Sometimes, in my small downtown one bedroom apartment…I pretend to have my own TV show.
Don’t worry, I haven’t lost my marbles. This is something I’ve been doing for well over twenty years.
Case and point: Below is the actual caption for this photo written by my great grandfather who lovingly pasted this into my 1992 scrapbook:
Needless to say, I’ve always enjoyed putting on a show.
This recipe is adapted from one of my very favorite cookbooks by the girl & the fig. Of course I’m drawn to this Sonoma-based food business for the obvious reasons, but it’s not just the owner’s passion for figs that I adore. This book is filled with simple, unique California-style recipes that highlight fresh ingredients and focus on flavor creation. Her style is “country food with a French passion.” To me, that simply means combining local fresh harvest with classic, decadent French techniques. This book is my guilty pleasure.
That means I read it in the bathtub or when I’m feeling sad.
Last Saturday I catered a baby shower in Wrightstville Beach and my turkey and fig sandwiches were on the menu. This is my own spin on the traditional Thanksgiving style sandwich with turkey, cranberry, and stuffing. I created a sweet-and-savory goat cheese spread made with orange, honey, and cracked black pepper, topped it with roast turkey, homemade balsamic fig jam, and tart green apples.
The sandwich was a hit.
After the prep was complete and the meal was delivered, I sat in a lavender bubble bath with my cookbook and flipped through the pages. I came upon a recipe for Savory Goat Cheese-Stuffed Figs. This was one that I had read a million times before. As I skimmed the ingredients I realized that not only did I have a similar goat cheese spread leftover in my fridge, but a handful of glorious ripe figs whose destiny just wasn’t meant for jam.
So with that, I give you my own take on this girl & the fig classic–done in true Fanfare style, which means “anything out of the ordinary.” On this cloudy Tuesday, I wanted to share with you not just a recipe, but picture-by-picture steps of how this beautiful and simple dish came together. The full recipe is at the bottom, but for now…
Just sit back and enjoy the show.
Orange-Goat Cheese Spread
- 1/4 cup Goat Cheese (softened)
- 1/4 cup Whipped Cream Cheese
- 1 tablespoon Honey
- 1 tablespoon Juice from Fresh Orange + 1 teaspoon Zest
- Salt to taste
- Cracked Black Pepper (about 1 teaspoon)
*Combine all ingredients in a food processor, with a mixer, or by hand. Use the orange and honey to taste. This shouldn’t be overpoweringly sweet. It should be a balance of sweet and savory.
Savory Orange Goat Cheese-Stuffed Figs
- 8 large ripe figs (should be firm to the touch but still have some give)
- Orange-Goat Cheese Spread
- Good Olive Oil
- Preheat the oven to 350.
- Slice off the top third of each fig.
- Using a pairing knife, slice a circle around the flesh of the fig. It will pop out and you can scoop out remaining insides with your finger or a small teaspoon.
- Place orange-goat cheese mixture in a Ziploc bag and cut a small snip off of one corner so it acts as a pastry bag.
- Fill each fig with the goat cheese mixture.
- Optional: Replace the fig tops (this makes for a great presentation if you’re serving these to a group).
- Drizzle the figs with olive oil.
- Roast the figs for 10 minutes and serve.
These are quick to prepare and would be wonderful to make for a party. Live in the Wilmington area and looking for someone else to cater your party? Check out my list of services here or email me at fannyslater@gmail.com.