July 28, 2010

Get your kids to love figs!


Our friends who moved left behind a huge fig tree in their backyard. Not wanting fresh fruit to go to waste, we dropped by their old house to help ourselves to the bounty. E and A had a great time picking the figs, but when it came time to eat them.... Honestly, you'd think I was offering them mouse brains.

If there's one thing my girls will eat, it's cookies. So out came the baking supplies, and in went the cookies! They disappeared at an alarming rate into my girls' mouths.


When I brought what was left to Bible study, those ladies gobbled them up just as fast! (You know you love me, Michelle!)


So what was this magical, fig-transformative recipe?

Fresh Fig Cookies
adapted from Allrecipes

Ingredients
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup butter
1 egg
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup chopped fresh figs
1/2 cup chopped pecans 

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Cream sugar and butter. Add the beaten egg.
3. Add dry ingredients to the creamed mixture.
4. Fold in figs and nuts.
5. Drop by spoonfuls on baking sheet. Bake for 10 minutes.

Enjoy!


The Sweetest Fig by Chris Van Allsburg

The Sweetest FigChris Van Allsburg is one of my favorite illustrators, but I think it's his stories that really set him apart. From Jumanji to The Polar Express, his books are full of adventure, mystery, wonder, and danger. The Sweetest Fig is no exception.

The story follows a fussy French dentist who is given two "magic" figs as payment for pulling a tooth. The old woman who gives them promises they will make his dreams come true. When the dentist wakes up the next day to find the Eiffel tower drooped over, he realizes the woman was telling the truth. With one fig left, he trains himself to dream he is the richest man in the world. It looks like he'll get his wish, until his abused dog beats him to the punch.

The story definitely has dark undertones, but the pictures are mesmerizing, and while I wouldn't recommend this story for little ones, I think older children will enjoy seeing the dentist receive his just desserts.

11 comments:

  1. Figs are an interesting fruit. I don't think we have any fig trees nearby, but if I ever end up with a bowl full of fresh ones, I'd love to try your recipe.

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  2. this is crazy!! my DH brought home 2 large Tupperware FULL of figs just the other day! i don't like them, and my DD doesn't either..but he loves them...i am definitely going to give this recipe a go...we have soooo many..maybe this will make a fig lover out of me!
    xo

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  3. I love figs! I'll have to try your recipe.

    I have never read this book, but it sounds great.

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  4. cookies are in the oven now!!
    i had to substitute nutmeg for the cloves and peanuts for the pecans...will let you know how they turn out!
    xo

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  5. ♥ your recipe!

    http://sewfunblog.blogspot.com/2010/07/christiannes-fresh-fig-cookies.html

    thank you again!
    xo

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  6. I LOVED these and I can’t wait to make my own.

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  7. I've never tried a fresh fig - but those cookies look terrific, as does the book - we may have to go on a fresh fig hunt!

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  8. Figs, hmmm... I never thought to make them in cookies. You've got me thinking this is a good idea. Thanks. BTW, I have a giveaway over at my blog http://aspoonfulofdish.blogspot.com, come on over and check it out.

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  9. I've read that fresh figs are just wonderful! But I've never tried them. Dried figs are about it. When I was teaching second grade, we were reading about figs in The Stories Julian Tells, by Ann Cameron, and I could not find any figs in the grocery store! I was so disappointed...I really wanted to give my class a taste of figs!

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  10. I love figs! I am hoping that my Ella will too. I will definitely be trying the recipe. Thanks for the post!

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  11. lol, I do love you. And I'm totally going to be prepared to be showered, nicely dressed, and makeup applied every time I see you for fear of being in your blog again... those cookies were awesome!

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