Fresh Fig and Apple Dessert

This autumnal dessert is local eating at its simplest. Fresh figs and apples topped with goat cheese and candied pecans then drizzled with honey.

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I like everything about this--the contrasting textures of apples and pecans with the soft bite of the figs and cheese. I like the sweetness of the honey balancing the tartness of the apples. The crunch balancing the creaminess. It's very satisfying to eat because it hits on so many levels, which is pretty awesome for a dessert because you don't end up eating larger amounts simply to be satiated. Yet this dessert is easy to make--and easy to source locally.


I am all for Pumpkin Everything in the Fall. Really! That video of guinea pigs discussing the merits of pumpkin spice? A perennial favorite. [I miss our composting pigs, they were wonderful pets, although having my 3pack of dogs is enough for me now.] That does not mean I don't appreciate the wonders of other fall flavors. Especially apples. My grateful thanks to John Chapman.

When we started eating from a community supported agriculture (CSA) farm share back in 2006, one of my favorite discoveries was the amazing apples grown in the Shenandoah valley--part of the fruit share at Bull Run Mountain Farm CSA. In Ohio I found more local apple varieties to delight my senses in the fruit share of Mile Creek Farm CSA. And now in Minnesota there are yet more varieties being created over at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum (I'd like to think my daughter's tuition $ will contribute to the making of the next Honeycrisp). We are having fun exploring our new home via the local produce we find on our expeditions.

this is from my Apple Fig Chutney recipe

I already knew I liked apples paired with fresh figs--one of my popular canning recipes is my Apple Fig Chutney recipe after all--but I wasn't sure about finding local figs. After my introduction to fresh figs in the farm share of Blenheim Organic Gardens CSA in Virginia, and subsequent foraging in the alleyways of my 'hood in Ohio, I figured fresh figs were out of my league. However, I happened upon a package at Trader Joe's and grabbed them. Fresh figs in Fall? Yes, please.

See, that's the thing about Local Eating--I like chocolate and avocados and bananas and tea and and and . . . I'm not going to limit my diet for some arbitrary mileage circle around wherever I happen to be living. I'm a military spouse. Moving is constant. So I bought the California figs.
As Maya Angelou said, "when you know better, you do better".

When I can buy local, I do.

Notes: This could be served after dinner--after all, it is essentially a fruit & cheese plate--and it makes a terrific afternoon snack. It assembles in minutes, and easily scales up or down depending on the number of people you're serving. If you'd prefer to make your own candied pecans, I'd suggest jumping off with Meghan's Oven Roasted Candied Walnuts recipe.

Since I am a visual learner as well as someone who learns by doing, I made a video of how to make this snack. Please enjoy!

Fresh Fig and Apple Dessert (or Snack)
By Kirsten Madaus

This autumnal dessert is local eating at its simplest. Fresh figs and apples topped with goat cheese and candied pecans then drizzled with honey.

Prep time: 00:05
Cook time: 00:00
Total time: 00:05

Yield: 2 servings
Ingredients:
1 apple, preferably local, cored and chopped into bite-sized pieces
4-6 fresh figs, quartered
2-3 Tablespoons goat cheese, crumbled
1-2 Tablespoons chopped candied pecans
1-2 Tablespoons honey, preferably local

Instructions:

You're going to build this right in the serving dishes so arrange half the apples in each of 2 small shallow bowls.

Top with half of the figs.

Divide the goat cheese and pecans evenly over fruit.

Drizzle with honey and serve.

For other recipes using apples, please see my Apples & Apple Cider Recipes Collection. For other recipes using figs, please see my Fig Recipes Collection. These collections are part of the Visual Recipe Index by Ingredient, a resource for folks like me eating from the farm share, the farmer's market, the garden, the neighbor's garden, and great deals on ugly produce at the grocery store.

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