How to make pig newtons, the adult make ahead party snack

Wash, dry, and quarter the figs. Set them aside.

Chop the onion and set it aside. Chop your bacon into small pieces.

Place a cast iron pan on the fire. When it's hot, add in the chopped bacon.

Render the bacon down. You're going to cook it so that it goes from this....

to this...

Scoop the rendered crispy bacon onto a plate covered with a paper towel to blot up the grease. Take the hot bacon fat in the skillet and save 2 Tbs of it. Pour the rest of it off for use another time.

Pour the 2 Tbs of bacon grease back into the pan.

Add in your chopped onion.

Saute the onions until they turn soft. Now add the quartered figs into the pan.

Stir them around and add in the brown sugar...

...the apple cider vinegar, maple syrup, and water.

Add in the ginger, chili, and the rest of the spices.

Kashmiri chili.

Finally, add in the crispy bacon pieces.

Stir everything around. Bring the mixture to a boil then turn the heat down and simmer the bacon fig jam for about 1 hour.

The jam is done when it thickens and turns dark.

Take the jam off the flame and let it cool a bit. Move it to a food processor and grind it to a thick jammy texture.

Now, set it aside (it'll keep in the fridge in an air tight container for about 2 weeks) and make your cookies whenever you want.

This cookie dough can also be made a few days ahead.

Bring 1 stick of unsalted butter to room temperature Cut it into pieces, set it aside.

Measure out 3 oz of grated Parmesan, set it aside.

Chop the sage and thyme and set them aside.

Put the butter into a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, turn it to low and blend it until the butter is creamy. When it's creamy add in the Parmesan cheese, salt...

...sage and thyme.

Add in the flour.

Add each of these one at a time until each one is thoroughly blended in. Finally add in the water to help the dough stick together.

I usually wind up adding in 3 Tbs, of water but go one at a time until it's the texture you need.

Take the dough out of the bowl and shape it into a round.

Flatten the round.

Wrap in in plastic wrap and pop it into the fridge to firm up for at least 30 minutes.

You can make the dough ahead of time also. It'll harden up in the fridge so let it soften a bit before you work with it if you leave it there for very long.

Making The Cookie: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Roll the dough about 1/4 inch thick.

When the dough is rolled out, square it off, and cut it into wide strips.

Spread some bacon jam down the center of each strip.

Fold one half of the strip over the jam.

Then fold the other side over.

Flip the roll to the unfolded side, and cut them into bite sized Pig Newtons.

Place the pig newtons on a silicone mat on a baking sheet, or just parchment paper on a cookie sheet.

Once made they can be stored in the fridge like this for a few hours before baking. Just cover them lightly with cling film.

Of course you can also bake and eat them right away! Put them into your 350 degree oven.

Bake them for about 25 minutes. Ah, the siren smell of bacon.... It seems that this is what oven windows were made for.

When the Pig Newtons have turned golden they're done.

Serve them piping hot.

We served these with Patz and Hall Jenkins Ranch Pinot Noir. Our guests absolutely loved it. The perfect match I was told. Pigs and Figs, made for each other.