Figs

One of the best things about my birthday is that it is so often the harbinger of figs! My mother-in-law knows my weakness, and so too does my brother-out-law...

i tell a small lie - I was poking around in his kitchen when I spied a box crammed full of these beauties (scrummaged from his elderly father's garden) and dropped a few none too subtle hints that quickly found their mark

My sister inspired me to try poaching them so I dug out a recipe from my faithful Stephanie Alexander (another precious gift from my inlaws) . I misread the recipe (alcohol added before simmering rather than after) and used the wrong bottle (creme de cacao instead of triple sec - itself a poor substitute for Cointreau) but it turned out to be an inspiration.

My son (who is usually too repelled to even try) has become a fervent figgy convert.