Not long after we came out here my brother and sister in law broke the normal family rule of only buying presents for children at Christmas. They gave me a baby fig tree and Steve their spare chain saw, despite the fact that we were flying back out here by Ryan air. I was a bit dubious about both gifts, terrified that the chain saw would kill us and that I would kill the fig tree if we could get them to Spain at all.
Steve flew back first as I was staying in the UK to sort out some family matters. The chainsaw was in his suitcase in the hold despite being questioned in front of all the other passengers he was allowed to fly. The fig tree came with me and remarkably suffered only only one broken branch.
The chainsaw despite my doubts proved to be one of the most useful presents we ever had and we still use it despite having brought a another more powerful machine since.
This year the fig tree produced its first harvest of beautiful black figs.
To celebrate I am including my favourite fig recipe.
For two people you need four black figs,four rashers of streaky bacon, half a small log of goats cheese and four slices of country bread.
For the dressing you need honey, mustard and sherry vinegar.
Squash the bread into an oven proof dish and sprinkle with olive oil.
Cut the stalks from the figs and then cut through them to about hhalf way to the base.
Put a thick slice of goats cheese into each slit and then wrap the fig in streaky bacon. Stand 1 fig upright on each slice of bread.
Whisk together a teaspoon of honey with a teaspoon of mustard and two teaspoons of sherry vinegar and drizzle over the figs.
Place in a hot oven until the bacon is cooked and crispy. Serve the fig on the bread with a small green salad.
Steve flew back first as I was staying in the UK to sort out some family matters. The chainsaw was in his suitcase in the hold despite being questioned in front of all the other passengers he was allowed to fly. The fig tree came with me and remarkably suffered only only one broken branch.
The chainsaw despite my doubts proved to be one of the most useful presents we ever had and we still use it despite having brought a another more powerful machine since.
This year the fig tree produced its first harvest of beautiful black figs.
To celebrate I am including my favourite fig recipe.
For two people you need four black figs,four rashers of streaky bacon, half a small log of goats cheese and four slices of country bread.
For the dressing you need honey, mustard and sherry vinegar.
Squash the bread into an oven proof dish and sprinkle with olive oil.
Cut the stalks from the figs and then cut through them to about hhalf way to the base.
Put a thick slice of goats cheese into each slit and then wrap the fig in streaky bacon. Stand 1 fig upright on each slice of bread.
Whisk together a teaspoon of honey with a teaspoon of mustard and two teaspoons of sherry vinegar and drizzle over the figs.
