halva and ricotta stuffed figs

Create reasons to celebrate. Always... even if it's -20 outside, or you are stuck indoors due to the blizzard of the year. Today is Tu B'shevat, the birthday of the trees. This holiday is about celebrating the season of the earliest-blooming trees beginning a new fruit-bearing cycle in Israel.

We mark the day by driving up to the nearest forest and hugging lots of trees, just kidding... Essentially, this holiday is about getting together with family and eating symbolic fruits: figs, grapes, dates, pomegranates, and olives. It's also a festive opportunity to get creative with your dry-fruit cooking or baking. From date squares, fruit cakes, compotes to even Harosset Handpies, a personal creation.

Last Friday, I totally lucked-out when I crossed fresh figs at IGA. I knew the perfect recipe, BusyinBrookly.com's Halva and Ricotta Stuffed Figs. Halva is a flaky and dense tahini-based delicacy, not as common here in North America.

Did you know Halva is over 3000 years old? Its origin is debatable, some argue it's from India, The Balkans or even Turkey. There are hundreds of types of Halva, from marble, pistachio to plain vanilla and each culture has its own Halva. I love the ricotta-fig combo, that sweet tahini flavor rocks the palette. You can enjoy this fig treat for breakfast, snack, lunch... you get my drift.

Keep warm to all!