Sugar Drops & Pear Tarts
September 15, 2007
So its Saturday today, otherwise known as soccer central around our house. I can only imagine what it will be like when Ella gets older and decides that she too needs to play the family sport.... Heaven help me then! All I can say is that I hope Eric can figure out how to be in three different places at once...
PROJECT UPDATE
On a more work related front, I finished up the bird quilt, which I've almost for sure decided I'm going to call Birdsong. Then I took a few shots of 2 other new patterns so that I could give you some peeks, but as I said before, I'm not so good with the whole peeks things, so I'm showing you the whole things instead.
You've already seen a portion of the ninepatch quilt [which as of now is unnamed, except for the fact that it will have the word Patchwork in it...] The Star one is called Sugar Drops becuase the stars just remind me of all of those wonderful frosting embellishments that we are seeing on all those gourmet cupcakes these days!
I have to tell you that I have fallen in love with the way my quilter has done this quilt- I don't know if you can see it in the picture, but she has these wonderful double circle wreaths in the alternate squares... they're making me happy.
THE DESSERT EXTRAVAGANZA
So for those of you who haven't yet figured out this whole dessert button on the left side thing, I've been told that now is my appointed time. I guess we all have our 5 minutes of fame LOL.
I've also been told that the dessert queen bee herself has given me quite an intro... I don't have a clue what it is as I write this, so please know to take whatever she is saying about me over there with a grain of salt :-)! I have a feeling that her effervescence might spilleth over...
So lets just hop on over there & check out what she's saying and what all those other talented gals here and here are cooking up in their kitchens and studios...
SO..... DRUMROLL PLEASE.... for those of you who know me personally in any way, you know that the baker in our family is my husband. I've gone as far as to have him bake cookies for my kids class activities and pass them off as my own! True confessions I tell ya!
Well, this recipe is so easy & so delicious, looks so very special and fancy & is so moist & tender... that even I make it every fall when the pears are fresh and ripe. So now is the time ladies & in some cases gentlemen, the pears are just wonderful these days!
ALMOND PEAR TART
Non-stick cooking spray
1 C. unblanched whole toasted almonds
2/3 C. sugar
1/2 C. milk
5 Tbsp. melted butter
1/4 C. flour
3 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. almond extract
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
2-3 small ripe pears [I put in as many as I can fit on the tart]
1 1/2 Tbsp. sugar for sprinkling on the top
Vanilla ice cream or whipped cream
Preheat your oven to 375 degrees.
Lightly coat a 10" pie or quiche dish with cooking spray and set the dish aside.
Using a food processor or blender if you don't have a processor, pour in the almonds and the sugar. Process until the nuts are completely ground and combined with the sugar.
Add the milk, butter, flour, eggs, vanilla, almond extract, cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice, salt and nutmeg. Process the mixture until well combined & pour into the prepared dish.
Core and quarter the pears, leaving the skin on. Take each quarter and lay it skin up on a cutting board. Slice the section thinly, cutting from the wide part toward, but not all the way through to, the stem tip of the pear. Don't seperate the slices, but fan them out slightly.
Arrange the fanned pear sections on the tart mixture. Many of them will sink down into the mix and a few will remain peeking out from the top.
Sprinkle with the 1 1/2 Tbsp. sugar.
Bake for 45 minutes or until the surface has puffed up and is golden brown. If you find that your edges are browing faster than your center, cover them with foil for the last 10 minutes or so to prevent overbrowned edges [I personally usually take it out around 40 minutes becuase I prefer a more moist inside and not too much browning around the outside, but that's just personal preference...].
Remove from oven, loosen the edges and serve warm if possible with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream. It is delicious cooled as well. Makes 10 servings.
[p.s. I know that last picture looks like its a bit dry and more like a cake.... it really isn't. The picture taker really didn't do it justice. Its really quite soft & moist & delicate.... I'm think I'm going in the kitchen for another slice... midnight snack...]
Enjoy and talk soon,
joanna
You've already seen a portion of the ninepatch quilt [which as of now is unnamed, except for the fact that it will have the word Patchwork in it...] The Star one is called Sugar Drops becuase the stars just remind me of all of those wonderful frosting embellishments that we are seeing on all those gourmet cupcakes these days!
I have to tell you that I have fallen in love with the way my quilter has done this quilt- I don't know if you can see it in the picture, but she has these wonderful double circle wreaths in the alternate squares... they're making me happy.
