Fig Teacake
Remember that crazy thing I said about switching from full-time to casual work? Well, can we just forget that conversation ever happened? What was I thinking? Three weeks into my holiday, and I’m suffering from serious overbake.
No kidding, both my tiny freezer and my (not so tiny) stomach are full of treats, and I’m fast running out of willing friends I can fob excess cake off to. (I think 1 cake a week is a reasonable outgoing rate for cake-fobbing, don’t you? Anything more and I’d be killing my friends softly, with sugar).
So in mid-April, I will be starting a new job, working for a very well respected Chef, at an exciting new location. For the sake of anonymity, I won’t go into the details, except to say that this job could very well manage to achieve that elusive balance between sweet work and sweet life.
Now, did someone say cake? The base of this one, which I’ve made before, comes from Helen’s ridiculously easy recipe. You really must try it. It’s incredibly versatile, and I’m pretty sure it only took me all of five minutes (if that) to put a batch together.
The idea for the topping came via a roundabout way, thanks to a friend, who loves indulging in baking related conversation as much as I do. One day, she dropped by to borrow some cookbooks and with her, I found myself leafing through books I hadn’t touched in awhile. From a book written in two languages I don’t speak or read, some beautiful fig and raspberry tarts caught this fresh pair of eyes. Seeing as it’s fig season at the moment, how can anyone say no?
I think the original had chantilly cream and perhaps a couple of other flavours, but I’ve used marscarpone spiked with kirsch instead. As for the rest of the teacakes I baked… well, those will have to wait for another day. 🙂
Karen said,
March 13, 2009 @ 6:55 pm
I can be your friend if you need to offload more cakes! I don’t mind dying a sugar death 🙂 Congratulations on your new job!
the projectivist said,
March 13, 2009 @ 8:33 pm
i swear, i WANT to like figs
i really really do!
and they just look so pretty.
but there’s something ‘earthy’ about them that i just don’t like.
Anita said,
March 13, 2009 @ 10:03 pm
I would be very happy to get any of your extra cakes :P. They all look great, this one very much included!
Monique said,
March 13, 2009 @ 10:26 pm
This is so pretty! I love figs..I will try this..Very well done!
Chocolate Shavings said,
March 13, 2009 @ 11:06 pm
That looks delicious – and beautiful presented this way.
Caitlin said,
March 13, 2009 @ 11:12 pm
A cake a week? Lucky neighbors and friends! I love this teacake recipe too – so easy and versatile. Wish I could get fresh figs around here…
anna said,
March 14, 2009 @ 1:17 am
Those look great! I can’t wait for fig season where I am!
I’m unemployed (by choice) and will spend days at a time baking things and then have to offload them on others, but between friends and former coworkers I can usually empty out the fridge and freezer in just one or two trips to town.
celine said,
March 14, 2009 @ 3:43 am
absolutely stunning, Y!
Sandie said,
March 14, 2009 @ 3:46 am
This is gorgeous. Congratulations on your new job. I hope it’s everything you want it to be.
helen said,
March 14, 2009 @ 4:14 am
Drop dead gorgeous!
Cake-fobbing, my favourite kind of sport. I’d much prefer to be on the receiving end, though.
Congrats on the new job, Y. I’m new to your blog, and I can see the immense talent already.
Cheers!
Kasey said,
March 14, 2009 @ 4:40 am
There are few things in the world I love more than figs. This looks gorgeous!
Zoë François said,
March 14, 2009 @ 6:03 am
Splendid! Love Figs and this is the perfect way to use them!
redmenace said,
March 14, 2009 @ 6:38 am
This is lovely! Thank you. I love figs!
snooky doodle said,
March 14, 2009 @ 8:45 am
I had the same problem. I solved it by selling my cakes 🙂 these fig teacakes look so nice and delicious 🙂
Arwen from Hoglet K said,
March 14, 2009 @ 9:21 am
They’re lovely Y. I hope the job works out well. It’s good to be able to be creative at work, but save some energy for home too.
Sophie said,
March 14, 2009 @ 12:04 pm
I’d be happy to take these off your hands :)! But they are almost too pretty to eat :D.
Yay for the upcoming new job!
The Other Tiger said,
March 14, 2009 @ 12:06 pm
So beautiful! I really wish I liked figs. Well, I do like the flavor, but they have to be cooked so the seeds don’t get me. I keep trying and trying to get over that…and I’d certainly try again with one of these cakes if it was in front of me. 🙂
Christy said,
March 14, 2009 @ 1:09 pm
I’m here, I’m here. I finally got the chance to comment. I loooovveee figs. The good ones, anyway. The bad ones leave a bit of an aftertaste in your mouth. In fact, I’m heading over to David Jones foodhall to get my hands on some of the most perfect green figs I’ve ever seen all year! Even at $25/kg, I still can’t wait to get them.
