Fig Balsamic Vinegarsyrup Food

BALSAMIC FIG SAUCE

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients with 1/2 cup water in a small saucepan. Cover; bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce to a simmer; cook, partially covered, until fruit has broken down, 20 to 30 minutes.
• Let cool slightly; remove thyme sprig. Press mixture through a large-holed sieve with a rubber spatula.

FIG AND BALSAMIC SYRUP MILLE FEUILLE

Steps:

• Cover the puff pastry with a slightly damp kitchen cloth and bring to room temperature.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
• On a lightly floured surface, roll out the pastry to 1/8-inch thickness. Using a 3-inch round cutter dipped in flour, press out into 8 portions. Place on the prepared baking sheet. Brush the pastry with the egg white. Combine 1 teaspoon of the granulated sugar with the cinnamon and sprinkle evenly over the pastry. Cover with a sheet of parchment paper and top with a second baking sheet.
• Bake until lightly browned and cooked through, about 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
• Combine the vinegar, Port, 1 tablespoon of granulated sugar and the vanilla bean and seeds into a small saucepan. Bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook until the mixture is thick and syrupy, 12 to 15 minutes. Add the figs, turning to coat evenly, and cook for 1 minute. Remove from the heat and cool slightly. Discard the vanilla bean pods.
• Beat the cream in a medium bowl until soft peaks form. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons of granulated sugar and the vanilla extract, and beat until stiff peaks form.
• To assemble, place a small dollop of whipped cream in the center of each of 4 plates. Top with 1 pastry round and a dollop of whipped cream. Divide the figs evenly among the rounds, reserving 4 halves for garnish. Top with the remaining pastry rounds and whipped cream, and garnish with the fig halves. Dust with confectioners' sugar and serve.

FIG BALSAMIC VINEGAR/SYRUP

Steps:

• Trim and dice the figs.
• In a heavy-bottomed sauce pan on medium-low heat, mix the liquid pectin and sugar, stirring until no dry sugar remains. Stirring frequently, bring the mixture to a simmer.
• Add the figs and simmer 3 hours, stirring occasionally to prevent scorching.
• While your fig preserves are cooking, in a well ventilated area, put the balsamic vinegar in a heavy, non-reactive pot over low heat. (Personally, we used a heavy stainless electric skillet on our screened back porch.) Bring to a low simmer and cook uncovered until reduced by half. This can take a couple of hours because you don't want to rush it and scorch your balsamic. Please note: the fumes from this process may drive you from your kitchen if you choose to do this indoors, so be aware!
• If the figs are done before the vinegar, hold over lowest heat and continue to stir occasionally.
• When the balsamic is reduced, add three-quarters of the fig preserves to the balsamic and stir until dissolved.
• Taste and adjust to your personal taste using the remaining quarter of fig preserves.
• Remove from the heat and allow to cool slightly.
• Strain through a fine mesh sieve or cheesecloth to remove the seeds and any chunky figgy bits.
• Store in an airtight bottle. (One of the bottles the balsamic came in would be wonderful). This may keep for as much as six months depending on storage conditions and cleanliness of your bottling process.

BALSAMIC FIG VINEGAR

Steps:

• Bring figs, vinegar, and sugar to a simmer in a large saucepan. Cook, stirring occasionally over low heat, for 10 minutes. Cover, and let cool completely.
• Working in batches, puree mixture in a food processor until smooth.
• Strain through a fine sieve into a large nonreactive bowl.
• Line sieve with cheesecloth or coffee filter, and place over another large nonreactive bowl. Pour strained mixture into sieve. (Do not press solids in sieve.) Cover with plastic wrap, and let mixture strain in refrigerator overnight (or up to 2 days).
• Uncover, and remove sieve from bowl. Discard solids. Pour vinegar into a resealable nonreactive bottle or jar.
• (Vinegar can be refrigerated for up to 1 month.).