Giant Figs!! Recipe post 9!!

[baymule]

I went to see my Mom and saw her neighbor's fig tree. On closer inspection, it had the biggest figs I have ever seen in my life. The neighbor was outside and I politely asked if I could take a cutting of the fig tree after it quit bearing. I was in awe of the enormous figs and I wanted a cutting real bad. He told me take all the cuttings I wanted and I said I would wait until it stopped bearing as I didn't want to mess up his harvest. I was thrilled! I told him my grandmother used to make strawberry fig fig preserves and I would love to make them again.

The next day, Mom's neighbor surprised me with a bag of figs and a box of strawberry jello. He told me take all the figs I wanted, just give him a jar of preserves. I thanked him profusely. I kinda figgured his wife probably flat refused to make fig preserves, her loss, my gain!

So yesterday, I made stawberry jello fig preserves. I went on Cooks.com and found several likely recipes and selected one. I carefully peeled them although I don't remember my grandmother peeling hers. I cooked, jared and breathlessly waited for a bowl that wouldn't make a full jar to cool. Mmmmmm...........SYRUP! They didn't gell. Oh well, I made cornmeal buttermilk pancakes with bacon last night and we topped the pancakes with strawberry fig syrup! Darn! That was good!! I got 7 jars yesterday and set aside 1 for the neighbor and 1 for a friend of DH's that is always giving us his salsa and peas.

Today I picked figs and chose a different recipe, and no, I darn sure didn't peel them! I got 5 jars and set aside 1 for Mr. Neighbor Man. Here are some pics, can anybody tell me what kind of fig tree makes such gi-normous figs?

Bowl of Figs

Fig Syrup!

 

[Carol Dee]

Looks great! Did the second batch jell? Some jams take longer to set. (It may thicken yet.)

 

[hangin'witthepeeps]

That is beautiful. Last year I found one of my friends had figs on his new rental property and asked permission to pick some. I had never made fig jam or anything and I cut them up with a handful of fresh cherries, added the sugar and when they cooked down I put my emersion blender in. It was so yummy and the cherries had the pectin to make a real good gel.

I'm going to check the bushes tonight and see if they are ready this year. I'll have to give him a few jars, but well worth it!

 

[Chickie'sMomaInNH]

ooooh! sounds very delicious!

 

[baymule]

WHOO-HOO!!!!!!!!!! Batch #2 gelled!!!!!!! hooray! In the morning we're gonna have eggs and toast slathered in strawberry fig preserves!!

 

[desertlady]

I havent had figs in a looong time ! They are big!! syrup looks yummy ! send some over will you ? PLLLLEEEASE!! :bun

 

[desertlady]

I havent had figs in a looong time ! They are big!! syrup looks yummy ! send some over will you ? PLLLLEEEASE!! :bun

 

[diggerthechickenman]

i have 2 GIANT fig trees and they have these big figs i would love to have that recipe for the strawberry fig preserves (hint)

 

[baymule]

i have 2 GIANT fig trees and they have these big figs i would love to have that recipe for the strawberry fig preserves (hint)

Anything for my friend!! :rainbow-sun

6 cups figs-mashed
6 cups sugar
1 cup water
3 (3) oz strawberry jello
1 box sure jell

Boil figs, sugar and water for 30 minutes.
Add jello and sure jell and boil 2 minutes longer.
Pack in hot sterile jars and cap lids on.
I got 5 pint jars plus a little bit I put in a plastic dish and refigerated. ( I mean refRigerated lol)


The 1st recipe I used didn't call for sure jell and both recipes said to peel the figs. I was dumb anough to peel the 1st batch.
I didn't peel the 2nd batch and we had some on toast this morning. It was so good! Plus I don't remember my grandmother peeling her figs either. Good luck and be sure to come back and tell me how you liked your strawberry fig preserves!

 

[baymule]

Whoo-Hoo!!! I picked more figs yesterday and got only 4 cups of chopped mashed figs. So I added 2 cups of mashed blackberries and proceded with the above recipe. Instead of strawberry jello, I used blackberry jello. I scraped and licked the pot I cooked 'em in.