Date and Fig Spread

Dates and dried figs have all the sweetness you need as a substitute for traditional sugar-laden fruit jams. Recipe makes 2 cups.

Ingredients:

1 cup seedless dates
1 cup dried figs
6 teaspoons lemon juice
1/4 cup orange juice

Method:

1. Chop fruit finely.
2. Add to bowl, pour juice over, cover and soak overnight.
3. Spoon into blender or food processor and blend for approximately 2 minutes until smooth.
4. Store, covered, in a jar in refrigerator.

Brandied Fig Ice Cream

An easy homemade ice cream dessert flavored with brandy and glace fruit. Recipe serves 4.

Ingredients:

6 ounces (185 g) dessert glace figs
1 1/2 tablespoons brandy
1 pint (600 ml) cream
3 egg yolks
1/2 cup caster sugar
1/2 pound (250 g/punnet) strawberries

Method:

1. Puree figs in mincer or processor, add brandy, mix well. Heat cream, without boiling. Beat egg yolks and sugar together in electric mixer, gradually beat in cream. Return to pan, stir constantly over medium heat until mixture thickens slightly; do not boil.
2. Add brandied fig mixture, cool to room temperature. Pour mixture into loaf tin, cover with aluminum foil, freeze several hours or until partly set. 3. Remove from tin, beat in electric mixer until smooth, return to tin, cover with foil. Freeze several hours, or overnight.

Ice cream can be cut into slices for serving, or spooned into dessert glasses. Garnish with strawberries.