IT COULD HAVE BEEN PRUNES

Last week, my friend Barbara called and said, “Would you like some figs?” “Sure,” I replied. “I like figs.” She dropped off a big bag of figs.

A couple of days later, Barbara called again. “I’m bringing you a jar of fig jelly.” “Thanks so much,” was my response. The jelly arrived with another big bag of figs.

I called my friend, Perry. “Would you like some figs?”  He replied, “Not unless they are attached to Newtons.”

In a few days, Barbara called again and said, “I’m dropping off some fig scones.” The scones arrived with another bag of figs.  Finally, I got up the courage to say, “Barbara, I know you are a fabulous cook, but what’s with all the figs?”

Barbara replied, “It’s a classic case of the ‘No good deed goes unpunished phenomenon.” My friend, Barbara has a very big heart, and is kind to many people. Among them is a neighbor whose parents recently died. He, of the prolific fig tree, is very grateful for Barbara’s caring during his time of grief, and now Barbara hesitates to get her morning paper, because it seems to arrive everyday with another platter of figs.

After she left, I called Perry and told him that I didn’t have Fig Newtons, but I did have scones. He was happy to receive the bounty.  Then I called my friend, Jane. “Would you like some figs?” She laughed and said, “Barbara just brought me a big bag. I made Fig Glaze for chicken.  Just sent my husband out for chicken.”

Barbara just called to tell me that she found a recipe for a porchetta, goat cheese and fig quiche.  Knowing her, she will continue her delicious fig adventure until the tree is empty or killed by frost. 

I’m just waiting for the day that she informs me that she has made a fig leaf jock strap for her husband.

Esther Blumenfeld