Fig Heaven: 70 Recipes for the World’s Most Luscious Fruit

William Morrow 2005 $19.95

To order: www.amazon.com

When Marie Simmons moved from Brooklyn New York to Oakland California it was the abundance of figs that soothed the feeling of displacement she was experiencing. She did what every passionate cook does when in need of comfort: she cooked. This time the subject was figs and the result of feelings of displacement and the abundance on this ancient and revered fruit is the cookbook, Fig Heaven. Recipes use both fresh and dried figs in everything from appetizers to desserts with lots in between.

Recipe sampler:

·        Grilled Fresh Figs on Rosemary Skewers

·        Bacon Wrapped Wine-Poached Dried Figs

·        Fresh Fig and Green Tomato Salad with Basil

·        Fresh Fig Clafouti

Praise for Fig Heaven

“Quintessential Marie Simmons—simple, luscious food. This time she takes on figs: fresh dried, and roasted—each recipe a step on my stairway to Fig Heaven.”  Susan Westmoreland, food director, Good Housekeeping