Recipes

[ChiliPepper]

[ChiliPepper]

Homemade Fig Newton Bars

Homemade fig newtons made with dried figs and a whole wheat brown sugar crust. Even better than store-bought!

PREP TIME: 40 minutes

COOK TIME: 30 minutes

TOTAL TIME: 1 hour 10 minutes

YIELD: 9 SMALL BARS

Ingredients

Fig Filling:

• 8 ounces dried Turkish or Calimyrna figs, stemmed and quartered
• 2 cups apple juice*
• Pinch salt
• 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice

For the crust:

• 3/4 cup (3 3/4 ounces) all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup (2 /3/4 ounces) whole wheat flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
• 3/4 cup packed (5 1/4 ounces) light brown sugar
• 1 large egg
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Instructions

1. FOR THE FILLING: Simmer the figs, apple juice*, and salt in a medium saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the figs are very soft and the juice is syrupy, 25 to 30 minutes. There should only be 3-4 tablespoons of liquid remaining in the pan when they're done.
2. Let the mixture cool slightly. Puree the figs in a food processor with the lemon juice until the mixture has a thick jam consistency, about 8 seconds.
3. FOR THE CRUST: Adjust an oven rack to the middle position and heat the oven to 350 degrees. Line an 8-inch square baking pan with a parchment both directions, and then grease the paper.
4. Whisk the flours, baking powder, and salt together in a medium bowl.
5. In a large bowl, beat the butter and sugar together with an electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy, 3 to 6 minutes.
6. Beat in the egg and vanilla until combined.
7. Stir in the flour mixture until just incorporated.
8. Reserve 3/4 cup of the dough for the topping!
9. Sprinkle the remaining dough mixture into the prepared pan and press into an even layer with a greased spatula.
10. Bake the crust until just beginning to turn golden, about 20 minutes.
11. Meanwhile, roll the reserved 3/4 cup of dough for the top crust between 2 sheets of greased parchment paper into an 8-inch square; trim the edges of the dough as needed to measure exactly 8 inches. Leaving the dough sandwiched between the parchment, transfer it to a baking sheet and place it in the freezer until needed.
12. Spread the fig mixture evenly over the crust. Unwrap the frozen, reserved top crust and lay it over the filling, pressing lightly to adhere. Honestly, this part doesn't have to be perfect; you can see in the photos I had some tears and holes and I just patched it. Once you cut the bars, no one will notice!
13. Bake the bars until the top crust is golden brown, 25 to 30 minutes, rotating the pan halfway through baking.
14. Let the fig bars cool completely in the pan, set on a wire rack, about 2 hours. Remove the bars from the pan using the foil, cut into squares, and serve.

Notes

*If you lack apple juice, you can use water with 1 tablespoon of honey added.

[ChiliPepper]

Funny, I have never made or thought about making Fig Newtons.

Not sure why because I like them.

Has anyone ever made them???

[ChiliPepper]

[ChiliPepper]

The Original Hot Buttered Rum

 

Ingredients

1 stick (4 ounces) unsalted butter

½ cup light brown sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon ground cloves

1 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1 teaspoon ground allspice

Pinch of salt

2 ounces dark or aged rum

6 ounces hot water

Cinnamon stick, for garnish (optional)

Directions

In mixing bowl, combine butter, vanilla extract, sugar, spices and salt. Beat until well combined.

In heat-proof glass or mug, combine aged rum with 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) spiced butter mixture.

Remaining batter can be stored in airtight container in refrigerator for future use.

Top with hot water and stir until ingredients are well incorporated.

Garnish with cinnamon stick if preferred.

[ChiliPepper]

Hot Buttered Rum

You can almost hear the sleigh bells when you sip on Hot Buttered Rum! This old-fashioned cocktail is creamy, sweet, and warms you from the inside out.

PREP TIME: 5 minutes

COOK TIME: 5 minutes

TOTAL TIME: 10 minutes

YIELD: 4 SERVINGS

Ingredients

For the Batter:

• 2/3 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg (freshly ground is best)
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• Pinch of salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
•  

For Each Cocktail

• 2/3 cup hot water
• 2 tablespoons (1 ounce) batter, plus more to taste
• 2 ounces dark rum
• Sweetened whipped cream and ground nutmeg, for garnish
•  

Instructions

1. To make the batter: In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine the brown sugar, butter, honey, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and salt. Heat, stirring frequently, until the butter is completely melted and the sugar is dissolved, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla.
2. To make each cocktail, combine the hot water with about a quarter of the batter in a mug, and then stir vigorously to combine.
3. Add in the rum and stir to combine. Taste, and add additional batter if you like it a bit sweeter or spicier.
4. Top with a large dollop of whipped cream and fresh grated nutmeg.

Notes

• Don’t be tempted to skip the whipped cream! As it melts into the drink, it makes it dreamy creamy.

• The batter can stash in the fridge until you are ready to make your next cocktail. 
• To make this in a slow cooker for a crowd, add all batter ingredients to the slow cooker and set to high for an hour, or until the mixture is melted and combined. Add in 2 1/2 cups of hot water and 1 cup of rum and stir vigorously to combine. Set on warm. Serve anytime topped with whipped cream and nutmeg.

Nutrition Information:

 

YIELD:

 4 

SERVING SIZE:

 1
Amount Per Serving: CALORIES: 239TOTAL FAT: 2gSATURATED FAT: 1gTRANS FAT: 0gUNSATURATED FAT: 1gCHOLESTEROL: 5mgSODIUM: 56mgCARBOHYDRATES: 49gFIBER: 1gSUGAR: 47gPROTEIN: 0g

[RespectLife]

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@ChiliPepper wrote:

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@ChiliPepper 

these are the yummiest looking Fig Newtons I have ever seen!!!

[RespectLife]

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@ChiliPepper wrote:

Funny, I have never made or thought about making Fig Newtons.

Not sure why because I like them.

Has anyone ever made them???

---

@ChiliPepper 

I never have...figs  can be pricey....I have boxes of 20 yr old dates to use up!

[ChiliPepper]

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@RespectLife wrote:

---

@ChiliPepper wrote:

Funny, I have never made or thought about making Fig Newtons.

Not sure why because I like them.

Has anyone ever made them???

---

@ChiliPepper 

I never have...figs  can be pricey....I have boxes of 20 yr old dates to use up!

---

@RespectLife 

LOLOLOLOLOLOLOL.................

Whatcha' gonna make with the dates????

Isn't date nut bread a thing, like banana bread???

[ChiliPepper]