Black Mission figs

But first I invite everyone to taste the Black Mission figs, succulent and sweet. Their soft, almost gooey insides look like hundreds of short, reddish tentacles. Although considered a fruit, the fig is actually a flower inverted into itself. When people from the Middle East visit the farm, I notice that they peel the fig before eating it. Today, the class follows my example and eats them whole—skin and all. Like bees calmed by honey, a class gorged on figs is soon ready to listen. 

V2 cup brown sugar 4 cup olive or canola oil 1 tablespoon ground ginger 1 tablespoon curry powder 1 cup unpeeled mango chunks 1 cup canned peach halves, drained 1 cup pineapple chunks, drained 1 cup black mission figs >2 cup pomegranate seeds >2 cup walnut pieces 1 cup fresh or frozen blackberries... 

If you began your childhood enjoying Fig Newtons, as I did, then this fruit likely has been a favorite for life. Now I find that the whole dried fruit couldn t be handier at lunch or as a snack food. Choosing the darkest, softest ones, such as black mission, assures optimal nutrition combined with eating pleasure and potential phytochemical richness. The tiny seeds are actually an enjoyable crunch, well worth the effort to release their extra nutrient value in the form of vitamin E, minerals, and polyunsaturated omega fats. 

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