Thanks for stopping by! Make sure to subscribe to my monthly newsletter for content not on my blog. And, don't forget to get my recipes in your inbox!
I wanted to share the Valentine’s Day meal I made for Joe. This little fig cake cake – which isn’t baked and naturally gluten-free – was the component that made the meal extra special.
I first had a fig & almond cake (a Spanish dish, also known as Pan de Higo) at the Fancy Food Show last summer. It’s traditionally made with dried figs and marcona almonds. The sweet figs and slightly floral almonds are pressed into a cake and then sliced and served with a Spanish cheese, like manchego. The paring is heavenly.
Making it at home was painfully simple and every bit as delicious.
Our meal required no cooking except for a loaf of bread, which I baked the day before. I arranged our favorite proscuitto and salamis on a platter with a bowl of fresh berries in the center. Manchego and Castelinhos cheeses, the fig & almond cake, and thinly sliced gluten-free bread that had been toasted under the broiler was placed on a wooden cutting board.
We cudddled together on the couch and talked, combining pieces of Manchego with the fig & almond cake, wrapping the proscuitto around slices of cheese, and making little salami and cheese sandwiches.
It was the perfect meal.
The Martha Stewart Interview
Thanks to those of you that listened in to my radio interview yesterday morning – chatting with Kim & Betsy from Morning Living was tons of fun. They called my recipes ‘delicious’ and said my book was incredible. I’m still in awe.
You’ve Got My Book!
It’s been so much fun hearing from all of you that have finally received my book. I can’t wait to hear about your kitchen adventures!
If you’re willing to help me – please leave a review on Amazon.com. The more Amazon.com reviews I have, the better my book will sell. That’s a good thing.
I’m also working on some fun give-aways for you centered around products used in my book. I want to give you some ingredients to play with.
Ingredients
- 8 ounces dried black mission figs, stemmed and cut in half
- 1/4 cup raw almonds (preferably marcona, but I used regular almonds)
- 1/8 teaspoon cinnamon
- a sprinkle of water, if needed
Instructions
- Place the almonds in the food processor and pulse several times until they’re coarsely chopped. Add the figs and cinnamon and pulse again until the mixture comes together like a shaggy dough. If your figs are really dry they might need a sprinkle of water. Line a shallow dish about 5 inches in diameter with plastic wrap and press the fig and almond mixture firmly into the dish. Place a small, flat plate or a small dish with a flat bottom on top of the mixture and set a can on top to further compress the cake. Let sit uncovered at room temperature for a day or two to dry. Serve at room temperature with Spanish cheese, crusty gluten-free bread, and your favorite meats.
Notes
Make sure to verify that your deli meats are gluten-free.
Raj @ Flip Cookbook
posted on February 18, 2011 at 11:09 am
Yum, this looks so good! Congratulations on your book Amy. I’m still waiting for my copy to arrive — really excited to try your creations!
[Reply]
Hallie @ Daily Bites
posted on February 18, 2011 at 11:21 am
Such a cool but easy looking recipe. Great inspiration! I love finger food meals.
[Reply]
Julia
posted on February 18, 2011 at 11:29 am
I got your book in the mail today and I can’t to start cooking and baking! I am so excited! Thank you so much for all you do to help us foodies with allergies!
[Reply]
Johanna B @ Gluten-Free Kansas
posted on February 18, 2011 at 11:33 am
I bought two copies of your book. One for me to drool over and one to donate to our local Celiac support group. I also requested that our local library buy a copy. There is a large Celiac population in the area and the gluten-free cooking section gets a lot of use. Hope you don’t mind.
[Reply]
Julie Bates
posted on February 18, 2011 at 11:39 am
Oh my goodness Amy, my mouth is watering! Figs are my absolute favorite, and always a romantic addition to a meal. I love your idea of pairing it with cheese! Definitely on the menu for this long weekend – thanks!!
Also, I will definitely post a review once I get my copy of your book – can’t wait to see the finished product
[Reply]
Sarena (The Non-Dairy Queen)
posted on February 18, 2011 at 12:32 pm
This sounds delicious! We love doing meals like this, so the cake would be a perfect compliment to our small plate dinners!
