Roasted Figs And Nuts With Port Reduction Food

ROASTED FIGS AND NUTS WITH PORT REDUCTION

Steps:

• In saucepan heated to medium, combine port, sugar, cracked pepper and mint, and simmer until consistency of syrup, about 30 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool.
• Preheat oven to 415 degrees F. Cut figs in half, from top to bottom. Line a baking sheet with a large sheet of Reynolds Wrap® Aluminum Foil. Fold up the sheet in the center to create a barrier, splitting the sheet into two sides. On one half, place figs cut side up, and top each with about 1/2 teaspoon of goat cheese.
• Toss the nuts in a bowl with butter, salt, pepper and chili powder. Spread in single layer on the other side of the foil-lined pan. Roast 10 minutes. Keep an eye on the nuts so they don't burn.
• To serve, chop the nuts and sprinkle bits on the figs. Drizzle figs and nuts with port reduction.

ROASTED FIGS AND PROSCIUTTO

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• Snip the hard stems off the figs and cut the figs in half lengthwise through the stem. With a small sharp knife, cut the prosciutto lengthwise into inch-wide strips. Wrap a strip of prosciutto around the center of each fig half, with the ends overlapping. Brush with olive oil and arrange cut-side up on a sheet pan.
• Roast the figs for 10 minutes, until the prosciutto is a little crisp and the figs are warmed through. Serve warm.

ROASTED FIGS WITH FRESH RICOTTA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Put the figs, cut side up, in a baking dish. Melt the butter in a small saucepan over low heat, and whisk in the honey, cinnamon and salt. Drizzle the hot honey butter over the figs and roast in oven until very soft, 10 to 15 minutes.
• Divide the fresh ricotta or fat free yogurt among 4 serving dishes and top with the warm figs and sauce. Enjoy!
• Cook's Note: These hot figs are really great over mixed greens or even on a toasted baguette as a crostini!

CANDIED FIG, HAZELNUT AND ORANGE CHEESECAKE WITH PORT SAUCE

Steps:

• For figs and crust:
• Combine Port, figs and cloves in heavy medium saucepan and bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover and simmer until figs soften, about 20 minutes. Cool. Discard cloves.
• For crust:
• Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 350°F. Combine vanilla wafers and hazelnuts in processor and grind finely. Add butter and process until moist crumbs form. Press crumbs onto bottom and halfway up sides of 9-inch-diameter springform pan with 2 3/4-inch-high sides. Freeze crust 20 minutes. Spread fig mixture onto bottom of crust.
• For filling:
• Using electric mixer, beat cream cheese and 1 1/2 cups sugar in large bowl until smooth. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating just until blended after each addition. Mix in liqueur, vanilla and peel. Spoon filling over fig mixture in crust. Gently shake pan to distribute filling.
• Bake cheesecake until filling is golden around the edges and center moves only slightly when pan is shaken, about 1 hour 5 minutes. Transfer to rack. Press down edges of cake to flatten if necessary. Maintain oven temperature.
• Combine sour cream and remaining 3 tablespoons sugar in small bowl. Spread mixture evenly over top of cake. Return to oven and bake 10 minutes. Transfer cheesecake to rack. Run small sharp knife around sides of cheesecake. Cool. Refrigerate cake overnight. (Can be prepared 2 days ahead. Keep chilled.
• Release pan sides from cake; transfer cake to platter. Cut 5 slices from orange. Cut each slice in half. Cut each fig lengthwise into 5 slices. Arrange orange slices, cut side toward center, around top edge of cake. Place fig slice atop each orange slice. Place hazelnuts between orange slices. Serve with sauce.
• For port sauce:
• Stir Port and sugar in heavy small saucepan over low heat until sugar dissolves. Increase heat to medium-high and boil until mixture is reduced to 1 cup, about 13 minutes. Mix water and cornstarch in small bowl. Whisk into Port mixture and boil until slightly thickened, stirring constantly, about 1 minute. Cool. (Can be made 2 days ahead. Cover and chill. Bring to room temperature before serving.)

