Foodie Friday : Figs ~ Enjoy a Raw Coconut Fig Slice ( and More Wonderful Way to Enjoy Figs)

It's another #FoodieFriday. Even though it's late in the day, this post will be published before midnight. If not, I might turn into fig! (Just kidding!) 

For this #FoodieFriday, the keyword is "fig".  (It was going to be "gumbo' but ... found this post about fig and went off in a completely different direction! :)  )  Before getting started, let me share this healthy tip.

TIP:  Need a pre-workout snack? Try figs! They are filled with calcium, magnesium and potassium.  (Source)

OK!  My first fig share is an awesome post found in a Google Plus Blogging community.  The G+ network was shut down do I'm glad I saved the link.

Raw Coconut Fig Slice (http://itislovelyfood.blogspot.ca)

I don't know if the fig was really the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden. As far as I'm concerned it's a fruit that was heaven sent!

Here is a little bit about the fig. It's an excerpt from my article published at Wizzley.com. 

FIG TREES Genus Ficus The fig plant can be either a low-lying shrub or a tall tree.  They grow wild; or domesticated in the Mediterranean region and in California.  In Israel, the fig trees usually sprout buds in late spring; by the month of June (early summer) the tree is full of leaves; and in just a few more weeks, the figs are ready for picking. ... You can learn more about the ficus plant at PlanetFig.com

An additional fact.  In the Bible, the fig has two symbolic meanings.  Hope (if the fig tree fruitful): Desolation (if the fig tree is barren).



Here are more shares.  Enjoy!

The humble Fig.

The Fig...You can get it dried almost anywhere in the world and fresh and luscious from September through to autumn. There is nought like the taste of a fresh fig and dried they are different but sweet, with a chewy flesh and crunchy edible seeds.The fig tree has no blossoms on their branches ...The blossoms are inside the fig.

Dalmatia Spread Fig, 8.5 oz

Bring Me Some Figgy Fig Recipes. (shewearsmanyhats.com)

• Fig Jam with Vanilla and Black Pepper - Jenni Field's Pastry Chef Online
• Cracked Wheat Fig Halwa (affronplatter.blogspot.ca)
• 15 Sweet and Calcium-Rich Recipes With Figs
• Spiced fig, coffee & hazelnut cake
• Delicious Savory Melon and Fig Salad
• Fig Salad with Kale and Halloumi - Delicious Fig Salad Recipe

 

Foodie Friday : Improve Boxed Mac-n-Cheese. Is that possible?

Anybody who loves their macaroni and cheese would rather be thrown into a cage with starving lions than eat that boxed mac-n-cheese!! UUUGGG!!! YUK!!!

OK. Being tossed into a cage with starving lions is a bit of an exaggeration. But how many of you have ever had a choice between making your own macaroni and cheese or using the mac-n-cheese in a box and said: “Oh yes! Gimme that box stuff! I love it!”

Saw a headline (below) about “hacking your mac”.

• Hack your mac: 13 simple ways to make boxed mac and cheese even better

Well since it was in the food section, figured it wasn't about a Mac computer, so it had to be about macaroni!  13 ways to make boxed macaroni and cheese taste even better? Well!  Everybody has their own tastes, don't they?  In my humble opinion, speaking as a non-chef or non-official food person in any way, a newbie learning to cook might want to test these ways using the box.  If the end results pass muster, they can adapt some of these ideas and add a twist to a real tried and true homemade recipe.

My tried and true homemade recipe?

Prepare 1 lb of elbow macaroni, cooked according to package directions

Pour drained macaroni into a casserole dish. While the pasta is still hot, mix in the following ingredients in this order.

• 1 lb of shredded extra sharp cheddar cheese
• 1 stick of butter
• 2 large eggs
• 1 can of evaporated milk

Once all ingredients are thoroughly combined, sprinkle more shredded cheddar cheese on top. (As much as you want.)

Bake in a preheated oven to 350 degrees F., for about 30 minutes.

This is how my late mother taught me and was really surprised when watching TV chef Paula Deen's cooking show one day and noticed that she prepared hers the same way. (I varied my mom's recipe a little by adding in chopped onions and bell peppers.)

Other Mac-n-Cheese Variations

Foodie Friday : Banana Brownies - Back for Seconds

Scanning pins on Pinterest and came across one pin shared by food blogger, Stephanie Brubaker, that made me start looking for recipe variations. Being that it's also #foodiefriday, it's also a perfect excuse to do a little detective work.  Brownies are on my list of fave foods, right along with cheesecake. But most of the brownies I enjoy are chocolate.  Never heard of a Banana Brownie. Have you?

Now it's imperative to know how many other different kinds of brownies are out there in wonderful world of food.  :)

Do you have a brownie recipe
that's not like any other?

Banana Brownies - Back for Seconds

Kelly Senyei, Just a Taste, came up with a recipe that combines three desserts into one.  Three guilty pleasures in one?  What a brilliant mind!!  :)

Red Velvet Cheesecake Brownies

Red Velvet Cheesecake Brownies Recipe


Found this delightful treat at Kirbie’s Cravings.

Cookies and Cream Brownies


Cookies and Cream Brownies



 Another Kellie shared her recipe for vegans at her blog, Food to Glow.

Tahini Swirl Chocolate Brownies (immune-boosting and grain-free + vegan option).

Miley Cyrus would be so proud of her! :)

Tahini Swirl Chocolate Brownies (immune-boosting and grain-free + vegan option)




*This one from a fellow blogger on Blogspot, Nook & Pantry.

Green Tea Cheesecake White Chocolate Brownie



Green Tea Cheesecake White Chocolate Brownie



Blinking arrow found at glitter-graphics.com

Spinach Brownies  (???) OK! Spinach Brownies Recipe