Buttermilk Fig Cake

While visiting friends in Columbia, South Carolina, I found myself sitting at the bar of a Five Points local favorite coffee shop. They were screening a film, a documentary about a wonderful choir of elderly folks singing rock songs. There was a glass cake stand in front of us, with a final slice of buttermilk fig cake. The next day I was working in Five Points and went back and got that slice to share with a friend during our shift. I knew I had to recreate it.

The originial was done in a springform pan, and baked by the owner's mother. For my version, I decided to make my first bundt. Here it is:

for the cake:
2 cups flour
3 tsp apple pie spice
1/2 tsp pink himalayan salt
1 tsp baking soda
1 and 1/2 cups raw turbinado sugar
1 cup butter, melted and cooled
1 cup buttermilk
1 tsp vanilla
about 8 ounces fig preserves or fig butter


preheat oven to 325. butter and flour a bundt pan. in a large mixing bowl, blend dry ingredients. stir in eggs, butter, and buttermilk, blending well. stir in vanilla and fig paste. pour into prepared bundt and bake for 45 minutes or until a knife comes out clean. let it cool, say a prayer, and flip onto a
clean plate.

for the glaze:
1 cup raw turbinado sugar
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 tblsp blackstrap molasses
1 tsp vanilla
4 tblsp butter

bring all ingredients to a boil and cook, whisking, for three minutes. poke holes into the cake with a fork before drizzling.

glaze ingredients waiting for their moment.

Since our guests who came for Easter dinner loaned us the Bundt pan, I just prepared the batter beforehand and greased the pan, poured, and popped into the oven once they arrived. I prepped the glaze by sticking all the ingredients in the pan on the stove and waited until the cake was cooling to fire it up to a boil, after we'd eaten the meal... a method which worked pretty well but I was distracted from my whisking so the texture did not come out quite right. However, I was so pleased with the way the cake came out, that didn't really phase me at all. The glaze made more than we needed. The extra is sure to be featured in many mornings' oatmeals.



This is definitely the best dessert I've ever made. A few of the recipes I saw in my research called for fresh figs, but my feelings towards figs make it hard to imagine ever having enough uneaten fresh figs to want to make something out of them- so I'll probably be bound to stick to preserves. If I make it again, I might experiment with subbing out a portion of the flour for spelt or a non-grain flour. However, this is one of those things that's not meant to be healthy, it's just meant to be good.

Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love.  

-Hamilton Wright Mabie

Gift Ideas pt. 3

One last gift guide... we know it's pretty last minute. This one is nice things for couples, families, or hostess gifts.

1. Locally Roasted Coffee. Check out Central Coffee Roasters in Sperryville or Winchester Coffee Roasters in Winchy- retails at King Street Coffee in Leesburg.... Shouts out!

2. Antique Herb Planter. Take an old container like a drawer (our example) or antique tin and turn it into a planter. just line it with some plastic and put some gravel in the bottom for drainage. Meredith recommends trailing rosemary, trailing mint, or lemon verbena. 

3. Succulents. The most hippest plants right now. These are cute on Etsy. I've even seen them in the grocery store. They are super easy to take care of. 

4. Ceramic Egg Carton. This is from anthropologie. It's adorable, but you should get two, nobody has that few of chickens or can keep up with eating that many eggs. 

A few other ideas: infuse some liquor: ginger + whiskey, rosemary + gin (okay, haven't tried this, but we think it sounds like it tastes like a christmas tree,) cinnamon + bourbon....or infuse a simple syrup (lavender is a good on) and you can use it in teas, cocktails, and desserts. 

Gift Ideas pt 2.

So, just like our first edition of our gift guide, we have to leave our very coolest gift ideas out of this... at least until they make their way to their recipients. I might have to take some "action shots" of loved ones with their gifts I've been geeking out over. We are back with some more ideas for gifts that align with our shared values of local, homegrown, and sweet. We still have one coming "for them" that'll have ideas for couples/host gifts.

1. Seeds, or a gift certificate to a seed company. The thing with seeds is that in terms of spending, a little goes a really long way. Of course, for our example, we chose this three sisters garden pack from Renee's Garden. It's seven bucks and could feed ya all winter.

2. The Honey Dipper Doesn't Give A Shit. 'Cause we know the ladies on your list be keepin' bees. 

3. Ceramic Berry Baskets and or Mason Jars. Yeah, we can't explain why, but all women flip their shit for this stuff. Just trust us.

4. Boot Cuffs. These are from Etsy, but it's also probably the easiest project ever to make yourself. Figure it out.

What not to give...

Seriously, do not buy anyone this $6,000 bicycle made of copper from anthropologie this holiday season. It's dumb.

Gift Ideas

For Him

Ladies (and dudes)...

We know you need to get some awesome gifts for some awesome men in your life.

We got some ideas.

1. Straps of Glory handmade in Virginia leather belts: We all know men's fashion is not rocket science, but it can't hurt to have a real life rocket scientist accessorizing you. Kate's friend Ryan is a PHD candidate in Propulsion (I know, I know) at UVA, and also an artisan beltmaker. If you're in Northern Virginia or the Charlottesville area, he can even hand-deliver. Be sure and check out the action shots. Do submit one if you choose to get a belt. Beltmaker, beltmaker, make me a belt...

2. This sweet Mortar and Pestle is a really good price and a really good find. It would be a great tribute to a man's prowess in the kitchen, especially good for making, say, spice rubs.

3. Local Whiskey doesn't really need any further explanation. Catoctin Creek, more specifically, has won quite a few awards for their whiskey as well as their sustainable practices. 

4. A Tobacco Pipe makes a great gift, though this is an expensive example. You could also get some local or sustainable tobacco, or a pouch.

Other ideas: A freaking Michael Hurley CD. A Ferrari. Some Steak.

Thanks y'all. P.S. Please no one show Kate's dad this post. You'll ruin Christmas.