A friend just delivered a surplus of figs – perfect for making fig chutney!  This chutney is a delicious compliment to slow-roasted pork and duck confit.  It really adds zip to hamburgers, as well.  I use Sherry vinegar in the recipe because I like the distinctive, nutty flavor it brings, but you can use your favorite red wine vinegar.   This chutney needs to cook for a couple of hours in order to maximize flavors and to reach a consistency that is not runny.  It will be worth the time involved.  You can either make a smaller batch, refrigerate it and eat it within a couple of weeks, or preserve this chutney in jars (in a water bath)  to keep on the shelf. 

Ingredients
5 cups red wine vinegar, such as Sherry vinegar
3 cups light brown sugar
1 large onion, chopped
2 Tablespoons fresh ginger, grated
Zest of 1 lemon
1 1/2 teaspoons yellow mustard seeds
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1 stick cinnamon
2 teaspoons fine sea salt
3 lbs figs, cut into quarters

You will also need:
Large pot
Large spoon
Scale for weighing figs

If preserving in jars:
Large skillet for sterilizing empty jars
Water
8 oz. or smaller jars (your preference) with lids and rings
Tongs
Kitchen towel
Large canning pot for water bath

Instructions
Combine the vinegar, sugar, onion, ginger, zest, mustard seeds, cloves, allspice, cinnamon and salt in a large pot and bring to a boil. 

Reduce heat to medium and cook for about an hour until the mixture is reduced to about 1/3.  It should be starting to thicken. 

Add the sliced figs.  Turn the heat up to medium high and bring to a boil.  Reduce the heat to medium.

Cook for about an hour, stirring frequently, until thick like preserves.  The chutney should be a deep brown at this point. 

Remove the cinnamon stick and discard it.  The chutney is ready to serve. 

If you are preserving the chutney for later, then follow these directions for preparing and filling the jars and processing them in a water bath.

Prepare at least five 8oz. jars by first making sure they are very clean.  I like to take them directly from the hot dishwasher.  Place about 2 cups of water into a large saute pan and bring to a boil.  Place the jars, bottom side up, into the skillet. Reduce the heat and simmer with the jars in there for about 10 minutes.   Keep hot.

When the chutney has finished cooking, ladle it while still hot into the hot jars (careful – these jars are HOT), leaving only about 1/4″ of space at the top of the jar.  Wipe the rim of the jar with a damp paper towel.

Note that it is important to seal each jar before starting on the next one.  Before putting the lid onto each jar, drop the lid into the boiling water in the saute pan for 30 seconds.

Remove the lid from the water and place it on top of the hot jar with the chutney.  Put the ring on and twist tightly to seal.  Repeat with each jar until all of the chutney is in the jars.  If you have a little bit of chutney left over, then put it into a dish, cover it with plastic wrap and have it with your lunch the next day.

Meanwhile, prepare your water bath by heating enough water in the super large pot to cover your jars. Gently place the jars into the water.  Bring the water to a boil. Reduce the heat to a medium-low boil, and cook the jars of chutney for 7 minutes.

Remove the jars from the water, dry them off and store them on the countertop.  Check them a little later to make sure that the lids have sealed.  If so, store them in a cool, dry place.  If not, then put them into the refrigerator and use within two weeks.  You can also freeze them for later use.

With autumn at our door, I’m trying to savor one last moment of summer with this double chocolate ice cream with salted toasted pecans.   In this dish, I used my favorite Askinosie chocolate – made in the USA in Springfield, Missouri.  The pecans are from my hometown in Georgia.  I seasoned them with fleur-de-sel sea salt that I picked up on my last Culinary Getaway to Provence.  The combination of ingredients in this ice cream yields a dessert that is deep, rich and luscious – sweet and savory.

Ingredients
1 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup cocoa powder
3 ounces (by weight) bittersweet or semi-sweet chocolate, finely chopped
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup whole milk
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
3/4 cup pecans
1/4 teaspoon fleur-de-sel sea salt plus extra for garnish

You will also need:
Medium saucepan
Large spoon
Immersible blender
Baking dish
Ice cream machine

Instructions
Heat the cream in a medium saucepan over medium high heat until bubbles form at the sides.  Turn off the heat.  Add the cocoa powder and the chopped chocolate.  Let stand for a couple of minutes to melt the chocolate.

