Open Forum With Denise LandisChefTalk and GlobalChefs are pleased to welcome to the forums Denise Landis, recipe tester for The New York Times and author of Dinner For Eight. This forum is now closed
In Louisiana figs are used to make "faux strawberry jam".....little brown figs.
Grape tendrils pickled are kind of a novelty. I've always wanted to put up fresh grape leaves for dolmas....never knew when to pick.
Ball Jar used to have a 7 day pickle that was fussy but very good.
One of the restaurantuers in town pickles watermelon rind, now that's a real southern pickle. Dill green beans, green tomatoes (found in southern Louisana fried catfish houses or on salad bars)....pickled okra are wrapped in cream cheese and ham slices, it's so 60's and so yummy.
Here in SE Oklahoma, my aunt uses figs and strawberry jello (and pectin) to make "strawberry preserves" and sometimes uses other jello flavors. She also does a pear marmalade and I think a fig butter.
She also pickles okra, and has a recipe for cinnamon apple rings only she substitutes extra large "old" cucumbers for the apples, which turn out surprisingly good.