I love figs. Fresh and dried, black, brown or green. But I admit I am not that creative with their use. I snap them up when I see them, but often can’t seem to move past wrapping them in prosciutto or roasting them draped with bacon. But eventually, one batch of figs ended up, after much thought, candied. I was, if I may say, quite pleased with the result. Sweet, treacly, … [Read more...] about Candied Figs
Fruit
Tennessee Blackberry Jam Cake
My grandparents lived on a farm in Middle Tennessee. It was a wonderful place for grandkids, and my brother and I made great use of it. Lots of rolling, verdant land to run around on, cows mooing in the background. There was a creek running through the property, shallow enough that we could wade around in it, or play pooh sticks or search for arrowheads and … [Read more...] about Tennessee Blackberry Jam Cake
Old Time Cherry Buttermilk Cake
On my month long food tour of France this summer, my first stop was in the Mayenne, serendipitously during cherry season. All around the property of the cookery school, cherry trees hung heavy with beautiful ripe cherries – petite, juicy griottines and big round pale reds, almost like a Queen Anne. I picked the fruit straight from the tree and ate it, still warm – what a … [Read more...] about Old Time Cherry Buttermilk Cake
The Watermelon by the Side of the Road
The Watermelon on the Side of the Road Watermelon means summer, right? I know they are available (though not very good) all year round now, but what is more summery than ice-cold juicy watermelon? Pink juice dribbles down your chin, and even your mama doesn’t mind too much when you spit the seeds. When I was a kid at summer camp, we used to have races in the pool with a … [Read more...] about The Watermelon by the Side of the Road
