Sweet figs picked from a fig tree.
A couple of weekends ago, Jon and I went organic farm hopping in search of pumpkins to make pumpkin pies. The first organic farm we visited didn’t have pumpkins, but we bought a lot of apples and pears to make more apple and pear pies.
We then headed to another farm. This farm didn’t have pumpkins either, but it had fig trees. We hadn’t planned on picking figs, but we were glad we did. The owner of the farm gave us a pint container and off we went into the fig trees now under the cover of a greenhouse to protect them from the winds and cold weather.
Picking figs. Photo by Jon Gilbert
We paid nine dollars for a pint of fresh organic figs. I counted eighteen figs. My only connection to figs came in the form of store-bought fig newton cookies, which I think I’ve only taken a bite of one a long time ago. I didn’t care for fig newtons.
I googled ‘things to make with figs’ and a lot of recipes popped up, including this recipe for fig newtons. It’s a pretty elaborate recipe but so worth it. I adapted the recipe and used all organic ingredients and ingredients that don’t contain chemicals. If you can’t eat gluten, here’s a gluten-free recipe you can follow.
I began by cutting up the eighteen figs and stirring them with brown sugar and a little lemon squeeze until they formed into a jam. Then I made the dough. This will take time but well worth it.
I was so pleased with my first batch of homemade organic fig newtons ever. It doesn’t matter if you call them fig newton cookies or fig newton bars. It only matters that they are scrumptious.
My homemade organic figs.
Freshly picked figs, organic or not, can be pricey. But in my case, I can’t have any food that contains preservatives, additives, food coloring, antibiotics, steroids, hormones, pesticides, and insecticides because they injure my esophagus, cause eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), and trigger food impactions.
I can never have the store-bought fig newtons. They are processed and loaded with chemicals. These store-bought fig newtons contain a bioengineered food ingredient.
If you suffer from eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), it might be due to the chemicals in our food supply. If you don’t have EoE or suffer food impaction episodes, continue to enjoy your favorite store-brand fig newtons.
Newly harvested organic figs picked from the tree are deliciously sweet. But if you want to savor the sweet, flaky, yummy goodness of unprocessed homemade organic fig newtons, make a batch with one of the many online recipes, and enjoy them with a glass of milk, a cup of tea, or a mug of homemade hot chocolate.
Ever wonder why they are called fig newtons? Well, they were made in Newton, Mass. Bake and learn.
©2023
Originally published in Medium.