Figs

We had three boxes full of California figs and as these things go, some went all furry. I grew up wasting as little as possible. Our table scraps went to the chickens and compost pit and some none edible garbage was turned into craft supplies. My first impulse was to eat all the figs right then and there, but my better judgment got the better of me and I began the process of creating these fig bars that are pretty close to Fig Newtons.

FIG BARS
15 ounces of figs (fresh) or 8 ounces dried
1/2 cup white sugar
juice squeezed from 1 lemon
1 tsp baking powder
1 cup flour
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 egg
2/3 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup shortening or butter

Cut figs into small pieces and simmer with the white sugar and lemon juice until its about the consistency of thick jam. If you choose to us dried figs, you'll have to soak them for a while before that first step.

Grease a cookie sheet.
Beat brown sugar, shortening (or butter), egg, and vanilla in a bowl together.
Mix in the flour, baking powder and salt.
Cut this dough in half and roll out into two rectangles each about a quarter inch thick.
Lay one of the rectangles on the cookie sheet and cover is with the fig jam.
Lay the other rectangle over the jam and press down on the edges to smush the two sheets of dough together. Bake at 350 F for 30 minutes.
Let the thing cool and then cut it into squares.

Tada! Great snack for fishing trips.