Food

Tony Tantillo: Black Mission Figs

(CBS) Well today's tip of the week is Black Mission figs, one of my favorite of all the figs; the flavor is out of this world.

Take a look at these figs. When you buy them, this is what you want to do; you see this here? It's got to be nice and dark. If there's a little bit of cracking to 'em, that's OK, but just a little bit and as long as it doesn't go all the way through.

Now when you buy them in a container like this, when you bring them home, open up that container so they can breathe, but you want to store them at room temperature because when they're cold they don't taste all that good.

Now figs, not only do they taste great when you select and store them right, but they're loaded with nutritional value, especially fiber.

Black Mission figs in the market; make fig cookies, or use in a salad. I cut them up with some spring mix, some walnuts and Gorgonzola cheese, a nice vinaigrette, and you make yourself a nice salad that is completely out of this world. So, if you are in the market and Black Mission figs are there (window is kind of short,) so if you see them pick them up. You'll thank me and like I said, "they're good for you ya."

Baked Figs with Honey and Whiskey:
Any whiskey will do in this dish, although Scotch seems to lose some of its flavor under intense heat.
Serves 4

¼ cup hazelnuts
¼ cup honey
¼ cup whiskey
8 large or 12 small Black Mission figs, stemmed
Butter-flavor cooking spray
Mint sprigs for garnish (optional)

1. Toast hazelnuts in a preheated 350°F oven for 10 minutes. Put them in a tea towel and rub them against each other to remove skins. Chop and set aside; raise oven temperature to 500°F.

2. Combine honey and whiskey in a small saucepan and bring to a boil, stirring. Turn off heat.

3. Meanwhile, cut figs in half lengthwise. Spray a gratin dish large enough to hold all the figs in 1 layer with butter-flavored spray. Put in figs, cut side up. Drizzle with honey/whiskey mixture. Sprinkle with hazelnuts.

4. Bake 7 to 10 minutes depending on size, or just until figs soften but are not falling apart. Cool to warm and put 4 to 6 halves on each of 4 serving plates; spoon pan juices over figs. If desired, put a mint sprig in the middle of each fig half.

(© MMVIII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)