Fig And Raisin Bread Recipes

FIG AND RAISIN BREAD

Steps:

• Dissolve yeast in warm water. Add sugar to activate yeast. Add bread flour; sprinkle salt on top. Pour in raisins and figs; mix well.
• Knead dough for about 10 minutes. Place in a large glass bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Let rise for 3 to 4 hours.
• Turn dough out onto a floured surface. Pick up the side of the dough that's farthest from you and fold it inward, about 3/4 of the way across. Fold the last quarter of the dough all the way back over the far side, creating batard, or torpedo, shape. Press down on the seam with the side of your palm to seal it.
• Preheat the oven to 475 degrees F (245 degrees C). Sprinkle some cornmeal over the dough and cover loosely; let proof for 45 minutes. Sprinkle more cornmeal onto a baking sheet; flip dough onto the sheet so the seam side faces up. Use a scoring tool or serrated knife to cut a few slashes into the top of the dough.
• Bake in the preheated oven until top is golden brown and bottom sounds hollow when tapped, about 20 minutes. Let the loaf cool for at least 30 minutes, as it will continue to cook when it comes out of the oven.

FIG AND DATE BREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease an 8x4 inch baking pan.
• In a medium bowl, combine the dates, figs, butter and baking soda. Pour in the boiling water, stir well and let stand for 15 minutes.
• Beat the sugar, walnuts and eggs into the date mixture. Combine the all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, baking powder and salt; stir into the date mixture just until blended. Pour batter into prepared pan.
• Bake in preheated oven for 55 to 65 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into center of the loaf comes out clean. Cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely.

MAPLE RAISIN FIG BREAD

Steps:

• Layer ingredients in bread canister in order given.
• Select basic bread cycle or sweet bread cycle.
• Allow bread to rest 15 minutes after completion of cycle.
• Remove bread and brush top and sides with butter to prevent crusts from hardening.
• Allow bread to rest an additional 15 minutes before slicing down into slices.
• Makes a 2-lb. loaf.

HOMEMADE RAISIN BREAD

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• Dissolve the yeast in the warm water.
• In a large bowl, combine the raisins, warm milk, butter, sugar, and salt; stir to dissolve the sugar. Let the mixture cool to lukewarm.
• Stir 1 1/2 cups of the flour into the milk mixture and beat until smooth.
• Add the yeast mixture and the beaten eggs to the milk mixture and mix to blend well.
• Add enough of the remaining flour to make a soft but stiff dough.
• Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for about 10 minutes, or until the dough is smooth and elastic.
• Butter or oil a large bowl. Place the dough in the greased bowl. Turn it over to grease the entire surface of the dough.
• Cover the bowl with a clean kitchen towel and let it stand in a warm, draft-free place until it has doubled in bulk, about 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
• Punch the dough down and divide it into two equal portions. Cover the dough with a kitchen towel and let it rest for 10 minutes.
• Shape the dough into two loaves and place them in two greased 8-by-4-inch loaf pans .
• Cover the pans with a kitchen towel and let the loaves rise for about 45 to 60 minutes, or until the dough has almost doubled in bulk. Then preheat oven to 375 F.
• Bake in preheated oven for 25 minutes. Place foil over the loaves for the last 10 minutes if they look overly brown.
• Remove the loaves from the pans and let them cool on racks. Serve and enjoy!

FIG AND RAISIN BREAD PUDDING

Steps:

• Stir together figs, raisins and brandy in a medium bowl; let stand for 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 350°F Generously butter an 8-cup souffle dish or casserole dish with straight sides. Spread remaining butter onto bread slices. Cut into 1-inch cubes and transfer to prepared dish. Stir together sugar, eggs and egg yolk in a large bowl; whisk in cream, milk, lemon juice, lemon peel and vanilla. Stir in fruit, then stir mixture into bread cubes; let stand for 5 minutes. Set dish in a large baking pan and add hot water to come 1-inch up the sides of dish. Bake for 1 3/4 hours or until custard is set in the center, tenting with foil if top browns too quickly. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream, if desired. Makes 8 servings.

GOAT CHEESE AND FIG SANDWICHES ON RAISIN BREAD

Steps:

• For the Fig Spread:.
• In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine the figs, 1 1/2 cups of the water, and sugar. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer, covered, for 20 to 25 minutes, or until most of the liquid has evaporated and the figs are nearly tender when pierced with a fork.
• Transfer the mixture to a food processor, add the lemon juice, and process for 20 to 30 seconds (adding remaining 1/4 cup of water if necessary), or until smooth. Makes about 1 3/4 cups.
• For the Sandwiches:.
• Preheat the broiler. With a 2-inch biscuit cutter, cut out a round from each slice of bread. Arrange the rounds on a baking sheet and toast them under the broiler for 2 to 3 minutes on each side, or until lightly browned.
• In a small bowl or food processor, combine the goat cheese and milk. Whisk or blend until smooth. Spoon the mixture into a piping bag fitted with a star nozzle, and then pipe the cheese onto each round of bread.
• Top with a spoonful of the fig spread and garnish with 2 pieces of chives.