chocolate pear tart (gluten free)

I always find it interesting that many food bloggers are unwilling to write or show their failures.  If it is inedible, I do understand.  But if it not quite right but tastes good?  Why not share?  Maybe you will give me some ideas on how to change it!

I had some lovely pears that I ripened on the window sill.  I decided I wished to combine them with chocolate and I really like pears cooked better then raw.  I chose to make a chocolate pear tart.  It was inspired by a recipe of Nigel Slaters.  The chocolate did not set up the way it was supposed to be we also rushed the eating.  It may setup after it cools or if it refrigerated.  Any case, it tastes lovely.  I would eat just a little though because it is very sweet.

chocolate pear tart

3/4 cup millet flour

3/4 cup sorghum flour

3/4 cup arrowroot flour

3/4 cup teff flour

10 tablespoons butter 

1 egg

10 tablespoons butter

1/2 cup spun or creamed honey

2/3 cup sugar

1/3 cup heavy cream

1/8 teaspoon vanilla

5 ounces dark chocolate

2 pears, cored, peeled, and sliced.

Butter a 9" tart or springform pan.

In a large bowl, mix 10 tablespoons of butter into the millet, sorghum, arrowroot, and teff flours.  It will be crumbly.  Mix in the egg.  Press the dough into the pan.  Refrigerate for 20 minutes.  

Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.  Remove the pastry from the refrigerator.  Place parchament paper on top and feel with beans.  Bake for 10 minutes.  Remove from oven and remove the parchament paper and beans.  Bake for another 5 minutes.

While the crust is baking, melt 10 tablespoons of butter in a medium pot.  Add the honey and sugar.  Over medium high heat, let the sugars dissolve into the butter.  Add the cream and vanilla.  Bring to a boil.  Let boil for 2 minutes.  Remove from heat and mix the chocolate in.  Make sure the chocolate is melted.  Pour into the crust.  Place the pears on top.

Bake for 30 minutes.  Let cool at least 30 minutes.  I would say much longer but that is when we ate it.

You should have heard the song my Beloved was singing as he was scooping this on the plate.  It was pretty funny.  It was tasty and it hit the spot.  I was working in the garden again.  Two more mums to plant and then it is time for the vegetable beds. 

But with a bit of this (even when not quite right) and a cup of tea, I should do quite well!

starting the winter garden

This weekend was about trying to get my winter garden started.  I let my garden go during the heat of the summer.  Last year, it meant there was not much to dig out.  This year, we had rain.  I am fighting weeds.  But one spade full of dirt at a time and the work gets done.  I know you cannot see this from the picture but it is a mud bath.

One of the things that I knew I needed to plant this time was flowers.  I had not planted enough in the spring garden and I missed them.  I had my Beloved pick up some mums while I was at work today.  Yes, I know they will not last but I will enjoy the blooms.  I also planted one bed with flower seeds.  That is how much I missed my flowers.

I still have many beds to dig up.  Hopefully, the rains will stay away long enough for me to get some actual work done.  Maybe by this weekend I will have all the vegetable seeds in.  I hope!

mushroom potato soup

It is lunch time and I already feel like I put in a full day.  There was the farmer's market and the grocery store.  Breakfast was made.  Dinner has been started.  Jam was made.  Brioche is started.  I take pictures of my kitchen and the range top just to show how much is going on.  I rarely put them here.  

All this does not include the sewing I wish to do or the work I want to do in the garden.  I NEED flowers.  I am going to start my winter garden today and plant many more flowers then I did for the spring garden.  I also get to go back to the hardware store for shopping.  I like to shop at the hardware store!

I even started dinner for tomorrow.  A mushroom soup for the basis of risotto.  I made enough for lunch today.  Instead of straight mushroom, I added some potatoes that were too much for the pot yesterday.  They were already cut up so I needed to use them.

mushroom potato soup

2 to 4 tablespoons olive oil

1/2 onion, peeled and chopped fine

6 cloves of roasted garlic

1 small oyster mushroom (about 1/4 pound), cleaned and chopped to your liking

1 large handful shikate mushrooms (about 1/4 pound), cleaned and chopped to your liking

1 large handful crimin mushrooms (about 1/4 pound), cleaned and chopped to your liking

1 large russet potato, peeled and chopped fine

1 large pinch salt

1 large pinch ground black pepper

1/4 to 1/2 cup white wine (I used a Reisling), optional

enough water to cover.  (You can make this a thinner or thicker soup by how much water you add)

In a large heavy pot (dutch oven), heat the oil over medium heat.  Add the onions, mushrooms, garlic, and potatoes.  Let them saute until you see some brown edges.  Season with the salt and pepper.  Add the wine and let cook a bit.  Add the water and bring to a boil.  Turn down and let simmer for a hour.

Use in risotto.  Eat with toast.  Enjoy.

quilt basting with a small helper

Small Mister and I spent the evening basting a quilt.  He was closer then this most of the time.  I bribed him with my saftey pin container to get this shot.

When I smoothed the quilt before pinning, he pounded it with his open hand.

When I put in a saftey pin, he tried to figure out how it worked by pulling on one already used.

He told me all types of stories and how things worked with wild hand motions and much clapping.  I just wish I could understand what he said.

When I was on my hands and knees pinning, he crawled under me to see what I was doing.  Or on top.  When he was on top, he tried to take the hair sticks out of my chignon.  That was interesting!

When he needed cuddles, he would sit in my lap and I would pin around him.

The basting is done and we had a good evening while the Tall Short Person had to work and Grandpoppa was in his shop grinding on the knives he is making.

started another shawl

I have been trying to get back in the swing of things since we were gone.  I have the yeastie beasties making bread.  

On vacation, I picked up some new yarn.  Yellows and purples.  But it is a little bit heavier then the Frog's Back I picked up last.  It means, since we were down to so few lights, I could still crochet.  It was just easier to feel.  And I could crochet while we were driving.  I think it will be very pretty when it is done.  I may send it off to Colorado to live.

You will also notice that I am cutting out more quilt squares.  I thought I would get a quilt pinned today but instead sleep happened.  It does not stop me from getting  a few squares cut or sewn.  I have two quilts to make this time.  Our neighbors had twins!