THE DESSERT EXTRAVAGANZA
So for those of you who haven't yet figured out this whole dessert button on the left side thing, I've been told that now is my appointed time. I guess we all have our 5 minutes of fame LOL.
I've also been told that the dessert queen bee herself has given me quite an intro... I don't have a clue what it is as I write this, so please know to take whatever she is saying about me over there with a grain of salt :-)! I have a feeling that her effervescence might spilleth over...
So lets just hop on over there & check out what she's saying and what all those other talented gals here and here are cooking up in their kitchens and studios...
SO..... DRUMROLL PLEASE.... for those of you who know me personally in any way, you know that the baker in our family is my husband. I've gone as far as to have him bake cookies for my kids class activities and pass them off as my own! True confessions I tell ya!
Well, this recipe is so easy & so delicious, looks so very special and fancy & is so moist & tender... that even I make it every fall when the pears are fresh and ripe. So now is the time ladies & in some cases gentlemen, the pears are just wonderful these days!
ALMOND PEAR TART
Non-stick cooking spray
1 C. unblanched whole toasted almonds
2/3 C. sugar
1/2 C. milk
5 Tbsp. melted butter
1/4 C. flour
3 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. almond extract
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
2-3 small ripe pears [I put in as many as I can fit on the tart]
1 1/2 Tbsp. sugar for sprinkling on the top
Vanilla ice cream or whipped cream
Preheat your oven to 375 degrees.
Lightly coat a 10" pie or quiche dish with cooking spray and set the dish aside.
Using a food processor or blender if you don't have a processor, pour in the almonds and the sugar. Process until the nuts are completely ground and combined with the sugar.
Add the milk, butter, flour, eggs, vanilla, almond extract, cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice, salt and nutmeg. Process the mixture until well combined & pour into the prepared dish.
Core and quarter the pears, leaving the skin on. Take each quarter and lay it skin up on a cutting board. Slice the section thinly, cutting from the wide part toward, but not all the way through to, the stem tip of the pear. Don't seperate the slices, but fan them out slightly.
Arrange the fanned pear sections on the tart mixture. Many of them will sink down into the mix and a few will remain peeking out from the top.
Sprinkle with the 1 1/2 Tbsp. sugar.
Bake for 45 minutes or until the surface has puffed up and is golden brown. If you find that your edges are browing faster than your center, cover them with foil for the last 10 minutes or so to prevent overbrowned edges [I personally usually take it out around 40 minutes becuase I prefer a more moist inside and not too much browning around the outside, but that's just personal preference...].
Remove from oven, loosen the edges and serve warm if possible with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream. It is delicious cooled as well. Makes 10 servings.
[p.s. I know that last picture looks like its a bit dry and more like a cake.... it really isn't. The picture taker really didn't do it justice. Its really quite soft & moist & delicate.... I'm think I'm going in the kitchen for another slice... midnight snack...]
Enjoy and talk soon,
joanna
Wow, two more winning quilts! They are stunning, Joanna!
Posted by: Darlene | September 16, 2007 at 05:49 AM
I love both of those quilts Joanna...now that I don't have the shop anymore I'll have to find all of these goodies somewhere. That tart looks yummy...I'll be by in a little while with my cup of coffee :)
Posted by: Carol | September 16, 2007 at 07:35 AM
Oh Joanna! . . . the quilts are beautiful. . . ! Now I know what I will be using your border fabric for! :-)
The tart definitely does look delicious - & I love your pie plate!
xo, - Bren
Posted by: Bren | September 16, 2007 at 07:51 AM
I'm licking my monitor right now. Can someone pass me a napkin?
I love the Sugar Drops Joanna. BRILLIANT! And your fabs are the icing on the cake.
Posted by: happy zombie | September 16, 2007 at 08:48 AM
who is your quilter?? Love the Sugar Drops, both quilts are wonderful, but the quilting on Sugar Drops is outstanding! If this recipe is that easy, I might even try it! Thanks Joanna
Posted by: mar | September 16, 2007 at 09:05 AM
The quilts are beautiful!! Cornucopia will always be one of my favorites.
Posted by: Elizabeth | September 16, 2007 at 09:45 AM
Yes, Holly did say such nice things about you on her blog. I have a feeling she wasn't exagerating. :)
I love the quilts! The fabrics are gorgeous.
Thanks for the pear tart recipe. This (sharing recipes and quilting ideas) is so much fun!
