berry crumb tart

I was reading the Smitten Kitchen's, and she had a recipe for a hazelnut plum crumb tart.  It looked very yummy and not pie, which I have come to admit that I am not the fondest of.  The plums I come across lately are just not very good.  They are not allowed to ripen so there is really not enough flavor.  I also never have hazelnuts in the house.  That is what I get for growing up with a hazelnut tree.  So, I took her suggestions for the cream part of the tart, changed the fruit, changed the nuts, and changed the spices and came up with this.  Very yummy!

Berry Crumb Tart

Adapted from Smitten Kitchen

3/4 cup butter, room temperature

1/3 cup almond meal

1 1/2 cups flour

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/3 cup brown sugar

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon ground ginger

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 pound blackberries and raspberries

1 tablespoon flour

1/3 cup sugar

1 large egg

1 large egg yolk

1/3 cup heavy cream

4 ounces room temperature cream cheese

1/4 cup hempmilk

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.  Butter a 9 inch square pan or a 9 inch springform pan. 

In a medium bowl, mix the butter, almond meal, flour, 1/2 cup sugar, brown sugar, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, ginger, and 1/2 teaspoon salt together.  It will be a crumbly mix.

Press half this mixture into your pan.

Cover with berries.

In another bowl, mix the 1/3 cup sugar and cream cheese together.  Mix in the flour, eggs, and heavy cream.  Mix in the hempmilk, 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon, and 1/4 teaspoon salt.  Pour over the berries.  

Sprinkle the rest of the crumb mixture over the berries.  Bake for 45 to 50 minutes.  There will be golden bits.

Very good warm.  Very good cold.  I am definitely making this one again.  I am thinking with strawberries at some point.  Maybe with balsamic vinegar.

I also need to work on a gluten free version which should not be that hard.  Might need to find testers since I am eating less sugar....

house warming gift

One of my co-workers had a house warming party this weekend.  I decided to put together a gift for their kitchen.

I took the time away from working on the Pixie quilt to put toghether some dish towels for them.

It was a nice break and the party was fun even though very quiet.

Mr. R can cook!  And Mrs L is a lovely hostess.  I just hope they get lots of use from these.

molasses crinkle peach crisp

I have come to realize that I really am not that fond of pie.  It is a texture thing.  I really prefer crisps, even over cobblers, though I make a good one.  I turned the peach pie I posted back a bit into a crisp but I kept the crisp very moist so it almost candied.  

Molasses Crinkle Peach Crisp

1 pound peaches, peeled, sliced, and destoned

1/2 cup butter

3/4 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup molasses

1 cup flour

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon ginger

1/2 teaspoon cloves

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

Put the peaches in a 8 inch by 8 inch pan.

In a medium bowl, put the rest of the ingredients and blend together.

It is going to look almost like cookie dough.  Spread over the peaches.

Bake for 45 to 90 minutes.  I used frozen peaches so I need the longer baking time.

Enjoy.  The topping comes out candied, especially when you add the ice cream.  I was told that it is caramel by Miss L.  If you want more of a crisp texture, you would need to add more flour - 1/2 to 1 cup.  I like to play so I will probably do that next time.  I also am going to need to make a gluten free version.  My Beloved's sensitivity to gluten is becoming more apparent again.  I am going to use a combination of almond, teff, sorghum, and arrowroot flours for the crisp.  It is the same as for waffles.

Yes, I am plotting.....

the back and pinned for quilting

108 more little squares and some colorful fabric for the back of the Pixie quilt.  It is all put together.  Actually, it is a lot of fun so it may be hard to decide which side is the most fun.

A bit of batting, the top, and saftey pins and the quilt is ready to start the quilting process.  One more step.  Then the binding.  Then the Pixie quilt is finished.

3.00 pm Sunday.  May just make it!

pixie quilt top is done

The quilt top for Pixie is done.  I am working on the back right now because, of course, it is not simple.  I am going to piece the back with more nine squares added.  I have learned, looking at other peoples quilts, that I like a little interest in the back.

Then, there is the quilting and the binding to be done.  By Sunday at 3.00 pm.  Scary thing?  This is very doable for me because my Beloved has many meetings this week.  This gives me a chance to sit down and sew.

By the way, my Beloved picked out this picture to post because it has the most kids in it.  Yes, this is my life.