Tuesday, August 6, 2013

Chocolate-Dipped Calimyrna Figs with Hazelnuts



Hey, I never claimed to be Martha Stewart or Geez LouiseAnd these pics are prime proof I have neither the primping patience or preening prowess to turn a Calimyrna fig into Miss California. Not when I've gone and squandered all my OCD on alliteration. So when the California Fig Advisory Board gave me a flat of fresh figs (my fave), I whipped out my organic, fair trade chocolate chips and jumped hastily in the hazelnut sandbox. I only spent five minutes playing dolly dress-up, but those juicy girls draped in rich chocolate and roasted hazels tasted like an hour. And since this winning combination is like a pageant on the palate, I am proud to present this year's Miss Cali Myrna. She may not be as coiffed as my Chocolate-covered Mint Leaves and Chocolate-dipped Apricots, but enough about her makeup. It's what's on the inside that counts.



Chocolate-Dipped Figs with Hazelnuts

4 - 6 Calimyrna figs (or other type)
1/3 cup organic, fair-trade semi- or bittersweet chocolate chips
1/3 cup roasted hazelnuts, crushed

Melt the chips in a double boiler or in a small bowl in the microwave on medium power in 30-second intervals until melted. Dip half of a fig into the chocolate, and sprinkle the nuts over the chocolate area. Lay the nut-encrusted fig on a sheet of wax or parchment paper to set. Will last a few days unrefrigerated in a covered container.



Lentil's Breakdown
  • The U.S. is ranked 3rd in world production of dried figs.
  • California produces 100% of the nation’s dried figs and 98% of the fresh figs.
  • There has been a steady increase in demand for organic figs.
  • Since figs are not sprayed, the biggest difference between conventional and organic is how the ground cover is handled, ie: fertilizers, etc.
  • The extra cost for organic figs is the labor-related use of weed trimmers instead of herbicides for weed control.
  • Fresh fig season starts in mid-May and continues through mid-December (Calimyrna season ends in September).
  • The Calimyrna is a descendant of the Smyrna fig grown in Turkey.
  • California has five varieties of figs: Black Mission, Calimyrna, Kadota, Brown Turkey and Sierras.
Sources:
California Fig Advisory Board
Fig Growers Adjust to Meet Demand for Organic

7 comments:

  1. heeee... some food needs to be enjoyed not primped or fussed over. YUM, finger food!

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  2. I got a flat of those figs, too, and they were so delicious. Some I grilled and some I used fresh for garnish. Yours look so delicious as dessert. Chocolate and hazelnuts...wow...my favorite combination.

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  3. Finally pilfered my first figs of the season this AM. There's no stopping my urban forging now, I'll be in and out of fig trees the rest of the summer. GREG

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  4. I love figs no matter how "beautiful" they look. Especially these green ones (in Greece they go by another name) I miss terribly. Can't find them in the Netherlands.

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  5. She's got spunk, and that should count for something, right?

    [K]

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