When cookbook author Marie Simmons moved to Richmond, Calif., the farmers market stalls in her Bay Area town were piled high with mounds of figs in “more different sizes and shapes than I ever imagined.” Simmons, presented with a veritable market basket of figs, instantly fell into an obsessive love.
The result is “Fig Heaven” (William Morrow, $19.95) and the subtitle tells it all: “70 Recipes for the World’s Most Luscious Fruit.”
The abundance inspired this book, which is a blessing to the fig lover because its small size is packed with hints (how to tell when they’re ripe), history, quick ideas for using both the fresh and dried fruit, and recipes for every course from appetizers to dessert.
The recipes are straightforward and delectable. The only quibble is that there are just 16 color photos of finished dishes. With ideas this interesting, we want to see what they all look like.
