This weeks TWD recipe was right up my alley (I have an alley? Since when? When did I stop eating Pop-tarts?) No really – I love strawberries. Any way, shape or form. I was skeptical, however, of my ability to make Dorie’s tart shell – I mean, hello, it had it’s own page in the back of the book. So like, TWO recipes to make ONE thing. Plus, I didn’t have a 9 inch tart pan with removable bottom, so, fret, worry, fret, worry – will the shells come out or not? I took a chance and baked the crusts in 5 little porcelain tart pans. They were cute (no really they were NEW, and I wanted a good excuse) so I used them. Luckily, the recipe went together without a hitch, even though I didn’t have a food processor. I used my fingers and everything worked out fine. I felt like a pioneer woman, (not becuse of my super-chic apron, silly – because of using my fingers! – You see, she wouldn’t have had a food processor either – keep up) So, the baking times was just a tad less than the 9 inch pan would have been. They could have stayed in a little bit longer, but they were perfect in my book…I like things done just enough – not too much.
I really didn’t want to deviate this week…there are so may different tarts in the book that going to a different fruit felt like making a different tart. So I stuck with the strawberries. What I DID do differently was this: No jam. So I chopped up some berries and boiled them in about 4 tablespoons of fresh squeeezed orange juice and about a tablespoon of orange zest. I also added about half a cup of vanilla sugar (yeah! that I made myself!) to the boiling berries. I let that simmer for a while, then stuck it in the freezer to set up a bit. Once it had cooled, I plopped it into the tart shell, followed by a heaping pile of fresh berries (some of which were from my own garden (yippee!) and topped it with fresh whip cream (none of that store bought variety). I also finished it off with a bit more of the “jam” I made and a sprinkling of orange zest for prettiness. Will I make this recipe again? Oh yeah! And the crusts are so cookielike and yummy I am too excited to try it with other fruits…I see a long, fat summer in my future, don’t you?
I really enjoyed this weeks recipe, and I am getting excited to see what all of the other TWDers did as well! Go check them out!
{ 29 comments… read them below or add one }
Love the zest on top.
Your little tarts look adorable. I baked mine in ramekins, but I didn’t even try to take them out. I should have. We just went at them with forks!
Your OWN berries?! My aren’t you lucky! They look darling!
No food processor? Used your hands? You go pioneer baker! Great job!
Clara @ I♥food4thought
Great looking tarts! I don’t have a food processor either, but a standmixer
Great job!
Ulrike from Küchenlatein
Your tart looks fabulous. What a wonderful presentation! Your berries are lovely and I can well imagine how much better they tasted for having been home grown! Well done!
I love the idea of the “homemade jam.” Sounds like a great addition.
they look beautiful! I bet some zest in the crust would be great too . . . Thanks for welcoming me to the group and your word of pastry encouragement!
Lauren
Mmmm, orange juice and zest with those berries. Perfect!
Rebecca
http://www.ezrapoundcake.com
Sounds so yummy with the orange zest. Way to go!
How wonderful to be able to get the fruit right out of your garden. The tart looks great!
Looks delicious! I went with minis as well. Yum!
Beautiful job on these…they really look so perfect! Love the zest addition.
Thanks so much for sharing your little ceramic tart dishes idea…I have those, too, and was wondering if they would work, if it would come out, etc., so it was really nice to see that you used them, they worked, and they did come out! Perfect! Thanks for sharing!
~Kayte
Nice job doing so much from scratch. The finished tarts look great!
Great job on the tarts and you didn’t use a food processor! WOW!
Oh, you are sooooo domestic. Making the crust by hand, laboring over fresh picked strawberries, whipping the cream yourself – you’re making the rest of us look like slackers!
Great job! The zest looks so good on the tart! Your tart looks fabulous!
Your tarts look delicious with the organge zest! And with the home made jam and your strawberries!
Great job!
beautiful photos! and those berries look so tasty
I love it all! Beautiful, talented, and unique even with using the strawberries =D.
Thank you for the warm welcome too!
I love the idea of orange zest! And…. umm… coconut devils food cupcakes?!?!! Totally made my mouth water1
i like your additions of the orange juice and zest. they look great!
Tart dough by hand and home-grown berries? Wow,I’m impressed! They look luscious! Great job!
your tarts turned out so pretty! I also make my tart crusts by hand. I think it’s easier because in the past, I used a food processer & always screwed it up by processing too long, and the result was never tender and crumbly, like it is by hand (at least for me).
I also made me crust by hand. Sometimes it’s just easier to cut butter than wash the food processor. Or maybe I’m just lazy.
Your tart looks fabulous! You take great pictures.
A beautiful tart! The orange zest is a very good touch and real cream – yum.
Looks like your pastry turned out great! You’re lucky to have homegrown strawberries – they’re so much more delicious freshly picked!
Shari@Whisk: a food blog
Beautiful! The strawberries look so cute and fresh!! Love the zest.
i’m so impressed you made this w/o the food processor! beautiful tart!