It's that time of year to make another batch of fig jam. I volunteer at a local food bank and we were lucky to get a large donation (about 50 large packages) of Black Mission figs from our Costco store. Unfortunately for our local residents in need, nearly 50% of the figs in each plastic clamshell container were bad (smashed or significantly over ripe) and could not be handed out to our clients. We are not allowed by law to re-sort and repackage food because of sanitary food handling requirements, so all of those figs were about to be thrown out. But when life gives you lemons, you make lemonade. In this case, I took the time to sort these figs for my own use, picking out all the good ones, thoroughly washing them, and then freezing them. From over 5 gallons of figs I froze, I will be making a big batch of jam and giving it to the volunteers at the food bank.
I am sure there will be extra jars and may post some for giveaways on this site for members to try before they attempt to make this jam on their own. My favorite, as noted in earlier posts in Challah Bread French Toast with maple syrup and fig jam. Great on those cold fall and winter mornings!!!!
