Buon Natale everyone.  I searched on "Santa Claus Fig" and found this book called A Wart Snake In A Fig Tree  (apparently it's alternate lyrics to A Partridge In A Pear Tree).  Scroll about halfway down the page, and check out the cover picture.  Santa with a snake by a fig tree!
http://www.myspace.com/jmn79/blog/338060178   

OK, here's another fig book for Christmas: Stolen Figs and Other Adventures In Calabria:
http://www.amazon.com/Stolen-Figs-Other-Adventures-Calabria/dp/0865476969

And one more, Roast Figs Sugar Snow:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/roast-figs-sugar-snow-diana-henry/1112247264?ean=9781845335243&itm=16&usri=fig

(OK, I hope nobody takes offense.  I know a few of you don't like snakes, from reactions on that other thread with a corn snake among the figs.  When I saw this book, it just seemed a good connection to that thread 
http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/The-Visitor-6115206?highlight=corn+snake ).

Buon Natale everyone!

Mike

p.s. I'm not endorsing any of the books... I did order the first two though, so I'll find out what they're like.  :-)

My boys gave me two fig cookbooks today as gifts.  To me, the best gift from them is their interest in spending time together.  Growing figs is a big part of that in recent years.  Here are the cookbooks they gave me:
http://www.amazon.com/Fig-Heaven-Recipes-Worlds-Luscious/dp/006053849X
http://www.amazon.com/Under-Fig-Leaf-Sherri-Lee/dp/0615280307/ref=sr_1_4?s=books

We'll try out some of these recipes.  I saw both of these mentioned on the forums.  Maybe they got the ideas here somewhere. :-)

Mike

Let us know which of the recipes you like best. It's obvious you raised them right. :)

Hey Mike,

I, too was interested in "Stolen Figs" but didn't like some of the negative reviews re the author's perpetuating stereotypes associated with Calabria. As someone born in that part of Italy, I wouldn't appreciate that. Let us know what you think after reading it. Hopefully, the criticisms are ill founded.
Buon Natale e Felice Capo D'anno.....

Francesco

Francesco,
I'll let you know after I read it.  I wondered about that same issue, as my family is from there also.  But I decided to give it a try, so I'll let you know.  Buon Natale e buona fortuna con alberi di fico del nuovo anno.

Mike