CookingCarlenefig jam, fig recipes, fig vanilla jam recipe, fresh fig jam, oscar night recipes, sophisticated peanut butter and jelly sandwich, whole wheat sophisticated party sandwich

Recipe Redux: Sophisticated Fig Jam and Cinnamon PB Sandwiches

CookingCarlenefig jam, fig recipes, fig vanilla jam recipe, fresh fig jam, oscar night recipes, sophisticated peanut butter and jelly sandwich, whole wheat sophisticated party sandwich

It's Oscar season. To celebrate,  the February Recipe Redux challenge was to create a healthy dish inspired by a movie (not necessarily a nominated picture). And sure, I could have done Forrest Gump shrimp or maybe Beauty and the Beast cheese soufflé, but let's bring things down to simplicity here. I'm thinking elementary level. More specifically, The Little Rascals and an ode to the Sand-wich. Because with lines like 'We're doing a duet. Together.' it just doesn't get much better. For a more sophisticated sandwich and to use some of my freshly frozen figs from this summer, I created an adult pb & j using vanilla fig jam with peanut butter over a cinnamon whole wheat bread loaf.  

vanilla fig jam and peanut butter sandwich on whole wheat cinnamon bread
vanilla fig jam and peanut butter sandwich on whole wheat cinnamon bread

Making jam at home is so easy and allows you to control the amount of sugar added. When I make fig jam, I hardly add any at all! Figs have such a strong flavor and when paired with vanilla, there's no need.

vanilla fig jam and peanut butter sandwich on whole wheat cinnamon bread
vanilla fig jam and peanut butter sandwich on whole wheat cinnamon bread
vanilla fig jam and peanut butter sandwich on whole wheat cinnamon bread
vanilla fig jam and peanut butter sandwich on whole wheat cinnamon bread

Vanilla Fig Jam & Peanut Butter Sandwiches on Cinnamon Whole Wheat Bread

Ingredients:

For the fig jam:

  • 2 cups sliced figs, fresh or frozen
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 3 Tablespoons sugar
  • 1/2 C beet colored water (reserved from cooking red beets to improve color)
  • 1/2 C water

Directions: In a medium sauce pan, add figs, beet water and remaining water. Allow to simmer and reduce for roughly 20 minutes. Puree using an immersion blender. Add sugar and vanilla and cook down for another 10 minutes. Cool and create delicious big kid sandwich. 

Sometimes, you just need a sandwich. Together. How do you make a riff on a PBJ?

Carlene Signature Block
Carlene Signature Block

See more healthy recipes from other nutrition professionals with this month's theme!