Add the sugar.  Stir well.

Use an immersible blender to fully incorporate the chocolate and sugar into the cream.

Add the milk and the vanilla.  Stir well.

Place the mixture into the refrigerator to completely cool.

Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 300 degrees Fahrenheit.   Add the pecans to a baking dish and roast in the oven for about 15-20 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes, until they start to get a toasty aroma.  Be very careful, as they burn easily.  Remove from the oven and cool completely.

Chop the pecans coarsely and add 1/4 teaspoon fleur-de-sel sea salt to the chopped pecans.  Mix well.  Divide into two portions – 1/2 cup and 1/4 cup.

Remove the cream mixture from the refrigerator and add 1/2 cup of chopped toasted salted pecans.   Reserve 1/4 cup chopped pecans for later.

Make the ice cream according to the manufacturer’s instructions for your ice cream machine.  Let ripen in the freezer for a few hours before serving.

To serve, place the ice cream into festive dishes.  Top with a scattering of the reserved chopped pecans.  Sprinkle lightly with fleur-de-sel, if desired.

Serves 4.

This coffee cake is so simple to make and is moist, crunchy and delicious.  I used olive oil and yogurt in this recipe instead of butter and milk.  You can use any fruit that is in season.  In this instance, I used fresh pears and blueberries.  Note that you don’t even need a mixer – you can mix it all by hand. 

Ingredients
2 cups plain flour (You can substitute 1/4 cup plain flour for 1/4 cup whole wheat flour, if desired.)
1 Tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup sugar
2 eggs
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil + extra for the baking pan (I use the “everyday” olive oil from California Olive Ranch)
1 cup Greek-style yogurt (I use 2% from Fage)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups fruit, peeled and coarsely-chopped (or whole, if using berries)

Topping:
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil (I use the “everyday” olive oil from California Olive Ranch).
1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
1/3 cup plain flour
1/3 cup oats
1/3 cup chopped pecans
1 pinch salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon

You will also need:
3 mixing bowls
Whisk
Large spoon
Medium baking dish

Instructions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F/175 degrees Celcius.   Grease the baking pan with olive oil and set aside. 

Place the flour, baking powder and salt into a mixing bowl.  Stir to combine.

Put the eggs and sugar into a second mixing bowl and beat with a whisk until creamy. 

Add the olive oil and yogurt.  Mix well.  

Add the flour mixture and the vanilla.  Stir well to incorporate. 

Add the fruit.  Stir to combine. 

Pour the mixture into the greased baking pan. 

Combine all of the topping ingredients until moist and crumbly. 

Sprinkle them over the top of the batter in the baking pan. 

Place the pan into the preheated oven and bake for about 45 minutes or until the cake bounces back when pressed in the center.   

Remove the cake from the oven and let it cool for 15 minutes before slicing.  Serve with vanilla-laced whipped cream, if desired. 

Serves 8. 

Note: Top photo courtesy of Sean McArdle.

Fresh French prunes are so delightful – in fact, they can be as sweet as candy.  They can be difficult to find, but Glashoff Farms had some this morning at the San Francisco Ferry Plaza Farmers Market.  As soon as I saw them, a clafoutis started to bake inside my head.

Although the clafoutis is traditionally made with cherries, you can use almost any fruit that is in season.  This recipe is really simple and uses ingredients you probably have in your kitchen already.

Ingredients
Butter and sugar for the pan
About 1 pound of fresh French prunes, halved and pitted
4 eggs
1 1/2 cup whole milk
1/2 cup almond flour (can substitute plain flour)
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract or your favorite liqueur
Pinch of fresh nutmeg
Powdered sugar for the top (optional)

You will also need:
Baking dish (1 1/2 quart size)
Mixing bowl
Whisk

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit/190 degrees Celsius.

Rub the pan with the butter and sprinkle the bottom with a thin layer of sugar.  Arrange the fruit in the bottom of the pan.

Using a whisk, whip the milk and the eggs together until well-combined, about 1 minute.  Add the flour and the sugar and stir together briefly.  Add the vanilla (or liqueur) and the nutmeg.

Pour the liquid over the fruit in the pan.

Bake for approximately 35 minutes or until the center is set.  Remove from the oven and let cool.

Sprinkle with powdered sugar just before serving.

Serves 6-8.