Sunday, September 21, 2008

Getting acquainted with fig : Fig Financiers

fig financiers

The first time I heard of figs was from the many fig recipes my favorite bloggers posted last year. Then I was persuaded to give figs a try. But it was too late! The fig season is fleeting, and if one fail to grab a punnet decisively,when figs are still abundant, they may be disappointed the following week. I am not sure about the rest of the country, at least, such was the case with the city I previously resided.

This year however, luck is on my side. While I was strolling down the aisle of Dekalb Farmer's Market in Atlanta last week, rolls after rolls of figs beckoned. I grabbed a punnet and asked myself - now what?

fig financiers

Nothing caught my eyes after spending a few hours researching on the internet. Actually, that's not entirely true. There's a fig and goat cheese tart that I wanted to eat. But the process was more involved than I'd like to commit. I could have go on and on researching until something appealing appears, but the punnet of the figs couldn't.

In the end, in a total anticlimax fashion, I decided to simply top some sliced figs on financiers. I wanted to try Dorie's recipe ever since I read it on Pim's blog. The recipe perfectly fit my lazy mood on that particular day. It doesn't require a mixer, which results in one less thing to clean up.

Insteads of using the traditional financier molds, I used my underutilized mini muffin pan. I think the mini cherry tea cakes turned out pretty adorable when I used it last time. My batch of fig financiers traspired to be slightly too sweet for my taste. I suspect it's mostly my fault. I misread the recipe and added the flour into the batter on the stove! My friend Grace made a batch of financiers for our gathering, using the same recipe with delicious outcome. I need to make the recipe again, perhaps with other seasonal fruits to confirm if that misstep is indeed the culprit.

fig financiers

The remaining figs were being transformed into a cake, which I will tell you about in the next post. Fresh figs are sweet and soft that many covet. This I have just ascertained by the reactions from OCT's colleagues upon seeing the fig desserts. But in all honesty, it is not a fruit I will crave. Perhaps, it's an acquired taste. I grow up eating durian, and that's something I will yearn in the middle of the night.

Do you like figs? Do you have a favorite recipe with figs? I am all ears.

25 comments:

  1. Ah! Sorry I can't help you Mandy... I dunno what figs taste like! But whenever my first time comes, I'll be sure it's in such a delicious package such as your financiers! :)

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  2. Anonymous2:40 AM

    How lucky to have fresh figs! Not in Singapore.

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  3. You have smilling financiers! They're so adorable! I grew up eating figs, so I like them a lot. My favourite so far might be a pb and fig mousse I did a while ago. But they're charming on their own as well. Next year, maybe financiers;)!

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  4. A few weeks ago when figs were bountiful I ended up with a big chest of figs and couldn't decide what to do with them. Then I decided to make a spicy cake and it turned out really yumm. I ll post about it soon. However I don't like eating figs.Which is a pity.Since I get them for free :-) These fig financiers are really cute and seem yummy.

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  5. Anonymous8:10 AM

    For me, figs need to be paired with something at least slightly acidic to balance out their sweetness: goat cheese, blue cheese, balsamic vinegar, rapsberries...all these other ingredients make figs more than they are on their own.

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  6. What wonderful little treats! I have fallen for figs this season. I made a chicken & fig dish that was to-die-for a few weeks ago!

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  7. Anonymous10:57 AM

    This looks so delicious! cant wait to try the recipe. Great photos!

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  8. I wish I could go visit my parents right now to make fig season last longer. Your financier turned ou gorgeous and happy happy!!

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  9. Fabulous Figs!! Looks great!

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  10. I have actually never tried a fresh fig, but I have been looking for them! These look wonderful!

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  11. I love to have them sprinkled with brown sugar over some thick yogurt... YUM!

    Your financiers are absolutely gorgeous.

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  12. Your pictures are beautiful!

    I love the suggestive collage of figs and financiers!

    Perfect work!

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  13. Anonymous9:48 PM

    Ah! Figs reminds me of the pork ribs fig soup my grand mama use to boil.
    Fig financier looks so yummy and adorable! and nice presentation too.

    Candy

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  14. Your fig financiers look very cute, must be delicious!

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  15. These look so adorable! What a great idea!

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  16. These are the cutest little fig cakes! I have been recently using figs more too and love them!

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  17. I like the last photo best-all popping out and ready to be eaten!

    My favourite fig recipe is to grilled it and add it to a salad. Having said that, I havent had the chance to try more fig recipes and this one looks divined.

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  18. Anonymous5:09 PM

    These little cuties loo so delicious! I grew up in a country where figs are one of the popular fruits in summer. we make fig preserve, dry them for snacks, and just eat them plain, skins peeled. Love your photos!

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  19. ahhh, now I know what to do with Figs apart from making jam. Thank for sharing.

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  20. Anonymous8:50 AM

    I spend a lot of time in france in a house that has a fig tree in the garden - when i go we have figs every day in every form. They are beautiful fresh, eaten with some goats cheese or just enjoyed sitting in the sun. One of the nicest desserts i've had is to simply bake the figs in the oven until they burst and then have them with ice cream. Keep it simple.

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  21. thanks for the compliments, everyone. And the suggestions! I love them all. Now I need to go get some more figs while they last.

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  22. I've never made financiers, but yours look wonderful!

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  23. Anonymous9:38 AM

    I just made financiers too! Love them. These look divine!

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  24. Those figs are gorgeous! You've made the cutest financiers ever!

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  25. Anonymous5:13 PM

    Agreed, figs are some of the dreamiest orbs to grace a tree, and as my fig trees gain momentum, producing more each year, I look forward to more recipes such as yours. One of my favorites includes bacon and goat cheese and is posted on my blog for you to give a try, should you wish to indulge in reckless culinary abandon: http://tallcloverfarm.com/?p=133#more-133

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