Sigh, I just love the simple presentation of this cake. What’s the black thing you topped the cake with?
baking soda said,
March 14, 2009 @ 8:53 pm
So pretty! Almost too cute to eat. I’m always mesmerized by the way fresh figs look.
Helen (GrabYourFork) said,
March 14, 2009 @ 9:17 pm
Congratulations on the new job! The teacake looks divine, and oh, figs have been so wonderfully good this year. Hope the new digs give you a chance to enjoy both life and work 🙂
betty said,
March 14, 2009 @ 9:36 pm
love your photo’s they are gorgeous
foodie-central said,
March 15, 2009 @ 12:30 am
They look wonderful and too good to eat! 🙂 Wish I could bake like that…
food librarian said,
March 15, 2009 @ 1:16 am
Holy smokes! This is so beautiful! Congrats on the new job! They are lucky to have someone so talented.
Manggy said,
March 15, 2009 @ 3:15 am
Whoa, congratulations! 🙂 That cake is so pretty: I thought at first that the fig slices were a striped dollop of cream!
Sophie said,
March 15, 2009 @ 5:15 am
Your pictures are lovely!!! This teacake looks so yummie!!! You are very creative!! Good luck with your new job!!
lili - pikelet & pie said,
March 15, 2009 @ 8:12 am
A new job? How exciting 🙂 Good luck!
The cake looks divine, love the idea of the pepita topping, crunchy!
Hayley said,
March 15, 2009 @ 1:48 pm
This teacake of yours looks amazing. What a beautiful job you did, and such a wonderful presentation. Thanks for sharing!
Christie @ fig&cherry said,
March 15, 2009 @ 3:28 pm
Congrats on your new job! Can’t wait to hear about it!
And your latest creation, well I’m biased towards figs (obviously) so it’s a big thumbs up from me! 🙂
barbara said,
March 15, 2009 @ 5:07 pm
Fabulous looking figs . Much nicer than the ones I bought this week,
billy@atablefortwo said,
March 15, 2009 @ 9:50 pm
You amazing creation never stop amaze me, a masterpiece for something simple as teacake. congratulations on the new job too!
mental note: I must visit this blog more often… I must visit this blog more often… I must visit this blog more often… I must visit….
FFichiban said,
March 16, 2009 @ 12:06 am
Haha I am sure there are more than enough people willing to accept your goodies 😉 (I, for example, wouldn’t mind taking some if not all of your treats hee hee)
Yay for new job and that teacake sure doesn’t look easy :P! Yuummm ^^!
Helen said,
March 16, 2009 @ 1:17 am
Running out of friends to fob off the cake on eh? Well, it would be very rude of me not to offer to help out then wouldn’t it? I can help you! Sadly, I don’t think your beautiful creations would travel all that well over such a long distance 🙁
shez said,
March 16, 2009 @ 8:56 am
congratulations on the job & fingers crossed re that elusive work/life balance.
this looks divine – and you’ve gone to so much trouble de-skinning the figs as well. absolutely beautiful (and i’m sure it’s uber tasty as well in that wonderful light figgy way).
Y said,
March 16, 2009 @ 9:34 am
Thanks everyone!
Very interesting to note that some people have an aversion to figs. I wonder if this extends to figs in their dried form as well..?
Christy : That ‘thing’ is actually a sliver of preserved sour cherry 🙂 What did you end up doing with your DJ figs?
And to all those cake-hungry people out there,.. well, if you’re willing to travel to where I live.. I might set up a $1 cake and lemonade stand ..heh heh.
Lorraine @NotQuiteNigella said,
March 16, 2009 @ 10:30 am
I always think that the colour palette of figs is so pretty and I like the cascading effect.Your new place sounds interesting, we might have to dine there! 😉
Vanille said,
March 16, 2009 @ 11:01 am
Oh, figs !…
I never can get enough of them. I baked some in a tart not so long time ago…
I really like your pretty teacakes !
Aran said,
March 16, 2009 @ 10:07 pm
oh i cannot wait for fig season again. this is so lovely!
the caked crusader said,
March 16, 2009 @ 10:08 pm
Oh my, that is soooooo beautiful! Bet it tasted great too
Tartelette said,
March 18, 2009 @ 3:26 pm
You have been busy!! Loving it Y 🙂
Good luck on the new job. I wish you all the sweet balance in the world!
You make me crave figs right now! Gorgeous!
Lorinda said,
March 22, 2009 @ 1:00 am
Hi Lemonpi,
Your photography is really luscious, I just had to comment.
Have a think about giving lessons, I really want to learn.
The food looks superb too!
Y said,
March 22, 2009 @ 8:46 am
Lorinda, I need lessons myself!! 🙂