What to Do with Figs

Sometimes I believe in planting at least two or three fruit trees for cross pollination.  Besides, I don't want a tree to be lonely on the Back Forty.  A few years ago, we planted a fig tree in the front yard and the other one way back.  Both trees grew and produced.

The figs matured and needed to be picked recently and every morning while having coffee in the Summer Kitchen, I could see squirrels "playing" in the fig tree in the back.  The squirrels climbed up and down and to the tips of every branch, high and low.  They were collecting the figs, every single one of the figs.

The fig tree in the front were left alone but birds nibbled on them from time to time but there were plenty left for us.  What to do with figs when your cabinet is full of jams?

One of my favorite ways is to Preserve the Figs in Syrup which is to combine 1 and 1/2 cups water, 6 (!) cups sugar, and 2 Cinnamon sticks in a pot and bring to a boil until sugar is melted.

While the syrup is heating, cut a lemon into very thin slices and add to the pot.

Add 6 cups of whole figs to the pot, cover, and gently simmer for 45 minutes.

I added a sprig of Rosemary and 1/3 of sweet brandy. Sweet basil is also nice.  Add what is available.
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Transfer to Mason jars, seal, and give them a water bath in a large pot for 15 minutes.  The water should cover the jars about one inch over the tops.

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BBQed Chicken Legs

During the football season, it was popular to have chicken wings and whatever else goes with it; however, I found the wings to be expensive and not much meat to eat.  Hence my own BBQ sauce, rub, and chicken legs.

The BBQ sauce:  

2 cups of ketchup 

1/4 cup vinegar (your choice)

1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce

1/4 cup packed brown sugar

2 tbs yellow mustard (more, if you prefer)
       Heat to blend.

Make Your favorite Rub:

My rub consisted of dashes of whatever was in front of the spice shelf such as

paprika
chili
celery
cumin
ginger

The Chicken Legs

Some chefs prefer to dip the chicken legs in a blend of milk and egg mixture and then roll the chicken legs in bread crumbs.  I skipped this.  I gently fried the chicken to give them some color, added the rub, and finally poured over the BBQ.  I rinsed out the BBQ sauce pot with water and added to the frying pan.

I had room in the frying pan for a small handful each of pepper, okra, and tomatoes from the garden.  Some onions would be nice too and so would a sprig a basil.  And the list goes on.

I turned the chicken once in a while and I am also  keeping my eye on the sauce so that won't dry out.
I let the chicken simmer for about 40 minutes.

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