Tag Archives: harvest

Figs and Barquettes part 1

03 Saturday Oct 2015

Posted by in baking, food, nature

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It started with the figs last week. I’ve heard fresh figs are very hard to find in the market and very expensive. Now that we have two fig trees, I can see why. Ripe figs are quite perishable, being in perfect form for just a day after picking. They can be kept in the fridge a week but do get softer. Like bananas, figs can be eaten when super ripe but they turn winey.

Every year I tend to give away our little fig harvest.

The entire first harvest of figs.

The entire first harvest of figs.

I love sharing and I’m just in the right place at the right time and there are people to give figs to. But this year, there was no one. So to do the figs justice, I determined to celebrate each and every glorious one. Such richness, oh my. Figs are liquid gold, honey that grows on a tree, a king’s dessert!

The fig trees nearly died two years ago from the cold winter. I’m so thankful we have figs again on one of the trees.

We rarely get a second harvest of figs, which usually freezes before it has time to ripen.

We rarely get a second harvest of figs, which usually freezes before it has time to ripen.

We were out of town so I missed the peak ripeness of some of them and several had already dropped. I picked all the ripe figs from the tree.
3 2015 Figs
Look at this basket of amazingness! I wish they weren’t so perishable.

Ripe figs in a basket.

Ripe figs in a basket.

Like honeycomb dripping with honey, the plump figs ooze with sweetness.

Like honeycomb dripping with honey, the plump figs ooze with sweetness.

A month ago I found a new favorite goat cheese, Julianna from Capriole.

Julianna Goat Cheese from Capriole

Julianna Goat Cheese from Capriole

My entire breakfast that day centered around the first ripe fig with Julianna cheese. (posted on Instagram)

Ripe fig with goat cheese, plum, omelet, biscuit and honey

Ripe fig with goat cheese, plum, omelet, biscuit and honey

But still, there truly is nothing finer than just one perfect fig.

Figs, 2015

Figs, 2015

If you only have one fig, enjoy it slowly, plain, with nothing else at all.

One Perfect Fig

One Perfect Fig

But if you have more figs, then it’s fun to go further. Which started my search for the perfect compliment, a flaky barquette to cradle a fig and other flavors.

…to be continued…

Our first ripe figs of 2013

15 Monday Jul 2013

Posted by in food, gardening, nature

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The figs are juicy, sweet and huge this year!
Figs 2013-1
We were really pleased that the netting kept the birds away.
Figs 2013-2
We put the net over the tree too early though so some of the new tree growth went right through the net. We’ll have to either prune the tree or cut the net to get it off in the fall.
Figs 2013-3
We haven’t hung the bug traps yet so we lost a few figs to beetles and bees.
Figs 2013-4
But there are still so many green, healthy figs.
Figs 2013-5
Figs 2013-6
I hope the traps work for beetles. We didn’t have beetles last year.
Figs 2013-7
Figs 2013-8

It’s disturbing to see how they ravage a fig. But at least they stay on one fig until it is all used up without taking a single bite out of the neighboring fig.

Figs 2013-9

Beetles ravage a ripe fig hanging on the tree.

Figs 2013-10

Figs 2013-11

Figs 2013-12

The basket was heavy with plump figs.

 

This warm-from-the-tree fig fits my palm!

This warm-from-the-tree fig fits my palm!

I remember our first harvest several years ago yielded just one tiny fig that didn't even fit in a spoon. Look at the size of these. Luscious!

I remember our first harvest several years ago yielded just one tiny fig that didn’t even fit in a spoon. Look at the size of these. Luscious!

We weren't sure if the figs were ripe or overripe. This was one of the yellower figs. I thought so much white pith might mean the fig wasn't ripe. It still tasted delicious and juicy and sweet.

We weren’t sure if the figs were ripe or overripe. This was one of the yellower figs. I thought so much white pith might mean the fig wasn’t ripe. It still tasted delicious and juicy and sweet.

Here is a riper fig, with a darker brown skin next to the golden yellow skinned fig from the same tree for comparison.

Here is a riper fig, with a darker brown skin next to the golden yellow skinned fig from the same tree for comparison.

When both figs were compared in flavor and texture, they were still almost identical. The riper fig had a slightly larger pink, seeded center. The seeded area should take up more of the fruit but this year the figs are dropping if left much longer on the tree. They still taste amazing.

When both figs were compared in flavor and texture, they were still almost identical. The riper fig had a slightly larger pink, seeded center. The seeded area should take up more of the fruit but this year the figs are dropping if left much longer on the tree. They still taste delicious.

Figs keep only a day or two and taste better at room temperature so these will sit on the counter for snacking. I cut and ate half of one immediately after picking then ate the other half several hours later. The flavor was better after the fig sat for a bit after picking. I’m not sure what caused it to be sweeter. We are still newbies at growing figs.

Figs

29 Monday Apr 2013

Posted by in gardening, Inspirational, nature, sunlight

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Sometimes there’s a really brutal winter. The rains are torrential, the winds searing, the snow deep. But then comes the spring.

This will be the biggest fig harvest yet.

This will be the biggest fig harvest yet.

The leaves are gorgeous when the sun streams through them.

The leaves are gorgeous when the sun streams through them.

After winter, always new growth.
Fig Tree 2013-1-2
And the harvest.
Fig Tree 2013-1-5

I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.
Wait for the LORD; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the LORD. Psalm 27: 13-14

Always the harvest.