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.)