[Reply]
Tracee
posted on February 18, 2011 at 1:14 pm
Oh yum, this cake looks heavenly. I miss fig newtons, this would be the perfect substitute.
[Reply]
AmandaonMaui
posted on February 18, 2011 at 1:26 pm
My copy was a Christmas gift, and I’m waiting for it to arrive. Maybe it will get here today! But, then I’ll have to wait until next week to make something.
I’m really looking forward to using your book as I am trying to cut back on sugar in our diet. We don’t eat a lot of sugar laden food, but I want to ease it out of the other stuff as well. I want sugar to be like it used to be, a true treat! Not something that is expected every day.
[Reply]
Alta
posted on February 18, 2011 at 1:36 pm
This sounds so lovely. Not too sweet, and so satisfying. Especially with salami and cheese!
[Reply]
Caroline
posted on February 18, 2011 at 1:58 pm
This looks yummy and can’t wait to try this! What a wonderful, loving way to show your husband how much you love him with healthy foods! Thanks for sharing!
[Reply]
Carmen@Pebble Crossing
posted on February 18, 2011 at 2:34 pm
Thank you so much for sharing Amy, my italian husband loves figs(and so do I)!
This will be a good addition to our week of unleavened bread coming up soon
blessings
Carmen
[Reply]
Selina@ Creative Juices Decor
posted on February 19, 2011 at 10:29 am
Oh i just loved it – well, thinking about cuddling up and eating all those goodies with the hubby…..now if you could have told me you were actually IN Spain eating this it would have made the perfect ending! It really looks great!
[Reply]
Natalia - a side of simple
posted on February 19, 2011 at 6:47 pm
Oh my, this looks delicious! I would have never thought… Thank you for sharing, as always!
[Reply]
Maggie
posted on February 19, 2011 at 8:52 pm
I love the looks of this cake Amy. And it seems to simple! My Dad LOVES fig newtons but doesn’t eat them anymore (we don’t let him!). He’d probably love this cake.
[Reply]
Katrina (gluten free gidget)
posted on February 19, 2011 at 9:04 pm
Gotta love a raw cake!
[Reply]
Jenn AKA The Leftover Queen
posted on February 21, 2011 at 2:55 pm
Delicious and fun meal!
[Reply]
Lisa@ The Nourishing Homemaker
posted on February 21, 2011 at 6:39 pm
I love black mission figs. I keep a bag of them in the fridge for a quick snack. This looks so easy!
[Reply]
Cara
posted on February 21, 2011 at 9:08 pm
That DOES sound like the perfect meal – can I be your Valentine next year, please? hehe
Thank you SO much for the shout out in your new book, it’s so cool to see my name in there! I’ve been flipping through and love it, can’t wait to try out some new recipes! Again, I’m so happy for you!
[Reply]
Amy Reply:
March 2nd, 2011 at 10:56 pm
@Cara, Thanks so much for your help, Cara! It was the least I could do. I was so grateful to have you give me some expert feedback.
Many hugs,
Amy
[Reply]
Rei Khalo
posted on February 21, 2011 at 10:02 pm
I just Found your Site , and I am So Happy I did. I live GF and My Husband Vegan I was very happy to find you. You have made my Day !!
[Reply]
Christine
posted on February 22, 2011 at 4:34 pm
Yum! This looks fantastic! I wonder how it would taste if you mixed in other mushy-esque dried fruits like dates or apricots? I’ll have to try this sometime!
[Reply]
Lauren
posted on March 2, 2011 at 3:04 am
@Christine: look up Panforte Nero (the Italian version of Amy’s recipe) and omit the extra honey and flour. You need a good aged cheese to balance the sweetness of the figs (figs are little sugar&seed bombs!) and with some hard salami… oh. yum. I haven’t done this meal since the fall. Perhaps I sould rectify that as soon as I can have dairy again.
[Reply]
Carolyn
posted on March 14, 2012 at 8:27 pm
I bought 2 books, wish I had gotten 3, my youngest daughter loves it, I love it, thanks
[Reply]