Figs, raspberry, orange and ginger make for a great jam

The fig trees in Edenton are heavy with fruit this year!

And one of the things I love about living in a small town is that if you don’t have a tree or garden of your own, oftentimes others will share their bounty. You can also find fresh figs at the Edenton Farmers Market, and sometimes at Wegmans or Fresh Market.

The two most common fig varieties you will find locally are Celeste and Brown Turkey. Celeste fig trees produce small purplish brown, sweet fruit; while a Brown Turkey fig tree produces larger, reddish brown fruit.

Fig trees are prevalent throughout Eastern North Carolina. Ocracoke even has an annual Fig Festival sponsored by the Ocracoke Preservation Museum. A highlight of the festival is a bake-off celebrating the famous local fig cake made with fig preserves.

While fig preserves are a treat, I really love FROG (Fig, Raspberry, Orange and Ginger) Jam. You can sometimes find this tasty jam at our Edenton Farmers Market, at Bunch’s and other local farm stands up and down the coast.

I love to use it not only on my biscuits but on crostini with cheese, flatbread pizza with arugula and goat cheese and especially on my goat cheese and fig tart topped with fresh figs.

Some say this jam originates in the South, while others say it’s from the Pennsylvania Amish. Either way it is a favorite!

This week I have included a recipe for quick FROG jam.

Enjoy!

If you have a cooking question, contact me at cher.orr@gmail.com and I’d be happy to assist!

Quick FROG JamINGREDIENTS

• 1 tablespoon orange zest

• ¾ cup granulated sugar

• 2 tablespoons honey

• 1 tablespoon orange juice

• ½ tablespoon lemon juice

• 2 cups ripe fresh figs, stemmed and quartered

• 1 teaspoon pureed fresh ginger

• 1 cup fresh raspberries

PREPARATION

• Combine all ingredients into a heavy pan on medium high heat. Stirring, bring to a boil.

• Reduce heat to low and simmer gently for an hour. Stir mixture continuously until mixture thickens.

• Use an immersion blender to reach desired consistency.

• Pour into a jelly jar. Jam will keep refrigerated for up to one month.

Note: This jam may also be canned in sterilized jars for longer shelf life.