 Autumn is just about my favourite season, particularly during March, when we are at the juncture between summer and true fall. The weather is absolutely Glorious (with a capital G). Crisp,cool mornings, which turn to balmy temperatures around midday. The days end with hot, sunny afternoons, and spectacular sunsets. Somehow, I feel more vibrant and alive now than at any other time of the year. With the change of seasons comes fresh new produce too. I'm delighted to announce our first (tiny) harvest of Black Genoa figs. We planted the tree, together with a White Adriatic, about three years ago, and they are both growing reasonably happily in half wine barrels. Peter, who told me a while back that he cannot stand figs, is now relishing our home grown yield - and enjoying the occasional morsel of fruit, too. Actually, I think he might just become a Fig Connoisseur in the fullness of time. Picked in the heat of the day, the sweet succulent flesh simply melts in the mouth. Perhaps eventually we will reap sufficient quantities to use them in a salad, or two, or maybe a dessert.  During autumn, pears grace the fruit platter on the kitchen bench. I love eating them fresh from the hand. But they are also one of my favourite dessert fruits. I adore them with vanilla and spices such as saffron, cinnamon and bay. They are exquisite with caramel, and also with chocolate and hazelnut. Pears can also be baked into muffins, cakes, and tarts. I have yet to try serving them in a salad, but that is on my list of things to do this month.  The mint in our kitchen garden is flowering, much to the delight of our visiting bees. I tried making mint jelly early last year, but was not too happy with the results. However, this Mint Jelly from Beerenberg Farm in South Australia, is just the ticket with lamb. We found it in an independent supermarket in the township of Moss Vale, on our way home from Kiama recently. And, it's so good that we made sure we purchased several jars!  This is just a brief round up of the good things in my kitchen this month, shared as part of the world wide assembly of In my Kitchen posts hosted by my lovely friend Maureen, the Orgasmic Chef. Tell me dear readers, do you enjoy figs? Perhaps you grow them? What's happening in your kitchen this month? And what is your most favourite season of the year?
29 Comments
Peter
1/3/2016 06:44:43 am
The figs have been very tasty. I like the black ones better than the green. The mint sauce is really, really good. 1/3/2016 02:18:44 pm
Autumn is my favorite season, too. And pears are one of its glories! And figs. :-) Good stuff in your kitchen -- thanks for the peek. 1/3/2016 04:43:25 pm
autumn is a lovely time of year - Tassie ones are lovely, mild and rich with autumnal colours. however, it's bittersweet because we know that the cold weather is just around the corner!
Andrea
1/3/2016 05:21:45 pm
I love figs Liz and really only started enjoying them when we moved to the central west, I'll have to share your idea to my husband ( he has a small orchard in pots) and get him to grow a fig in a wine barrell. Speaking of pears, I can't remember where, but I had a beautiful salad that had finely sliced pears, blue cheese, walnuts and greens- so nice!! Xx
Eha
1/3/2016 07:29:55 pm
Liz: I always thought I loved spring, the awakening season, best until I came to the Southern Highlands . . .oh yes, autumn is the most gorgeous season with soft airs and sunny days and warm temps in the middle of the day - March/April for me :D !! And I do not have time to look up pear recipes: the current crop are disappearing 'au naturel' at an awfully fast pace . . . 1/3/2016 11:08:07 pm
The figs look amazing and I wish you an abundance of them 😀 2/3/2016 03:28:13 am
I love figs and we have a little and I mean little black genoa tree that we're nurturing. I'm hoping that we will have figs soon! 2/3/2016 06:50:36 am
Hubster is like yours - says he doesn't like fresh figs (though he loves them dried). I'm not a fan of any variety! 2/3/2016 11:45:20 pm
I love autumn too but we're not quite here yet, in these climes! Well done on your figs, I just had my first autumn pair today and very nice it was too! 3/3/2016 04:37:21 am
Your photos are exquisite! And how very fortunate you actually grow such fabulous fruits in your garden...Looking forward to another InMyKitchen when I get a peek at your mint...P.s. Now I want to bake up a storm using pears! Ah the power of suggestion =) 4/3/2016 12:57:04 am
Your figs are magnificent and the photo's are gorgeous. I love that Beerenberg mint jelly! 5/3/2016 09:10:52 pm
We've just harvest our figs too. Yours look so luscious. I love the shot with the droplets of water on the deep purple skin. 6/3/2016 11:31:10 pm
This is such a lovely post. I adore figs, their shiny skins and that pink delicious interior! I've also spied those Beerenberg chutneys and relishes at my local market - their labelling with the 'characters from the farm' is so much fun :) The mint one sounds delicious! those figs look cute liz. not really a fig eater but they look lovely:) i like pear, walnut and prosciutto salad in autumn. so tasty and fresh. yep we are still in the throes of summer here really - 30C every day and humid. maybe we will get some autumn in a couple of months.:) 16/3/2016 12:17:50 am
Liz, your figs look delicious! There's nothing like reaping the rewards from your own backyard :) I hope to have some figs in a backyard one day. Lovely #IMK post Liz, hope you're well xx Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
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Photo Jay Cranon, The Canberra Times
Hello. I'm Liz, a writer, cook and traveller based in Canberra, Australia.
Join me as I share with you my favourite recipes, postcards and morsels from my adventures, conversations with cookery writers and chefs, and news on food and cooking.  Search by topicNB: I use Australian standard measuring cups and spoons in my recipes.
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