The Lesson of the Fig

It's more than a little ironic that the gospel reading for Advent 1B talks about figs as the sign of summer. As we enter the final month of the year, it is the fruit of summer that provides the lesson in the waiting time that is Advent: 

     From the fig tree learn its lesson:

as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, 

you know that summer is near.

So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near... (Mark 13:28-29)

Pictures from City Farm Florist and Nurseries, Roslindale, MA: http://www.figtrees.net/

If it were full summer, then the suggestions for fig-eating would be simple:

• sample them straight from the tree, peeled but still warm from the sun
• wrap them in prosciutto
• cut a cross shape through the top, stuff them with brie or another soft cheese and quickly broil them
• quarter and roast them in a very hot oven, then toss with a balsamic glaze 

But as it is not high summer, perhaps it makes sense to use a prepared product like fig preserves. You might:

• slice a baguette, grill the slices with a little butter, spread them with a goat cheese (or mascarpone for a slightly sweeter result) and fig preserves or use two slices of baguette and make a grilled goat cheese sandwich with fig preserves
• use fig preserves as a filling for thumbprint cookies
• add mustard to fig preserves to create a sweet-and-sour style sauce served with dumplings, wontons or potstickers
• puree the preserves and use them as a filling between two pieces of puff pastry or two pie crusts; bake until golden brown for a fig-filled flaky-cakey cookie; if you add orange zest to the pureed preserves to enhance the flavor you might also make an orange glaze for the top of the cookie

Why not have a sampling of "fig food" this Sunday? Let folks experience the food they'll hear about in the gospel lesson for Advent 1B.