Fig Giveaway! and Fresh Fig Ice Cream

A couple of weeks ago I was contacted by Cristina, who asked me if I was interested in receiving a shipment of figs from the California Fig Advisory Board.
I thought it was very interesting that she contacted me just 1 day after my father-in-law left some fresh figs from his backyard at my house and the same day that I had used some of them in this delicious Oatmeal Breakfast Bread. That was my first experience baking with fresh figs.

I jumped at the chance to receive more figs and was excited when they arrived in the mail last week.
I had spotted a recipe for Fresh Fig Ice Cream in David Lebovitz's The Perfect Scoop and that was the first thing on my list to make with my figs.
It couldn't have been easier to make either. I just cut up some figs, put them in a saucepan with a little water, let them get tender, added a little sugar, then let the mixture become soft and jam-like. Then you let the fig mixture cool a little bit, put it in the food processor with a little cream and lemon juice, puree and the only thing left to do is let it cool and churn it in your ice cream maker.
Because figs have such a beautiful color and flavor, this ice cream is unbelievably delicious. I think it is my new favorite.

We have been eating them fresh, adding them to salads, pairing them with a little cheese and enjoying them quite a bit. I even received some dried figs, which I can't wait to use.
I have been given the chance to giveaway a case of fresh figs!
If you are interested just leave a comment on this post, making sure to leave a way for me to contact you. This giveaway will close on Saturday, August 28th at 12 am, midnight.

Here are some interesting "Fig Facts".

Did you know?

· There are five varieties of California figs; each with distinct flavor profiles.

· The fig tree is the symbol of abundance, fertility, and sweetness.

· Figs provide more fiber than any other common fruit or vegetable.

· Although considered a fruit, the fig is actually a flower that is inverted into itself.

· Figs contain natural humectants – properties that extend freshness and moistness in baked products.

· Figs are fat-, sodium- and cholesterol-free.

· California fig growers produce 100 percent of the nation’s dried figs and 98 percent of the country’s fresh figs.

To learn more about California fresh and dried figs, visit www.calfreshfigs.com or www.californiafigs.com.

Fresh Fig Ice Cream
From David Lebovitz's The Perfect Scoop

2 lbs fresh figs (about 20)
1/2 cup of water
1 lemon, preferably unsprayed
3/4 cup of sugar
1 cup of heavy cream
1/2 teaspoon of freshly squeezed, lemon juice, or more to taste (I added the juice of 1/2 lemon)

Remove the hard stem ends from the figs, then cut each fig into 8 pieces. Put the figs in a medium, nonreactive suacepan with the water, and zest the lemon directly into the saucepan. Cover and cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, for about 8-1o minutes until the figs are tender.

Remove the lid, add the sugar and continue to cook until it reaches a jam-like consistency. Remove from the heat and let cool to room temperature. Blend together with cream and lemon juice, chill in the fridge and then put in your ice cream maker per the manufacturer's instructions.

Giveaway-Hain Celestial Products, such as Granola Bars, Nut Butter, Tortilla Chips, and More!

It's time for another giveaway!
This time I was able to sample products from Hain Celestial and they are going to give a prize pack to one lucky reader. All you have to do is leave a comment on this post. Please make sure you leave a way for me to contact you in your comment. This giveaway will be open until Thursday, August 19th, at 12 midnight.

The prize pack, valued at $50, includes a variety of the latest all-natural and organic foods and beverages from Hain Celestial including items from Garden of Eatin® tortilla chips, Almond Dream® non-dairy beverages, Health Valley® granola bars, Maranatha® nut butters and Earth’s Best® snacks and frozen foods.

The Hain Celestial Group, Inc. has created the “Family Fitness Fun Challenge”. Located at www.TakeaHealthyBite.com, the program invites families to eat right and exercise together for a chance to receive high value coupons for Hain Celestial products.

Additionally, families can receive free Sports Authority® Gift Cards for use in purchasing items like sporting equipment and athletic gear that will enable them to get fit as a family. On the site, families can access activity, meal and snack ideas, log total hours spent participating in fitness activities to receive product coupons and download a form to mail in register receipts. Receipts totaling $10 in participating Hain Celestial products for a free $5 Sports Authority® gift card OR $20 in receipts for a $10 gift card.

Go check out their website and see how you can get involved!

Giveaway- TERRA Chips Fire Up the Flavor

Recently, I was contacted and offered a chance to sample some of the new TERRA Chips flavors. I received the TERRA Chips in the mail yesterday and now I am going to be able to giveaway the prize package shown above. The prize is valued at $25 and includes four bags of TERRA Chips, a martini glass inspired serving bowl and a Summer Entertaining Guide.

The flavors included in the giveway are:

Terra a la Mexicana – The latest addition to the Terra Exotic Mix line-up is this classic mix of vegetable chips seasoned with a piquant blend of tomato, black bean and roasted garlic flavors.

Terra Original - Terra Original is made up of the classic mix of Taro, Sweet Potato, Yuca, Batata, Parsnip, and Ruby Taro.

Terra Blues - Packed with flavor, Terra Blues are flavorful yet but with 40 percent less fat than the leading brand of potato chips and are made with naturally blue potatoes. A vibrant bluish-purple in color with a slightly nutty flavor, these Terra Blues® Potato Chips are deliciously different and the Official Snack of JetBlue Airways®.

Terra Exotic Harvest with Sea Salt - This earthy exotic harvest features a medley of flavorful blue potato, sweet carrots and japanese kabocha squash.

We were able to try all the flavors that are listed above. My children were excited to try these chips. This is what they had to say about the chips-

" They are chewy and delicious. I love 'em."

"so crunchy", "they have a yummy texture".

My son liked the Terra a la Mexicana best. One of my daughters loved the blue potato chips and all three especially liked the carrot chips.

We don't eat a lot of chips, so it was fun to taste the different flavors of all the chips. I hope to try the recipe included in the entertaining guide where you coat tilapia in crushed chips. I think it will be delicious!

To win the Fire Up the Flavor prize pack, leave a comment on this post, letting me know your favorite TERRA Chips variety, your favorite recipe or pairing from the online guide or how you plan to use the TERRA prize pack.

The giveaway will close Thursday, August 5th @ midnight EST. I will announce the winner on Friday. Be sure to leave a way for me to contact you in your comment!

The TERRA Chips online entertaining guide provides summer entertaining tips, pairings and nine mouth-watering recipes (Blissful Bruschetta, Spicy Fish & Chips a la TERRA, etc.).

Separately the “Fire Up the Flavor” online sweepstakes, running through August 31st, features 25 grand prizes (charcoal grill, serving bowl, $250 grocery gift card, 12 bags of TERRA Chips and a printed entertaining guide) and 50 first prizes (six serving bowls, an array of TERRA Chips and a printed entertaining guide). Details on both are located at www.terrachips.com.

(I have not been paid to review this product)