We had guests this weekend. Nicki, Dennis and Ozzie came up to visit on Friday and just left an hour or so ago.
We love having people come up and see us. We are sort of far away from everyone so we really enjoy having visitors that we can wine and dine.
This weekend it was all about the food. Tarts in particular. On Friday night I made wasabi/panko encrusted salmon, a vegetable tart and a caesar salad. The vegetable tart was so easy and so pretty and was the highlight of the meal. Here is a before picture:
It couldn't have been simpler to make. I used a frozen deep dish pie crust that I pressed into my own tart pan. I pre-baked the shell and when it was cool I sprinkled on crumbled goat cheese. Then I layered thinly sliced red onion, red bell pepper, yellow Summer squash and zucchini. I drizzled on some olive oil and then seasoned with salt and pepper. I baked it at 375 for about a half an hour.
If you go to tastespotting.com and search on ratatouille tart you'll find the original recipe, including the pastry. Okay I was really feeling lazy when I first posted – here is the link to the orginal recipe of the Ratatouille Tart. I feel better now.
On Saturday Rick picked apples from our very own tree and I decided to make an apple tart. I looked on-line for a recipe and ended up kind of cobbling together several recipes to come up with this one.
Again, using the frozen pie crust (Marie Callander's) I pressed it into my tart pan and pre-baked it. While it was baking I made a simple applesauce using the apples, some sugar, a dash of maple syrup and cinnamon. I spread it on the tart shell and then layered thinly sliced apples in a pleasing pattern on top.
After I baked it (40 minutes at 400F) I brushed on a glaze of marion-berry preserves, golden syrup and a splash of rum. I would have used apricot jam if I had it but we were out so I used the marion-berry preserves instead. It gave the tart a bit of a rosy glow.
I think if I was to make this again I would go to the trouble of making the pastry myself and would do a sweeter pastry.
I hope everyone is enjoying their weekend. It's a three-day one for us in the states. I'm about to start sewing yards and yards and yards of hand-crocheted lace to a bed skirt.
That ought to keep me busy and out of trouble for a while.
P.S. Two weeks of being Diet Coke free! It isn't getting any easier yet. But I'm sticking with it.
Yummy! Tarts I and II both look scrumptious! Everything you make looks scrumptious though.
Congratulations on kicking the Diet Coke habit! I knew you could do it! Yay you!
Your tarts look delicious! I will have to give that a try. I love simple, but elegant recipes. Thanks! I gave up diet coke about 2 years ago. It does get easier.
Mmmm. That veggie tart just got added to my must-try-soon list.
Congrats on the diet coke! We only keep soda in the house for guests. It’s so bad to drink though, so we stick with milk, water, and juice (okay, and beer and wine too). At restaurants I order a glass of water with a slice of lemon. When I first started doing that it didn’t seem great, but now it’s nice – very light and refreshing.
Those tarts look absolutely stunning and I bet they tasted even better. I love making tarts and have been thinking of makig an apple costrata since the apples are looking so beautiful at the Markets now.
Wow – stunning food – how do you put it together? You must be so patient – that veg tart looks like the rainbow! I would have messed it up but it looks so professional – I must try and give it a go! The apple one as well looks splendid – your skill is staggeringly impressive and I’m sure it tastes wicked too! xxx
Happy Labor Day!!!! Your tarts look just divine…the photos are so good I can almost taste them. Good luck sewing on all that lace..wish I was there to help…and oh, those pesky soft drinks! I’m trying to quit them also. Doing pretty well at it…but still not 100% off of them….I’d give it a 98%. Enjoy yourself!!! pat
Popping over from Nicole’s blog to say that the food looks delicious. I want to know when I can make reservations!