It’s late summer and figs are ripe… so gorgeous and
luscious, they hardly look real. Each one is a work of art.

After I take many photos of these just-picked figs, I make Chloe’s Fig Preserves.  North Carolina mystery writer Margaret Maron shares her Fig Preserve Recipe on Serious Eats.

One of my favorite ways to eat these preserves is with warm, creamy brie. This dish makes a great presentation, it is fast and easy – guaranteed to be a hit at the party.

Creamy Brie with Fig Preserves

    * 1 wedge of Brie cheese (about 16 ounces)
    * 2 tablespoons slivered almonds (optional)
    * 1/2 pint warm fig preserves (1 cup)
    * 1 box (4 & 1/2 ounces) Carr’s Table Water Crackers or similar plain crackers

Unwrap Brie and let stand at room temperature for several hours before serving; place in a warm spot so that cheese will be soft.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spread slivered almonds on a small rimmed baking sheet and toast for 5 to 6 minutes, stirring often. Remove from oven, cool and reserve.

To serve, place Brie on a serving plate and pour preserves over the cheese. Preserves will run over the sides and onto the serving dish. Sprinkle toasted almonds on top and serve with plain water crackers like Carr’s.

Yield: about 1 dozen or more servings

When it is cold outside, pull out a jar of fig preserves and remember summer.

(I first published this recipe on Inn Cuisine)

In summer, folks flock to farmer’s markets to get all those fresh fruits and vegetables. In small towns we grow our own and go to roadside stands.

And in very small towns, we count on the farmer who sits by the road in the back of his pickup truck loaded with things from his large garden – and if we are very lucky, there are watermelons from Rocky Hock.

Folks around here want watermelons from Rocky Hock, NC, an area near the Albemarle Sound, where we say the watermelons and cantaloupes just taste better. By the way, the Albemarle Sound area also produced author Inglis Fletcher.

So — if you see a man sitting in the parking lot of the ABC store or even the Piggly Wiggly parking lot – stop and buy something from him. They move around, and I have to go from parking lot to parking lot to find them. But it is worth it !

For Big Mill B&B, I buy three watermelons every time I see a watermelon truck. We serve our guests watermelon, we eat watermelon and we make watermelon punch. What are some of your favorite things to do with watermelon?

Bon appetite!