ROASTED FIGS WRAPPED IN PROSCIUTTO

Good Morning to you,

'I saw my life branching out before me,

like the green fig tree in the story.

From the tip of every branch,

like a fat purple fig,

a wonderful future 

beckoned and winked.'

Sylvia Plath

'The Bell Jar'

I love this time of year, when for a short period of time, the market stalls are overflowing with plump, juicy figs.

It takes me back to the time, when we lived in Cyprus and were lucky enough to have our very own fig trees growing in our garden.  

I always looked forward to the end of October, as that was the time when the figs ripened on the trees, ready  to be picked. Whenever the fancy took me, I would  walk into the  garden and pick one or two figs from the trees, wash them,  squish them open and enjoy the beautiful flesh. The trees yielded so many figs,  that there were always far too many for us, and there is only so many jars of fig jam which can be made, so we always shared our surplus figs with our neighbours.

Nothing compares to picking a ripened fig from a fig tree, but, as it is far too cold, to grow figs in the North of England, I enjoyed a trip to the Grainger Market yesterday, where I was so pleased to find I could buy ten figs for a pound..... which is amazing value.

So today, it will come as no surprise when I tell you,

I am making, roasted figs wrapped in prosciutto and filled with goats cheese.  Such simple flavours but oh, so, delicious.  

If you need another reason to enjoy figs, not only are they delicious, but they are rich in minerals and they are a good source of potassium and iron..... this is a bonus, because not only are they good for you, but they are also packed full of  flavour.

So without further ado, it's on with the pinnie, and the music I am listening to today, is,

my 1977 album, Rumours by Fleetwood Mac.  This is such a brilliant album and I love it.  I feel sure you will know and even sing along to the songs 'Don't Stop', 'Go Your Own Way' and 'Dreams', just like I do.

So I really must organise my ingredients, whilst I also sing along to 'You Make Loving Fun'.... I told you I love this album.

INGREDIENTS

TO 

MAKE

ROASTED FIGS WRAPPED

 IN PROSCIUTTO 

4 ripe juicy figs

8 slices of Prosciutto

90g of goats cheese

2 teaspoon of olive oil

sea salt

freshly ground black pepper

1 muffin tin

Pre-heat the oven to 180C

HOW TO MAKE

ROASTED FIGS

WRAPPED IN PROSCIUTTO

Wash 

and 

dry the figs.

Cut a cross into the top of

each fig,

but do not cut right through

to the bottom.

Gently squeeze

the bottom of each fig.

This encourages the  fig to open,

just

like a flower.

Cut the goats cheese

into

flour slices.

and

place a slice

into the centre

of

each fig.

It may seem like a lot

of goats cheese,

 but once the figs

are baked, you will see, this is the

perfect amount.

Carefully wrap 2 slices

of

prosciutto 

around

each 

of the

figs.

Brush a deep

muffin tin

with

a 

teaspoon of olive oil.

I tend to brush olive oil

over the top of the muffin tin as well,

just in case the cheese

overflows.

This makes it much easier to remove

the figs.

Place the wrapped figs 

into the muffin tin

and

bake

for

10 minutes,

or

until the prosciutto is crispy

and

the 

cheese has melted.

Place the roasted figs

on a plate.

Sprinkle with sea salt

and

freshly ground black pepper
and finally,
drizzle 
over the remaining
teaspoon of olive oil.

Now,

there is nothing left to do,
but,

enjoy.

To be honest, these roasted figs really do not need much more. I tend to serve them with a light green salad and sometimes with, and sometimes without, a slice of baguette.  It really depends on my mood, on the day.

Do you know, there are times, when I can cook a meal, which has many ingredients and I really enjoy the food, but sometimes, just sometimes, I like nothing more than using  a few good ingredients, because the end result is pure pleasure.

I was just thinking, that perhaps you don't like goats cheese, well this is not a problem as I have made roasted figs with Feta cheese and also Dolcelatte.... just find the cheese you enjoy.... but it must become soft within the 10 minutes of baking time.

Just before I leave you, does any one remember being given syrup of figs as a child..... I do.... and I was just wondering if syrup of figs is still around or was it something which was taken back in the day.

Take care and I will see you on Wednesday.

This week I will be joining,

Nibbles by Nic for Munching Monday's

and

Lisa from Flour Me With Love