This is a favourite from Maggie’s childhood. Her mother always burnt fig jam, not by design but because she always seemed to be distracted at the crucial moment! It was quite an exercise to replicate that very particular flavour in commercial quantities, but Maggie's done it and the result is the thickest, fruitiest jam you can buy.  The figs are simply reduced with no water at all, then sugar is added and the lot is cooked until ‘burnt’ to perfection before being sharpened with a little lemon juice.

Maggie's favourite way of eating Burnt Fig Jam is to toast a slab of full-grain bread and spread it with unsalted butter and lashings of the jam. For even more of a treat, leave out the butter and use cream instead. Heaven!

Repeat the above with scones or glaze freshly cooked fig tarts, warm from the oven - just melt the jam with a little water first. For maximum effect, make a sour cream and butter pastry that melts in the mouth. And when you need a sweet fix? Just scoop Burnt Fig Jam straight from the jar with a spoon!