The History of Figs in Pearland
Sometime around the beginning of the 20th century, a peddler came through Pearland selling Magnolia trees. The trees grew and grew. But the little saplings weren’t magnolias, though. They were figs!
The trees flourished and the fruit was delicious. Nicknamed ‘Magnolia figs’ because of the early confusion, figs became Pearland’s number-one cash crop, supporting 28 fig processing factories through the 1930’s when they were finally wiped out by the Great Depression.
Soaring land prices thereafter made large-scale fig-orchards unprofitable, but you can still find plenty of figs in Pearland, when you visit the farmers markets. Or check the selection at Sprouts – you can often see figs there.
Depending on the variety of fig, the harvest begins in late spring and continues through late summer. August is a great time to enjoy figs.
Here’s a Figgy Fun Fact
Figs aren’t really fruits! They are flowers that have folded in on themselves. But whatever…they are sweet and easy to prepare even in a small RV kitchen.
Fast & Easy Fig Jam
Ingredients
• 15-20 small fresh figs, stems removed and chopped
• ¼ cup granulated sugar
• ¼ cup honey
Instructions
1. Combine ingredients in a medium sized saucepan. Bring to a boil (may need a little water, but wait and see how much the fruit produces).
2. Adjust heat so that it boils steadily. If the mixture is too soupy, increase heat; too dry, decrease. Cook and stir until the mixture is a thick liquid (there will be chunks of figs-this is nice and natural).
3. Let cool and store in a jar for up to a week in the refrigerator.
Oven Roasted Figs
Ingredients
• 5 fresh figs
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• ½ teaspoon cinnamon
• A handful of rosemary sprigs
• 1 and ½ tablespoon honey
Instructions
1. Preheat the oven to 350ᵒ.
2. Slice the figs as you desire and place in a baking dish.
3. Sprinkle brown sugar and cinnamon on fig slices.
4. Toss rosemary springs over them.
5. Roast for 40 minutes and remove from oven.
6. Cool for 10-15 minutes and serve with honey.
So, how come our great little city is named Pearland? That’s a subject for another blog post! Thanks for reading and let us know how you like these recipes.
Relax with your dog, a cup of coffee, and your fig-jam toast beside our serene fishing lake. What could be better? Contact pet-friendly Pearland RV Park to reserve your stay today!