliced and laid out in a partially cooked pastry shell, sprinkled with golden sugar and baked. Serve with a little creme-fraiche; it's divine.
My website is: www.mynepenthebook.com
My contact is: nanisteele@sbcglobal.net
well, my grandmother had a fig tree in her back yard when i was growing up. i learned to like them right off the tree! my kids and i love to devour the dried figs from the bulk section at earth fare. i do love them in all sorts of delicious recipes, too! :)
I love to go into my grandparents back yard, jump into the fig tree and grab the ripe figs. Then relax under the tree with the dogs and enjoy the figs!
I like roasting them with pork tenderloin, or stuffing them with gorgonzola and wrapping them with prosciutto. I buy cartons of figs and can barely get them home from the market before I've devoured them all. It's wonderful to split them open to reveal their beautiful, luscious interiors.
whatpossessedme@gmail.com
I like figs in a salad with goat cheese, walnuts and a mix of greens, lightly dressed with balsamic vinagrette. Mmmmmm. But the brie and phyllo dough sounds incredible!
Awesome! I LOVE figs. Ours are done for the year and I never made fig jam this year. I usually make a fig & ginger jam that is pretty tasty. I would love to try this one with the thyme. Yum!
figs and cheese and honey are always super delightful. but i like the idea of putting the jam on a turkey or ham sammy as well. and to be honest, my fig experiences are few and far between, but thanks to your inspiring blog, I will start canning them as soon as possible, making those experiences much more frequent!
Straight off the tree: ) I was lucky enough to have a fig tree when I was little. I didn't realized that fig were not so easy or cheap to come buy. I do plan on getting my own tree next year.
BESIDES Fig JAM I love figs on homemade pizza AND decadent Figs with bacon and Goat cheese! They are super simple and quick. I found the recipe on epicurious. Here is is! http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Fresh-Figs-with-Bacon-and-Goat-Cheese-351591
my favorite way to eat figs is any way you prepare them. can i suck up like that?
2nd to that of course would be huge, fat and juicy fresh from the market in slovenia. that is the best way ever.
i have sadly NEVER ate a fig or anything fig flavored! therefor, i must win to try one out :)
i've never eaten a fresh fig, although i did almost buy some at greenlife the other day. but i am a fan of the dried figs and i love them stuffed with goat cheese then wrapped with proscuitto. yum!
Other than Fig Newtons & using some dried fig in a carrot cake recipe, I've missed out on the fig experience. Like many others on here I'm totally tantalized and will pick some up soon!
kristinLmarsh@gmail.com
Such a lovely blog you have here :-)
And homemade stuff made with love--delicious and inspiring. Thanks for sharing.
Figs - The fresh ones are yummy just as they are, and ever so decorative sliced super-thinly (the middle part of the fig, where you get both a bit of stem and bottom makes the prettiest slices)placed on top of - and baked with - an oatmeal cookie.
:-)
Well, I usually love figs fresh, maybe with a little cheese. I can't wait until I move back to warmer climates and have enough figs around to make jam!
My favorite way to eat figs is as a chunky preserve served over plain fresh, homemade greek-style yogurt. The yogurt mediates some of the sweetness of the figs. A wonderful desert!
We do a lot of hiking and my sister turned me on to taking dried figs along as a snack. What a wonderful treat after a long day on the trail!
- Lora (lseery@gmail.com)
I discovered figs only a few years ago. I love them sliced with a touch of honey, a slice of prosciutto and a dab of goat cheese.
I look forward to making the fig jam you featured.
Rae - www.thegirltoo.blogspot.com
I discovered figs only a few years ago. I love them sliced with a touch of honey, slice of prosciutto, and a dab of goat cheese.
I look forward to trying to make the fig jam! It looks so good!
Rae - www.thegirltoo.blogspot.com
Other than just downing them one by one, my favorite is wrapped in prosciutto, lightly sauteed and put in a blue cheese & cream sauce. It's a recipe we found quite while back in the LA Times I think. And the night we left the extra blue cheese & cream in the bowl out and the cat ate it was truly the funniest!
Mmmm figs... I've always loved fig spread with a good cheese, but it wasn't until about 5 years ago that I ever had a fresh fig. Now I get them whenever I can and pop them like candy.
I thought I had only had fresh and dried figs, but then after reading some of the comments I remembered some tasty greek yogurt with figs. Fig jam sounds wonderful.
Roberta robertagowin@msn.com
Though I made a lovely strawberry-fig jam this summer, I have to say my favorite way of eating figs is to pick it from the tree, rinse it in the sink and eat it over the sink. They usually don't make it much further than that.
My favorite way to eat figs is straight off the tree. Can't get better than that!
I really wish I had room for a fig tree, but sadly the monster maple tree that rudely dominates my backyard says otherwise.
Katy Wolk-Stanley
nonconsumer@comcast.net
eeekkk... did my last comment go thru?? not only do I not know a fig about figs.... but Computers are even worse....
fab site...
just found you...
cannot wait til my baby fig trees start bearing enough to process!!
Growing up in the Midwest, I haven't had an opportunity to try figs. I would love to try this jam though!
roelfsn@gmail.com
mothership-only got the comment i posted! would you mind leaving your e-mail, or a way to contact you should you win? thanks! glad you found me!
My favorite way(s) to eat figs- straight off the tree or with goat cheese and honey and I love my Aunt Madges' fig preserved on homemade biscuits with ham. I hope one day to make fig preserves as good as hers! YUM!
Can't wait for your book!
betsymarsh@yahoo.com
Goat cheese and honey on bread. I think someone already said this - and they knew what they were talking about. With Brie sounds awesome too!
I have no blog -
kaitlin@riseup.net
mmm, figs. I like to grill them and eat them straight from there...or in jam....or in homemade gallettes (pie crust filled with fig jam). Any way you can eat them is just fine with me!
Oh how I miss figs! Moving to Montana from California has left some significant holes in my diet. My neighbor in Cali had a fig tree and she would let me raid her garden for as many as I could consume. My favorite way to eat them is fresh from the tree standing in the California sunshine!
Thanks!
This looks amazing... All these new technologies, and no smell-a-vision yet! It's a travesty, I tell ya..
I am a new-comer to your blog, but not to canning. I make soap for a living, but I made jams (and pickles - oh! the pickles!) for my gift giving this year,
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