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Desserts, Fruit, Ice Cream

Fig and Cognac Ice Cream

fig ice cream with blackberries_MG_2883Fig and Cognac Ice Cream

It’s still close to 100 degrees during the day.  I write that as if the weather dictates when to eat luscious, cold, creamy ice cream but the heat does make me start thinking about creating something cool and refreshing with summer’s bounty.

This fig and cognac ice cream blends a few of my favorite things: figs, cream, cognac. The result is a quick-to-make elegant treat.

If you have never tried a fresh fig, you are in for a treat.  Go out and buy a couple of pounds of black mission figs and get ready for several great fig recipes over the next few days!

Be careful when you are picking or buying figs: they do not ripen further after you pick them.  Look for the slightly soft or even slightly oozing ones.

At home, I have two fig bushes – one in the ground and one in a pot.  I have waited patiently for 3 years for enough figs to cook with. Once again, neither has produced many figs.  The squirrels are almost as disappointed as I am.

However, I found two pounds of perfectly ripe black mission figs at the store and my daughter lent me her ice cream maker.  (Sharing some cooking tools really helps when your space is limited!) I once had figs in Armagnac (the liquor, not the province)– and want to reproduce the rich flavor in an ice cream.

Most homemade ice creams need to be eaten very soon after making them.  Not this fig and cognac ice cream – it still tastes great a few days later.

Fig and Cognac Ice Cream

Ingredients

2lbs  black mission figs, stemmed and cut into small pieces

1c      sugar

1/4c  water

zest of one lemon

2t       lemon juice

3T     cognac or brandy

1c      heavy cream

balsamic vinegar – a drizzle (optional)

Utensils

Ice cream maker, a blender or food processor, a 12” to 14” skillet (non reactive), measuring spoons, measuring cup, and a sturdy spatula.

Method

Put the figs, water, sugar and lemon zest into the skillet and bring to a boil on medium high heat. Stir it gently as it bubbles.  When you can scrape your spatula along the bottom of the pan and the liquid does not rush to cover the bare spot, pour in the cognac and cook for a minute longer.  Remove the pan from the heat and allow it to cool to room temperature.

figs cooked perfectly _MG_2079

When cooled, pour the fig mixture, lemon juice and heavy cream into your blender and puree.  Taste to check that the sweet/tart balance is right.

Pour into the ice cream maker and follow the ice cream maker’s directions.

Be adventurous and add a drizzle of balsamic vinegar when you serve it.  A friend of mine at My Gluten Free Friend suggested this and it is wonderful.

Adapted from David Lebovitz The Perfect Scoop.

 

September 21, 2015 by
Desserts, Fruit, Ice Cream, Jams

Fig Fest!

20150904-_MG_2841-edit

 

If you have never tried this luscious summer fruit, you really should!  The next few posts will give you some great ways to cook with this beautiful fruit with the small space kitchen in mind – simple, quick and delicious.

September 15, 2015 by
Appetizer, Fruit, Jams, Quick Jams

Fig Jam with Rosemary and Cognac

fig jam with camenbert close up_MG_2878 2Making a jam is really quite simple and easy.  You need a 12” skillet and a pot large enough to sterilize your jars. Get a few jars at your grocery store and you’re ready.  This recipe only makes two of half pints of jam – just perfect when you have a small amount of storage room.

I fell in love with figs as a small girl.  We spent the summers in an old family home on the Eastern Shore of Virginia.  There was a huge old fig bush that only produced a few figs.  I’d climb up and pick the figs and present them to my father in a bowl with fresh cream.

Making this fig jam is similar to making the base for fig ice cream.

My favorite way to enjoy this jam is to warm a small wheel of Camembert cheese till it just oozes, spread it on a toasted baguette, add a dollop of fig jam and have a wonderful lunch to go along with the warm memories of my father.

This fig jam recipe only makes two half pints of jam and it only takes about 40 minutes.

Fig Jam with Rosemary and Cognac

Ingredients

1lb    black mission figs

3/4c  white sugar

The zest of one lemon

1T     lemon juice ( about half a lemon)

3”      of a sprig of rosemary

1/4c  cognac or brandy

Pinch of salt

Utensils

2 half pint preserving jars, a 12” skillet, a pot big enough when filled with water to cover the jars, and a smaller pot to sterilize the jar lids, plus a pair of tongs and a spoon to scoop the jam into the jars.

Method

Wash, stem and chop figs into 6 to 8 pieces. Mix the chopped figs with the sugar, rosemary, lemon zest and lemon juice.

20150904 chopped figs- IMG-1989 with Frank edits

Let this mixture marinate while you sterilize the jars. Place the jars in the big pot, cover them with water to an inch above the jars. Add the tongs and spoon. Boil for 10+ minutes. Place the lids in a small saucepan and gently simmer for 10 minutes.

For more detailed information on preserving, read the instructions that came with your jars or go to www.foodinjars.com

Now it’s time to make the jam. The sugar in the marinade should have turned into a syrup. Pour this fig mixture into the skillet and heat on medium high, stirring gently until it boils. Continue until the mixture thickens enough that a spoon dragged through the liquid leaves a swipe that does not immediately fill in. Take out the sprig of rosemary. Add the cognac and stir for a minute longer. The whole process will take 10 to 12 minutes.

figs cooked perfectly _MG_2079

Carefully take your jars out of the boiling water and spoon the jam into them.

Screw the lids on – not tightly – and return the jars to the hot water bath. Boil for 10 minutes. When you take the jars out of the bath for this final time, screw the lids on tightly and you’re done!

September 15, 2015 by