Figs

Figs are one of Italy's favorite fruits and mine too. I only have one tree with the dark red figs that get to be the size of a tennis ball. The fruits ripen twice a year; at the end of June/beginning of July and again in September and October. 

Usually I'm lucky if I get to taste a few because of the birds that take over the tree. They ate this year's first crop before the fruits had a chance to ripen. Needless to say, I didn't get to taste even one. Very disappointing!

But then Luigi and Giuseppina have a number of fig trees, a good variety of species that are easily found in Italy. I see these guys about once a week. Luigi usually helps me to my car with a large flat of all the different kinds. 

Most of the time they give me way more than I can eat, so I often make marmalade. I take all the harder ones, peel off the stem, cut them in small pieces and boil them with sugar. 

This year I got a little creative. I got the idea from my friend Kelly; she told me she was making her marmalade with a little wine and some other spices. So I added some Limoncello, Marsala, and a couple other spices.

The result was a very aromatic and tasty marmalade.