Fresh Fig Newtons

This is a great summer treat! My wife's grandmother got this recipe a long time ago from her friend, Phillis. It is a great addition to our cookbook. Even if you don't like figs or those thin, dry newtons from the grocery store, I have no doubt you will love these. They are moist and absolutely delicious.

Ingredients:
2 lbs fresh figs
2 cups sugar - divided
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup butter, at room temperature
1 egg
1 tblsp cream or milk
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp baking powder
1 3/4 cup flour

Dice figs and soak in water for an hour. Add 1 cup sugar and cook on medium heat until mixture is like a thin jam consistency. Set aside.
Beat remaining sugar with butter, egg, milk & vanilla until well blended. Add dry ingredients and mix well. Refrigerate for 1 hour. Place half of dough on well floured dough cloth and knead about 6 times. Roll out to 1/4 inch thick and line the bottom of a 9x13 glass dish. Cover bottom layer of dough with fig mixture. Knead and roll out remaining dough to cover fig mixture. Bake at 350 for about 30 minutes. Let cool and cut into squares. Enjoy!

Sidenote: Fresh figs can be hard to find. Most grocery stores don't carry them because they ripen so quickly. Check your local farmer's market in late summer. We bought some this morning at the market and I'm very eager to make these.
(You can also substitute 1 lb of dried figs instead of fresh and double the water.)

Tomato Pie

I've never been a big fan of tomatos. I love the smell of the tomato plant, but have always been slightly nauseated by the smell of the actual tomato. However, I do love salsa. My wife has slowly found more and more meals with tomatos that I will eat. They are actually starting to grow on me, but just a little! A friend passed along this recipe and I admit I was hesitant to try it, but I'm glad I did. It is incredible and too good not to share. Thanks Fiona!

We planted a lot of tomatos in the garden this year and have been enjoying this fantastic dish with fresh picked tomatos. I hope you will enjoy it too!

Ingredients:

1 frozen pie crust

3 - 5 medium sized tomatos, peeled and sliced

1/2 cup mayo (my wife swears by kraft)

1/4 cup parmesan cheese

3 tbsp fresh basil (we just diced up a small handful)

1 cup chopped green onions (can use red or sweet)

1 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Bake pie crust at 425 for about 10 minutes or until golden brown. Spread sliced tomatos on bottom of baked crust. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Mix remaining ingredients together and pour over tomatos. Bake at 325 for 45 minutes. Enjoy!