Fig And Walnut Brownie With Strawberry Pop Rock Caramel And Goat Cheese Icing Recipes

FRUIT-SWEETENED FIG AND WALNUT BROWNIES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Oil an 8-by-8-inch baking pan.
• Put the figs and dates in a medium bowl and cover with very hot water until soft, about 5 minutes. Drain and transfer to a food processor; process until very smooth.
• Put the chocolate in a small microwave-safe bowl and heat for 30 second increments, stirring after each, until melted and smooth.
• Whisk together the flour, cocoa, salt and baking soda in a small bowl.
• Add the melted chocolate and oil to the fruit puree and pulse to combine. Add the eggs and vanilla and pulse to combine. Add the flour mixture and pulse until just combined. Then add 1/2 cup of walnuts and pulse until the walnuts are in pieces about the size of peas.
• Transfer the brownie batter to the prepared pan and smooth the top. Break up the remaining 1/4 cup walnuts into small pieces and push into the top of the batter. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out moist with a little bit of batter clinging to it, 25 to 30 minutes. Let cool completely in the pan on a rack. Cut into 16 squares. Store at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

BROWNIE-WALNUT PIE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Whisk the butter and the chocolate over low heat in a heavy medium saucepan until the chocolate is almost melted. Remove the pan from the heat and whisk until the chocolate is fully melted and the mixture is smooth. Whisk in the sugar, then the eggs, one at a time. Stir in the flour and salt with a flexible rubber spatula. Stir in the nut pieces. Scrape the batter into the prepared Biscotti Crumb Crust. Press a ring of walnut halves, if using, into the batter around the top edge.
• Place the pie on a baking sheet and bake until the outer 2 to 3 inches are slightly puffed and dry looking and the center is set, 35 minutes. A wooden skewer inserted into the center should come out with some moist batter still attached. Cool the pie completely on a rack.
• Cut the pie into wedges and serve with ice cream or whipped cream, if using.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Blend the biscotti, butter and sugar in a food processor until the crumbs are moist and stick together when pressed. Firmly press the crumb mixture over the bottom and up the sides of a 9-inch glass pie dish, building up a high rim. Bake the crust until golden and feels firm to the touch, 15 minutes. Cool the crust completely.

STRAWBERRY, FIG, AND GOAT CHEESE TARTS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Using a small ring mold just a little bit larger than the size of the figs, cut the pastry into 40 individual portions. Line up the puff pastry pieces on a baking sheet.
• Slice off the base end of the figs. Arrange a fig base in the center of each puff pastry round and reserve the remaining fig tops. In a small bowl, beat the eggs with a fork to make an egg wash. Brush the pastry with the egg wash and sprinkle with 1 tablespoon of the sugar. Bake until the puff pastry is crisp and golden brown, approximately 10 to 12 minutes. Remove the tarts from the oven and immediately put a teaspoon of goat cheese into the center of each tart to soften.
• Remove the stems from the fig tops. Cut the figs and strawberries into small slices, put them into a medium saucepan, and sprinkle with the remaining tablespoon of sugar. Cut the vanilla bean in half lengthwise. Using the back of a paring knife, scrape the seeds out of each half of the vanilla bean and add the seeds and the vanilla bean to the fig and strawberry mixture. Add the vinegar and clove. Put the pan over medium-low heat and cook until the fruit is warmed through. Remove the vanilla bean and discard.
• Arrange the tarts on serving platters and spoon a small amount of warm fruit compote over each tart. Garnish with micro greens and serve.

WALNUT & FIG GOAT CHEESE LOG

Steps:

• In a small bowl, crumble cheese. Stir in figs, 1/4 cup walnuts, pepper and, if desired, honey. Shape mixture into a log about 6 in. long. Roll log in remaining walnuts. Refrigerate 4 hours or overnight. Serve with crackers.

CARAMEL WALNUT BROWNIES

Steps:

• This recipe has appeared in Joy since the original edition. Have all ingredients at room temperature. Position a rack in the center of the oven. Preheat oven to 350* F. Line a 13 x 9- inch baking pan (I always use Pyrex) with greased aluminum foil, allowing it to overhang the 2 narrow ends of the pan by 2 inches.
• In a large, heavy saucepan over very low heat, melt butter with chocolate, stirring constantly until the mixture is smooth.
• Remove from heat and set butter and chocolate aside until completely cool.
• Once cool, stir in sugar and vanilla.
• Stir in eggs until well-combined.
• Add flour and walnuts and stir until just combined (be careful not to overmix!).
• Scrape the batter into the pan and spread to the edges.
• Once level, drizzle caramel ice cream topping over brownies in a swirly pattern or zig-zag. Be careful not to get too much syrup in one spot, or it'll make a delicious, gooey hole in the finished brownies. The syrup will make a slight indentation into the brownies as they bake.
• Bake until the center of the pan is almost firm when lightly pressed and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean but still moist at the bottom, 23-28 minutes.
• Remove the pan to a cooling rack and let stand several hours until completely cool.
• Using the overhanging foil as handles, lift the brownies to a cutting board, peel off the foil, and slice into pieces.
• **Helpful hint: Using a plastic knife will keep the brownies from sticking to the knife!***.

MINI FIG AND WALNUT CHEESE BALLS

Steps:

• In medium bowl, stir goat cheese, cream cheese and jam until well blended.
• Shape mixture into 1-inch balls (about 1 tablespoon each). Roll in walnuts to coat (some cheese will show through nuts).
• To serve, place cheese balls on a platter, then skewer with a wooden toothpick.

FIG AND WALNUT TAPENADE WITH GOAT CHEESE

Steps:

• Combine chopped figs and 1/3 cup water in heavy medium saucepan. Cook over medium-high heat until liquid evaporates and figs are soft, about 7 minutes. Transfer to medium bowl. Mix in olives, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, capers, and chopped thyme. Season tapenade to taste with salt and pepper. (Can be made 3 days ahead. Cover and refrigerate. Bring to room temperature before serving.)
• Arrange overlapping cheese rounds in circle in center of medium platter. Stir chopped walnuts into tapenade; spoon into center of cheese circle. Garnish with walnut halves and thyme sprigs, if desired. Serve with breads and/or crackers.

STRAWBERRY GOAT CHEESE BRUSCHETTA

Steps:

• Heat vinegar in a small skillet over medium-low heat. Simmer until reduced by about half, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool to room temperature.
• Prepare a grill for high heat. Place bread slices on a foil-lined baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil.
• Combine strawberries and thyme in a small bowl and set aside.
• Grill bread on the preheated grill until browned, about 3 minutes per side.
• Spread goat cheese on toasted bread. Add black pepper, salt, and reduced vinegar to the strawberry mixture. Spoon over the goat cheese topped bruschetta. Garnish with additional thyme.