Fresh figs were not something I grew up enjoying. Unlike my husband, whose mother had a huge fig tree in her yard, my exposure to figs was limited to preserves, dried figs, or fig newtons. As an adult I've been introduced to fresh figs and Italian fig cookies from Angelo Brocato's and fig and Creole cream cheese ice cream from the Creole Creamery—what a difference! We have a recipe for Italian Fig Cookies here.
My husband recalls climbing into the fig tree as a child to play and snack on fresh figs until he was so full he would fall asleep under the tree.
The other day I was reviewing my Facebook feed and a friend, an editor at New Orleans CityBusiness, Christian Moises, was posting photos of the figs he'd harvested from a tree in the backyard of his new house. I commented that I would love to have some and later that day he sent me a message asking if I was serious. Of course, I replied and he dropped off a quart sized bag and promised more where that came from.
My colleague at
Louisiana Restaurant Association Erica Papillion shared her fig food memory with me. Growing up in Lake Charles, she attended a day care that had a fig tree in the playground area. At no more than age 5 or 6, she remembers a big bin full of figs and how she and the other children would gather around the bin and enjoy the sweet, soft fruit.
A few mornings a week I ride my bike to Audubon Park from the Irish Channel for exercise. On a recent morning, I passed an abandoned house with three huge figs trees that were almost completely overgrown from the street.
I made the block to check it out and sure enough, there were hundreds of under ripe figs and a handful of ripe ones that I pick
ed and stored in my bicycle cup
holder. I returned a week later and
there were about 50 ripe ones that I harvested. They are now in my refrigerator awaiting a batch of cocktails this evening and perhaps some fig ice cream and a fig fruit tart.
To the best I can surmise given my Google images search, the figs in my possession are Celeste figs which are common in Louisiana. They vary in sweetness depending on size and ripeness and when cut in have reveal a gorgeous ruby red or amber color.
I'm still awaiting my second delivery from Christian and my husband warned that we were running dangerously low, which is partially due to the batches of frozen fig mojitos and fig and blueberry smoothies.
Frozen Fig Mojitos, serves 4
4 oz. white rum
10 fresh mint leaves
juice from 4 limes
5-8 fresh figs
2 oz simple syrup
Tbsp grenadine for coloradd two cups of ice and blend, pour into a margarita or double old fashion or even a pint glass like shown here.
Fig and Blueberry Smoothie
5 fresh figs
1/4 cup blueberries
1/2 cup plain yogurt
1/2 medium sized banana
1/4 cup of orange juice
1 cup of ice
Mix in a blender and serve in a pint glass or a Mardi Gras go cup.
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Comments
Thanks for a nice story Wendy
Thanks for a nice story Wendy. I'm sure it will bring back many childhood memories. I recall sitting under a huge fig tree in my grandmother's backyard in Arnaudville, LA and picking figs for her. She and her housekeeper would pull out big pans, almost washtub size, and bags and bags of sugar. They would then spend a whole afternoon making and putting up fig preserves. I can remember how the whole house had a sweet, dreamy fig smell. I'll be putting up some of my own soon.
Ken,
Ken,
I got up early this morning and went fig picking and my husband was sooo grateful. I don't have enough to warrant preserves, but Liberty's Kitchen in New Orleans is selling jars for $3.95, so I'll be heading that way tomorrow!
Thank you for your comment!
Wendy
Wendy,
Wendy,
Go here for another take on a fig libation.
http://www.tastingtable.com/entry_detail/chefs_recipes/10566
Ken
It must be fig time. I too
It must be fig time. I too was recently sent down memory lane when my wife came home from work with a jar of gifted fig preserves. Even though I thought they were yucky back during my misspent youth, I remember my Mom just loved figs, preserves, etc. But most of all, the figs reminded me of the giant fig tree in my Aunt's back yard on Chippewa street, and how we always made a trip there this time of year to get some figs for Mama. Thanks for the re-memories.