PORK LOIN WITH FIGS AND PORT SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees. In a medium ovenproof skillet, heat oil over medium-high. Generously season pork with salt and pepper; brown on all sides, 8 to 10 minutes. Pour off all but 1 tablespoon fat. Transfer skillet to oven, and continue to cook until an instant-read thermometer inserted into thickest part of pork registers 145 degrees, 25 to 35 minutes. Transfer pork to a plate; tent loosely with aluminum foil (reserve skillet).
• Place skillet over medium heat; add shallot, and cook until softened, 2 to 3 minutes. Add flour; cook, stirring, 30 seconds. Gradually whisk in port; cook until sauce is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon, 2 to 3 minutes. Add figs; cook until warmed through, about 1 minute (adjust consistency of sauce with water if needed). Slice pork, and serve with figs and port sauce.

FIG-PROSCIUTTO CROSTINI

Steps:

• Heat broiler.
• Place bread slices in single layer on baking sheet; spread with jam.
• Top with remaining ingredients.
• Broil, 4 inches from heat, 3 min. or until cheese is melted.

FRESH FIG AND FETA SALAD WITH TOASTED WALNUTS

Steps:

• Toasted Walnuts:.
• In a large, heavy frying pan, over a high heat, toast the walnuts for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring frequently. Remove and set aside to cool.
• Vinaigrette:.
• Put the vinegar and a good pinch of salt and black pepper in a screw-top jar and shake until the salt has dissolved. Add the mustard and walnut oil, then shake again to emulsify - the emulsion will hold for ten minutes or so, but give it another jiggle just before you use it to dress the salad.
• Salad:.
• Wipe the fresh figs gently, and cut them in half. Arrange them on a large platter, OR on individual plates - allowing 4 to 5 fresh figs per person, depending on the size.
• Sprinkle 1 to 1 1/2 ozs of crumbled feta or goat's cheese per person, over the top of the fresh figs.
• Scatter the chopped,toasted walnuts over the fig salad.
• Just before serving, drizzle the vinaigrette over the salad, and garnish each plate with 1 - 2 fresh fig leaves if available.
• Serve with crusty bread and butter.
• Can also be served as a dessert/cheese course combined.

ROASTED PORK LOIN WITH FIG SAUCE

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, combine the first five ingredients. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes. Remove from the heat. Cover and steep for 1 hour. Strain figs, discarding the lemon, cinnamon stick and cloves. Reserve liquid and set aside., Sprinkle roast with salt, ground cinnamon and pepper. Place roast on a rack in a shallow roasting pan. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 1 hour. In a small bowl, combine the orange juice, honey and reserved liquid; brush over pork. Bake 30-60 minutes longer or until a thermometer reads 160°, basting occasionally., Remove meat to a serving platter; keep warm. Skim fat from cooking juices; transfer to a large saucepan. Add figs. Combine cornstarch and broth until smooth. Gradually stir into the pan. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Serve with pork.

BAKED FIGS IN PORT

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Prick each fig with a fork in a few places and place them in a single layer standing on end in a shallow baking dish.
• Pour wine over.
• Bake, basting often with wine, until figs are puffed and tender, 25-30 minutes.
• To serve, arrange 3 figs in a serving dish.
• Spoon a little of the wine over and drizzle each serving with 1/2 teaspoon of honey, or more, to taste.
• Garnish with raspberries and pass the whipped cream.

FIG AND STILTON SALAD WITH PORT WINE DRESSING

Steps:

• Whisk first 10 ingredients in medium bowl to blend. (Dressing can be made 3 days ahead. Cover and refrigerate.)
• Bring vinaigrette and figs to simmer in heavy large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Simmer until dressing is slightly syrupy, stirring occasionally, about 8 minutes. Cool slightly. Season dressing to taste with salt and pepper.
• Divide greens among 6 plates. Sprinkle cheese over greens. Ladle warm dressing and figs over salads and serve.