fig jam

One of the things I so loved about our old house were the two huge fig trees out back in the yard that would produce amazing fruit each year much to our delight. Apparently they are an Italian fig variety and were a gift to the previous owners from their Italian barber back in the sixties. I am going to miss seeing them ripen each fall. (although it seemed like they produce only a full crop every other year does anyone know if that sounds normal?)

I was able to snag a handful of them just before we began moving and last week threw them on the stove and made some yummy jam! Oh how I have fallen for these sweet and delightful beauties - I am so going to miss my fig trees.

I plan to take a few fig starts in pots with us in hopes that I can somehow bring a piece of our fig trees on our next adventure we shall see how I do with that but I don't really have a green thumb...worth a try in my book though.

This jam is the easiest thing in the world to make, seriously. It's sweet almost like honey and taste so delicious with a salty ham or sharp cheese if you can eat cheese!

Fig Jam: makes about 1 pint

1 pound of chopped ripe figs

1/4 cup of water

1 1/2 cup of sugar
(I also add a sprinkle of cinnamon for extra complex but it's totally optional)

Add all ingredients to a pot and stir over medium heat until the sugar is dissolved. Raise the heat to medium-high and boil the jam for a good 15 minutes and stir until it has thickened up nicely. Let the jam cool and spoon into a clean jar.

I usually leave it chunky and have had wonderful results canning it but this time I ran it through our food mill and made it a bit smoother and stuck the jar in the fridge to enjoy over the next few weeks!

So does anyone have any amazing recipes to try with fig jam?

I hope your enjoying your wednesday friends!