"Figs" news and stories

An appetizer that's lush, combines four food groups, and that you can dip? Sold! As fig season intersects with the height of steamy-weather cocktail-party season, this is one cool customer you want at your shindig. Blogger eddybles blankets the figs with mint and prosciutto, and serves them on bamboo skewers for easy picking. Get the recipe here. The rich dip is made with goat cheese, star anise, white wine, shallots and cream. If you feel the dip is overkill, just skip it and the figs stand beautifully alone.

And because it's the season, try this Kitchen Daily recipe for figs stuffed with gorgonzola.

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If you want to serve a fruit dessert that's loaded with symbolism, both sacred and profane, the fig is a good place to start. But biblical references, Greek myths and even sexual innuendo aside, the only reason you need to cook with them is that they're rich and delectable, whether they're fresh or dried, deep purple Mission or golden Adriatic varieties.

For a quick fig tart, take a tip from blogger Jules at thestonesoup, who tops store-bought oatmeal crisps with a dollop of ricotta, a quarter of a fig and a drizzle of honey. Try Curtis Stone's recipe for oatmeal cookies, for even more homemade flavor. And while we're talking about figs and smooth, creamy ricotta, try the figs poached in Sambuca and then topped with ricotta and pine nuts, as in this Kitchen Daily recipe. They're luscious enough to feed the Pantheon.

Become a member of the Slashfood Flickr pool for a shot of having your photos featured in Feast Your Eyes.

Caramelized balsamic figs & ricotta mousse. Photo: YumSugar.

Each Thursday, we round up a selection of scrumptious links from our friends over at YumSugar. Here's what they've got cooking this week:

Balsamic caramelized figs make a prime topping for ricotta mousse.

Warming soups that are perfect for the season.

Eight tasty libations straight from the set of "Mad Men."

Macaroni and cheese goes TexMex with chiles and cilantro.

Even if you don't live in wine country, have a harvest party full of fall flavor.

Mixed-mushroom pizza makes for a fast and easy dinner.

Would you say yes if your significant other proposed via cupcake?

Cold spring rolls. Photo: YumSugar.

Each Thursday, we round up a selection of scrumptious links from our friends over at YumSugar. Here's what they've got cooking this week:

Cold spring rolls might seem fancy, but they're actually a quick and easy treat.

Cat Cora's baked beans mixes chickpeas, kidney beans and pinto beans.

Coffee is good for a whole lot more than drinking -- java can perk up many a dish.

A look at Paula Deen's uncomfortable visit to "The View" and Barbara Walters' loaded health question.

Figs in a Blanket is a "killer appetizer."

Do you prefer the grocery store or farmers' market?

Figs. Photo: Rubber Slippers in Italy, Flickr.

• Autumn baking leads A Good Appetite to fig tarts, tomato éclairs and ratatouille.
• Hot food carts and trucks like Schnitzel & Things score more cred after nabbing Vendy Awards at the fifth annual cook-off.
• A dip in the cold Maine waters with Barb Scully, a local fisherwoman.
• The Temporary Vegetarian finds orzotto to be easier to work with than risotto.
• GoMobo cuts the line and alleviates the food-gathering irks of office lunches with their order-ahead system.
• Before modern fast food, there were the quick pepperoni rolls of West Virginia coal country.
• Digging into Kevin Zraly and his "Windows on the World Complete Wine Course."
• San Francisco's Flour + Water boasts sophisticated Italian flavors.
• After years of critics espousing its virtues, Riesling has finally earned its spot in the U.S. wine market.
  
• Three years ago, Judith Jones (Julia Child's editor) started raising her own cattle for steak.
• Serving up fresh fare in school lunches is ideal, but it means a lot more than bringing quality ingredients into old and neglected school kitchens.
• The Minimalist makes roasted sweet potato salad.
• Restaurants: The meatpacking district's Standard Grill suffers some dining hiccups but is still a solid food experience, the Village's Joseph Leonard has "flashes of daylight" in otherwise so-so fare and Brooklyn's Bark Hot Dogs rests between chic eats and fast food.
• Food Stuff finds savory and sweet baked goods, simple jams and a Chilean food store.
• New York's openings and closings and dining calendar.