I'd almost given up hope that we'd get any ripe figs this year beyond the random few already picked, but I was wrong. Fortunately for us I misjudged the impact of the weather, and I definitely overestimated the birds, including the mob of turkeys mulling around the Pet Paddock here at Struan Farm. They were more interested in gorging on acorns under the oak trees, much easier pickings than hopping up precariously on a young fig tree laden with fruit. Other birds must have enough other food around the property and haven't gone searching. For some reason this particular fig tree's leaves seem to camouflage its fruit. I'd like to think it's thanking us for nurturing it along from a wee cutting from the heirloom tree across the river, but who knows? (Yes, okay, I've been reading "The Hidden Life of Trees.")
I walked out to the Old Orchard section of the Pet Paddock and came back with this:
Definitely enough to do something with. Hopefully about the same amount to come if we continue to have some warm days. For storage I've used a tip picked up from NZ Gardener magazine, recycled egg cartons.
Now to move quickly to use this unexpected gift. Thinking perhaps Rowan Bishop's "Spiced Figs in Brandy"....normally I'd use them in a salad with rocket/arugula, grilled haloumi, pickled beetroot and toasted nuts of some sort (or fresh pears instead of the beetroot). Roasted figs with honey and blue cheese are also quite good. Don't want to get too complicated mulling over options here or they'll go soft on me! So "Spiced Figs in Brandy" it is, with a few spare for salad.
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