
October is in full effect here with falling leaves, overcast skies, and chilly weather countered by many cups of hot tea brewed with my electric teakettle. This atmosphere makes me long to bake bread, but alas, I have no kitchen. Temporarily. But seriously – take a look. I’m going through baking withdrawals already. However, there are a few sweet bites to be made and enjoyed without the virtue of an oven, like these Mascarpone Stuffed figs I’ve made for Fair Trade Month.
Yes! It’s Fair Trade Month, which means I’ve got a box full of Fair Trade goodies to give away to one lucky reader! If you’ve been reading this blog for very long, then you know each year I love to promote this worthwhile cause (see previous entries here, here, here and here). In a nutshell, buying Fair Trade means Buying Fair Trade means you’re getting quality products and the people who grow, sew and craft them get a fair deal for their hard work. In fact, your everyday purchases can help farmers and factory workers in 70 countries work in safe conditions, earn extra money to invest in their communities and improve the lives of their families.

Coffee, drinking chocolate, chocolate chips,
chocolate spread… this year’s box may be the best yet!
To enter, just leave a comment at the bottom of this blog post with what you’d love to make with these Fair Trade goodies.


Each year Fair Trade USA pairs a blogger with a Fair Trade farmer to tell their story. Read below to discover how buying Fair Trade products positively impacts the people who grow our food.
Kyomugisha Joy and her family have been growing tea since 2007. She says that the biggest impact of selling Fair Trade Certified tea is that it has enabled her to send two of her children to school (her other two will attend when they are old enough). In addition, she hopes to use future income to establish tea nurseries that will help expand tea growing opportunities for her community. She is working with a group of women to establish tea nurseries and training programs to teach women the trade so that women in the community can contribute more to the success of the family.

Let’s talk about these stuffed fresh figs. First of all, this is a no-cook, no bake recipe that can be assembled in just minutes. I like to serve these as an appetizer because they’re just sweet enough to whet your appetite. These are perfect if you are an enthusiastic eater, but not necessarily an enthusiastic cook. Or if you have no kitchen, like me. (Temporarily!)

