Blogger Secret Ingredient Challenge – Figs, is complete!

So here it is…Sunday night. It’s 9:19pm. Where are all the entries people? Seriously. How many fig recipes did I see on Foodgawker and Tastespotting this week.

Too many to count. I commented on people’s blog posts, tried to coax people into entering our humble little contest. Well, I’m sad to see that previous hosts (Biz not included) have chosen not to enter. Was it the ingredient? Were figs a scary subject? I always thought they were just so perfect, delicious and easy to work with.

Anyhow, I won’t go on a rant, but I am a little dissapointed in the turn out. I won’t take it personally (well maybe a little) but I really thought this would start to get more popular, not less.

Before we get to the awesome prize and next week’s host, let’s get to the awesome foodies who did participate this week! Thank you all who submitted! Great recipes, very hard to choose, especially since there was a common theme among some of your recipes….hmm….

Here are the participants (do please check them all out):

We had a few multiple entries this week, good energy people! Awesome!

Jessica of Johnstone’s Vin Blanc – Fig and Walnut Energy Bars, Fig Bran Muffins and Fig, Smoky Bacon, and Edam Panini

Clarke Thacher (No blog, so no link) – Figs Foster

Catherine of Living the Gourmet – Fresh Figs with Honey and Chopped Nuts & Spaghetti with Baby Spinach, Sun Dreid Tomatoes and Figs

Biz of Biggest Diabetic Loser -Prosciutto Purses Stuffed with Balsamic Fig Goat Cheese

Jess of Jess’s Many Mini Adventures in Food and Farming – Black Tea, Star Anise, Fig Bread

Mary of Food’o Del Mundo – Fig & Prosciutto Pizza

Cari of Can I Get the Recipe? – Fig, Goat Cheese & Prosciutto Rolls

Very hard to decide. So many great combos and some good originality. I’m not going to lie though, I went for the recipe that made me personally start to drool.

And the Winner is…..

Jessica of Johnstone’s’ Vin Blanc!

That Smoky Bacon, Fig and Edam Panini would really hit the spot…any time of day. Serisouly, I would eat that for breakfast. So congratulations Jessica! I have to admit, I really would have liked to pick someone else, just based on your location. It’s going to cost me a fortune to send you your gift all the way to NC!!

And here is your prize:

Well, no the English Muffin, or the plates! Those are my wedding china…no, no, the Apple Butter!

I only have one jar left, but in honour of actually giving a prize (and at this point in our move to a new house, it’s all that is available), I thought something homemade (with love) would be agreeable. I hope you like it. E-mail me with your address please so I can send it to you!

And not that this is on purpose, or a trend, or even something the winner has to do, but Jess is also our host for next week! So jump on over to Johnstone’s Vin Blanc for the new ingredient and another week’s challenge!

Thank you everyone for participating. I had a blast judging these entries and look forward to more challenges with you all! Don’t count on me this week though, as I’ll be knee deep in boxes. Good luck to the rest of you though!

Off I go to move first thing tomorrow morning, whew!

Ciao!