Product Review: Orchard Choice Mission Figlets

Laura Brady
Orchard Choice Mission Figlets are delightfully sweet, chewy, yet moist and tasty. When the fresh figs are hard to find or the season is over, these small, deep purple colored dried fruits are the perfect choice for fig lovers. Aside from their naturally sweet flavor, dried figs have many health benefits.

Orchard Choice Mission Figlets are packaged in a 10 ounce resealable bag. A serving size is ¼ cup, or about 5 figs. Each serving contains 110 calories, 0 grams of fat or trans fat, 0 mg of cholesterol or sodium, 240 mg of Potassium (7% of the RDA), 26 grams of carbohydrates, 5 grams of dietary fiber, 20 grams of sugar, and 1 gram of protein. The Mission Figlets also contain 6% of the RDA of Calcium, 6% of Iron, 8% of Copper, and 6% of Magnesium.

These little dried fruits are chock full of fiber, vitamins and minerals. They are fairly high in sugar, but the sugar is naturally derived from the fruit and can also be used to replace sugar in other foods. Sugar, especially from fruits, is fine when eaten in moderation. The taste of the figlets is moist, chewy, and densely sweet. I especially like the crunch of tiny seeds on the inside in comparison with the soft chewy outer layer.

There are tons of uses for dried figs. You can add them to cookies, cakes, pancakes, muffins, quickbreads, scones and more. They're also good cut into rice or vanilla pudding, custard, or yogurt. If you want to plump them up a bit just soak them in some warm water, orange or apple juice, or your favorite liqueur. You can use the liquid in baking or discard. Dried figs are perfect for when you want to add sweetness to baked goods and replace some of the fat. Simply puree reconstituted figs in a blender or food processor and mix in with the wet ingredients as a fat replacement and sweetener.

Dried figs also make delicious appetizers and sauces for your meals. You can create a savory fig and herb jam to complement meats such as pork, beef or poultry. Figs are also delicious with wild game such as venison or quail. A simple and delicious appetizer is created soaking dried figs in warm red wine. Drain the figs, slice them over crostini and top with crumbled goat or blue cheese.

Whether you serve Orchard Choice Mission Figlets as an elegant appetizer, mixed into a side dish, on top of your entrée, or simply straight out of the bag, they'll be delicious every time. I highly recommend these figs to any fig lover or to those trying to incorporate more healthy fruits and fiber into their diet.

Published by Laura Brady

Laura is a freelance writer with a wide variety of interests and expertise, such as: food/cooking/cuisine, health and fitness, travel, fiction writing, and much more. She is also a certified personal traine...   View profile

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