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As promised here is a delicious and so simple recipe that is great for Tu Bishvat or indeed any time you want a lovely dessert.

Ingredients:

• fresh ripe figs
• honey
• balsamic vinegar
• creme fraiche or plain yoghurt
• vegetable oil

Method:

1. Pre-heat the oven to 180 oC for 20 minutes.  (Remember I use a fan oven so you may need a hotter temperature)
2. Take your lovely fresh figs and give them a good wash
3. Now cut a deep cross shape in the top of each fig so that the bottom of the fruit remains whole, but so that you are able to push out the fruit into 4 ‘corners’, (a bit like a spiky tulip!)
4. Place the figs onto a baking tray.  I use a silicone liner sheet but this is not essential.
5. On to each fig spoon in 1 tsp of runny honey, a few drops of Balsamic vinegar (if you keep kosher make sure it is a kosher approved brand), 1/2 a tsp of vegetable oil.
6. Now bake the figs in the oven for about  20 minutes or so.
7. Serve with a dollop of creme fraiche or plain yoghurt

In a couple of weeks it will the minor festival of Tu Bishvat – or The New Year for Trees.  On this day it customary to eat of the ‘seven species of Israel’ (see pic) and also to plant trees … one of those the clue is in the name things 

Seven Species of Israel

To mark Tu Bishvat I shall be posting some appropriate recipes, so watch this space.