Fresh Fig & Walnut Bread

***Don't you just love figs? Some friends of ours have several fig trees, and they were gracious enough to give us 2 big bundles of them. The challenge was...what to make with all those figs??? I came across this recipe for fig bread. Honestly, I had no idea that fig bread even existed until recently. It sounded like it would be a little like banana nut bread...and I love banana nut bread! The original recipe called for pecans instead of walnuts. In my opinion, the walnuts turned out even better. I use pecans frequently, so this was a nice change. The bread was incredibly moist and delicious...this is definitely a must-try!!! The figs lend a wonderful, mild taste to the bread (which isn't particularly figgy...is that a word? lol), and the buttermilk adds a nice richness. It makes a perfect breakfast when paired with a steaming cup of coffee. Stay tuned to see what else I created with these figs...it will be a savory dish!***

Ingredients:
3 eggs
2 ½ cups sugar
2 cups ripe figs, peeled and mashed
3/4 cup vegetable oil
3 cups flour
2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 cup chopped pecans (I used walnuts!)

Directions:

Beat eggs; add sugar and beat well. Add the mashed figs and vegetable oil.

Sift together flour, soda, salt and cinnamon. Add the fig mixture alternately with the buttermilk. Beat well.

Fold in chopped pecans. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour in greased and floured loaf pans.

Makes 2 large or 3 small loaves.

Source: Taste of Home Community Boards