Mascarpone Stuffed Fresh Figs
Ingredients
- 12 fresh figs
- 6 ounces mascarpone cheese
- 3 tablespoons Wholesome! Fair Trade honey plus extra for drizzling
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup chopped walnuts toasted
- 1/4 teaspoon Frontier Spices ground nutmeg
Instructions
- Cut off the stems of each fig (about 1/2 inch off the top of each). If needed, cut a thin slice off the bottom so they stand up straight. Cut an X into the tops about 3/4 inches deep. Place the figs on a large serving platter. Gently open each fig from the top without breaking it open all the way.
- Combine mascarpone, 3 tablespoons honey and vanilla in a small bowl. Transfer the mixture to a piping bag fitted with an open star tip; pipe the mascarpone into each fig. You may also spoon the mixture into the figs if you don’t have a piping bag. Sprinkle the toasted walnuts over the figs. Drizzle the figs generously with more honey and sprinkle with pinches of nutmeg.
I would make Fig and Hazelnut Bread Pudding…..Janet S
If I win, I will make lots of delicious chocolate chip cookies to share with my coworkers who are always asking me for baked goods, with cookies being my specialty. Thank you!! 🙂
Those stuffed figs. They look yummy.
I love this giveaway! I would make cookies with those delicious chocolate chips. My family and I would love this box!
Kristen
klpeirce at yahoo
I NEED to make those figs, of course.
I would love those stuffed figs or something with figs and hazelnuts.
After seeing all of those goodies, the first thing that popped into my mind was muffins with granola sprinkled on top. Then a warm cup of tea would be nice to go with them!
kksdelights@yahoo.com
At the moment I don't know what I would make
Thank you for this wonderful giveaway opportunity
I would love to make a breakfast quinoa using the honey, quinoa, and the chia/flax seeds. What a great giveaway!
Definitely a chocolate cake!
I would make a chocolate quinoa granola for breakfast
Chocolate spread on warm homemade bread. Yum!
Lisaandandreat yahoo dot com
I would make coffee flavored chocolate chip brownies !!!!
I'd make chocolate cake with coffee buttercream! 🙂
chocolate chip banana bread!
If I win? Ooo, that would be so wonderful! In my student budget meals, these goodies would fit perfectly and I would make salmon with the quinoa, I would add the chia/flax seed with the honey to my skyr (similar to yoghurt) for breakfast. I would indulge in the hot chocolate with a bit of nutmeg in when craving something sweet next to the readings, bring the two larabars for a afternoon snack. Oh and the truffles? Words can't even say how much I love them …And last, but not least, since honesty is key … I would definitely try… Read more »
fresh figs in this way is a great fresh dessert for beggining the fall season
I'm going through a kitchen remodel so I know the feeling ! I've been baking in a toaster oven for months. Started back in April, was supposed to take three months…LIES! 🙂 Was hoping my fig tree would produce this year…maybe next. Here's to both of us getting our kitchens back…
Chocolate spread on warm, homemade bread. Yum!
Lisaandandre at yahoo.com
oh my gosh!!! such a fantastic giveaway 🙂 i can't even begin to imagine all the amazing things i could bake with those goodies!! would definitely use the honey and chocolate chips to bake some healthy banana bread!
What's not to love about fair trade!? I'd probably make some healthy granola bars for my family. They are a great snack when we are rushing around during the week.
Thanks for this giveaway!
Megan
Brawnerband@gmail.com
What's not to love about fair trade!? I'd probably make some healthy granola bars for my family. They are a great snack when we are rushing around during the week.
Thanks for this giveaway
Megan
Brawnerband at gmail
I'd make cookies or snack bars.
ide like to eat those bark thins right out the bag … but I'm thinking they would be yummy in cookies too
I have some decadent chocolate recipes for the holidays. I'd put this box to good use!
Chia Chocolate Chip Cookies!!!
I would make some peanut butter chocolate chip cookies with the chocolate chips, brew a cup of that turmeric tea, and take a spoon (or maybe a shovel) to that jar of chocolatey goodness. 🙂
With these some coconut and honey tartlets are going to happen (with some molten chocolate on top of course <3 )
i think i would prepare the bark thins for use in pie crust for a chocolate/coconut pie…using all the wonderful chocolate/coconut pictured!
BTW: what a "spotless" kitchen renovation site…you should be very pleased with the crew!
Love those figs, Heather! This is such a good giveaway. I see Chocolate Pudding Cake with that Fair Trade cocoa!
I would make cookies! Something yummy with chocolate and nutmeg 🙂
We'll eat the Lara Bars in our hikes per usual. The other goodies… we'll have to decide which one of your tasty recipes to use!
I would make either orange turmeric cake, chocolate chip cookies with a hint of nutmeg and cinnamon, or homemade quinoa-banana granola bars!! 🙂
I always love using chia seeds in baking!
Mediterranean Quinoa Salad
I have never used figs, this sounds delish, tho, so maybe I'll get my 17yo to help me make these! He decided to take a cooking class this his Senior year and has been helping me a lot more in the kitchen.
Wow – I love the background on the tea grower — it's so easy to forget that each product I purchase has a PERSON and a PLACE behind it. Thank you for the reminder of the value of each and every member of HUMANITY!
I'd make: Raw balls with chocoloate bits and a cup of turmeric tea 🙂
I'd make chocolate chip blondies! And drink chocolate while they bake….;) Thank you!
So many lovely things! I am sure I would bake something yummy with the chocolate chips and chocolate spread…chocolate hazelnut rolls??
Mmmmm. I'd make some kind of scones or cookies to snack on with that lovely coffee. (:
i'd make a nice hot bowl of quinoa cereal with chocolate chips, some flax/chia mix , nutmeg for earthiness, a nice cup of turmeric tea and some bark thins crumbled on top for a crunch.
Cookies, cookies, and more cookies! 🙂
Completely amazing!
And I'd love to make a flourless chocolate cake with those goodies!
annawallaceceramics@gmail.com
I'd eat all of the chocolate and make a quinoa casserole
Love entering this giveaway! I would make the most luscious cookie bars with these fair trade goodies! I love the idea of fair trade tea nurseries! 🙂 Diana
I would make a decadent chocolate cake – with some coffee, chocolate spread, and chocolate chips sprinkled on top! Yum 🙂
This sounds like a fantastic and delicious giveaway! I'd love to make some a maple-cinnamon quinoa bake. I would like to make some a mousse and some chocolate coconut cookies too. For the tea, I'd like to use it in a turmeric tea smoothie with some honey chocolate sugar cookies to go with it 🙂
I would have an amazing fall morning breakfast with my coworkers!
Breakfast quinoa with honey and chocolate chips
Kyomugisha Joy is adorable!
If I were to win I honestly don't know what I would make but I would have a blast working on it! 😉