Kitchen Creations: Aug 24, 2011

Hi everyone! Thank you for your continued support of my little blog. I want to mention a few new features I've added. There is now a "Browse Creations" link above. This will take you to an index page of all the creations I have posted. Also to the right, there is now a share function. Just click on your favorite social media site and you can share this blog with your friends. Now, let's get to the food!

Earlier this week, a friend brought me a basket of beautiful fresh figs from her back yard. Figs just may be my favorite fruit. Aromatic, soft, sweet, and colorful, to me these little jewels are the essence of summer. I remember spending my summers as a child picking perfectly ripe figs from my grandparent's tree and turning them into preserves with my grandmother. I was pleasantly surprised to discover a little recipe card tucked into my basket of bliss. Anyone who knows me knows that I don't follow directions very well, and I can't leave well enough alone. The following is what that little card turned into. Thank you so much Nancy for the much need inspiration, and ingredient to make this blog happen!

This is what you'll need.

Prosciutto
Balsamic Vinegar
Fresh Figs
Blue Cheese
Brie
Fresh Rosemary
Olive Oil (not pictured)
Salad Greens (not pictured)

You'll also need this.

Apricot Preserves
Apple Cider Vinegar
Thyme, fresh if available

You may want to crack a window for this part, unless you enjoy having you nostrils burned and your house smelling like an Easter fiasco.

Combine balsamic vinegar and rosemary in a sauce pan and cook over the lowest setting until the vinegar is a syrup like consistency. This may take a while.

In pot number two goes apricot preserves, thyme, and a splash of apple cider vinegar. Cook over low heat until syrupy.

Now let your vinegar reductions cool. They will continue to thicken.

While you are waiting for the reductions to cool, now would be a good time for a bubble bath.

Cut the figs about two thirds down the length in an "X" pattern.

Now your figs are little pockets of love.

I have stuffed the one on the left with blue cheese and the one of the right with brie. Mmmmm cheese.

Slice the prosciutto.

Wrap the cheese stuffed figs in prosciutto. It's like a warm cozy bacon hug.


Place on greased cookie sheet pop under the broiler until the prosciutto starts to brown and crisp and the cheese is all bubbly and melty. DO NOT WALK AWAY. DO NOT PASS GO. DO NOT COLLECT $200. This only takes about a minute.