Fig Cranberry Matrimonial Slice Recipes

GRANDMOTHER'S MATRIMONIAL SQUARES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Stir oats, flour, brown sugar, baking soda, and baking powder together in a bowl; cut in butter using a pastry blender until mixture is mealy and butter pieces are uniformly small.
• Press half of oat mixture evenly into the bottom of a 9x13-inch baking pan.
• Cook dates with water in a small saucepan over medium heat until they fall apart and are easily mashed with a wooden spoon, about 10 minutes; remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract.
• Spoon date mixture evenly over oat mixture in baking pan; sprinkle remaining oat mixture evenly over top and press into place.
• Bake in the preheated oven until crust is golden at the edges, about 30 minutes; remove to cool completely on a wire rack. Cut into bars.

FIG AND ROSEMARY CRANBERRY SAUCE

Steps:

• Bring water, brown sugar, and maple extract to a boil in a non-reactive saucepan. Add cranberries and figs. Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until slightly thickened, about 5 minutes. Add rosemary and cook until sauce is thickened, about 5 minutes more.
• Carefully remove rosemary sprig and discard. Remove pot from the burner and let cool, about 10 minutes. Pour sauce into a bowl and refrigerate until ready to serve.

CRANBERRY-FIG GOAT CHEESE CROSTINI

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, combine vinegar and honey. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, until mixture is reduced by half, about 5 minutes. Set aside to cool., Lightly brush both sides of baguette slices with oil; place on an ungreased baking sheet. Broil 3-4 in. from the heat 1-2 minutes on each side or until golden brown. Set aside., In a small bowl, combine the topping ingredients; toss to coat. In another bowl, beat goat cheese, lemon zest and pepper until blended., To serve, spread goat cheese mixture over toasts. Stir cranberry mixture; spoon over goat cheese. Drizzle with balsamic glaze and sprinkle with mint.

CRANBERRY-FIG SAUCE

Steps:

• Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Cook shallot and rosemary, stirring often, until shallot is starting to turn golden, about 4 minutes. Add cranberries, figs, brown sugar, vinegar, 1/2 tsp. salt, and red pepper flakes and increase heat to medium-high. Bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve sugar, and cook, stirring often and reducing heat as needed to avoid scorching, until cranberries burst, juices are syrupy, and pan is visible when a wooden spoon is dragged across the bottom, 9-12 minutes. Let cool. Taste and season with more salt if needed.
• Do Ahead
• Sauce can be made 1 week ahead. Cover and chill.

GINGER, FIG, AND CRANBERRY SEMIFREDDO WITH BLACKBERRY SAUCE

Steps:

• Line 9x5x3-inch metal loaf pan with plastic wrap, extending over sides by 3 inches. Whisk egg yolks, sugar and white wine in medium metal bowl to blend. Set bowl over saucepan of simmering water; whisk egg mixture constantly until candy thermometer registers 160°F, about 5 minutes. Remove from over water. Using electric mixer, beat until cool and thick, about 5 minutes. Beat in orange peel.
• Beat chilled whipping cream in large bowl until peaks form. Add egg mixture and gently fold together. Fold in chopped figs, chopped cranberries, and minced ginger. Transfer mixture to prepared pan. Cover with plastic wrap overhang; freeze overnight. (Can be made 3 days ahead. Keep frozen.)
• Turn semifreddo out onto platter. Peel off plastic wrap. Let stand 5 minutes to soften slightly. Slice semifreddo. Place 1 slice of semifreddo on each plate. Drizzle Blackberry Sauce over each slice and serve.

CRANBERRY FIG RELISH

Steps:

• Place orange pieces in a food processor, and process until finely diced, about 30 seconds. Add figs, cranberries, and concentrate; pulse until coarsely chopped, 5 to 6 pulses.
• Transfer to a bowl, cover, and place in the refrigerator to sit overnight. To serve, remove from the refrigerator, and let stand until room temperature, about 2 hours.

CRANBERRY SLICES

Steps:

• In a bowl, cream butter, sugar, egg yolk, vanilla and salt until light and fluffy. Gradually add flour. Stir in cranberries and, if desired, ginger. Divide the dough in half; form each half into a 6x3x1-in. block. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate 3 hours or up to 2 days. , Preheat oven to 350°. Unwrap logs; cut the dough into 1/4-in.-thick slices. Place on ungreased parchment-lined baking sheets. Bake 12-15 minutes or until edges are golden. Remove to wire racks to cool.

THANKSGIVING CRANBERRY FIG JAM

Steps:

• Zest orange and rough chop meat discard pith, place it and all the ingredients except one cup of cranberries in a heavy bottom pot over low flame.
• Stir to release juices it will be thick. Stirring not to burn. Juices will come and when it does raise heat to high stirring most of the time. At this time remove the vanilla bean.
• Using the immersion blender to puree some of the fruit leaving some chucks. Then add the other cup of cranberries.
• When it hits a rolling boil for 15 minutes all the time stirring.
• Pour into sterile jars leaving 1/2 inch head space and process 10 minutes.
• turn flame off and remove lid. Time 5 more minutes. Remove jars holding upright. Cool in draft free spot overnight. Label and use with in 1 year if unopened. Opened store in refrigerator.

FIG CRANBERRY MATRIMONIAL SLICE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• FILLING.
• Comine figs, cranberries, sugar, and OJ in a saucepan and bring to a boil over med heat. Simmer, stirring often, for about 10 minutes or until the berries burst and the mixture becomes thick and jam-like. Remove from heat and set aside.
• BASE / TOPPING.
• In a large bowl combine the flour,oats, brown sugar, baking soda, and salt.
• add the butter and mix it in with a fork or your fingers until the mixture is well combined and crumbly (Mixture could also be pulsed in a food processor until well combined).
• Press half the mixture in an 8x8 pan that has been sprayed with cooking spray.
• Spread the filling over the bottom layer and sprinkle it with the remaining crumbs then bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until pale golden and bubbly around the edges.
• Cool on a wire rack and cut into 16 squares!