Posted by: amanda | September 16, 2007 at 12:13 PM
Beautiful quilts Joanna! And the tart looks like the perfect fall dessert - one I'll definitely have to try!
Posted by: Thimbleanna | September 16, 2007 at 02:53 PM
That almond pear tart looks really yummy!!(sounds like it would be good for brunch with a nice cup of tea.)
..... and the quilts ..... BEAUTIFUL !!!(I love the colors and patterns of the fabrics.)
Posted by: Mary Anne Drury | September 16, 2007 at 07:09 PM
I love the quilts. BEAUTIFUL as usual. You know how we all feel about your wonderful fabrics. They just make you feel cozy. The pear tart looks good also. Maybe I'll give it a try. I'm not a baker but it looks easy.
Posted by: sharon | September 16, 2007 at 08:21 PM
And a photo stylist too...
such a talent dahlink.
thanks for being a such a champ Joanna!
big hug,
H2
Posted by: LakeHouseHolly | September 16, 2007 at 10:11 PM
Your quilts are beautiful, and the dessert will have to be tried, it sounds too yummy to miss!
Posted by: Lisa D. | September 17, 2007 at 07:20 AM
Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous as always! I love Sugar Drops- this is one I absolutely must make!
Posted by: Camille | September 17, 2007 at 12:58 PM
Lovely quilts! Love the pear tart recipe! YUMMY!
Posted by: Laurie | September 17, 2007 at 03:02 PM
Joanna, Your quilts are beautiful! I can't wait to see them in person.
I just read your little bio on fat quarter shop's blog. 'm with you, I absolutely LOVE dark chocolate with orange - a very yummy combo. Your dessert sounds yummy too I do love pears
mary
Posted by: mary | September 17, 2007 at 06:56 PM
Beautiful quilts--- makes me want to run to my sewing room--- a real inspiration....
It sounds like a great recipe.
Posted by: Screen Door | September 18, 2007 at 05:40 AM
Hey, Joanna! Your new quilts look beautiful. I can't wait to buy them (will you have them at PIQF)?! I am sure things are super crazy right now, but I hope you are having fun:)
Posted by: Jeanie | September 18, 2007 at 12:58 PM
I am so late on this, but wanted to post anyway. :) The quilts are gorgeous! And that recipe looks like a must try. Pears are up there with apples, in my book!! Yum.
Posted by: sheree (sheree's alchemy) | October 05, 2007 at 02:12 AM
Hello, I just discovered your blog and it's wonderfull. All the things I like to see.
Will add you to my links and tonight I will try to bake this pear almond tart. :)
Posted by: pussman | October 17, 2007 at 01:32 AM
Well, I made and it was lovely! the whole tart was finished in 5 minutes, we where 10 but they all loved the taste and the smell!
Posted by: pussman | October 22, 2007 at 03:37 AM
THERE IS NOOOOOO WAY I COULD CHOOSE JUST ONE! I LOVE THEM ALL!
Posted by: VICKI MORAN | November 21, 2007 at 12:33 PM
Great stuff, love your work and "Fresh Vintage". The music has me wandering down the streets of France, have a ball while there.
Posted by: jami bradley | November 21, 2007 at 05:49 PM
OOOOWWWW-LA-LA!!! Urban Indigo is so beautiful! Can't wait to get my hands on some.
Posted by: kathy | November 21, 2007 at 07:28 PM
I love your fabrics and patterns - the soft coloration! I discovered you at my quilt guild - Napa Quilters Guild last spring when you were our featured guest - I was hooked! I have several of your patterns and am currently in the process of making your "Pinneapple Upside Down Cake". Then, I'm onto "Goosetracks in the Pumpkins", then "Boughs of Pomegranates"......just love your patterns!
Wishing the best!!!
Annette
Posted by: Annette Hall | November 21, 2007 at 09:37 PM
I love your fabrics and patterns - the soft coloration! I discovered you at my quilt guild - Napa Quilters Guild last spring when you were our featured guest - I was hooked! I have several of your patterns and am currently in the process of making your "Pinneapple Upside Down Cake". Then, I'm onto "Goosetracks in the Pumpkins", then "Boughs of Pomegranates"......just love your patterns!
Wishing the best!!!
Annette
Posted by: Annette Hall | November 21, 2007 at 09:38 PM
I have loved your style and special "look" since I saw "Summertime Stars" at a quilt show a few years back. I just had to make it! I love the Allspice Tapestry and would be thrilled to win it. Have a wonderful trip and consider reading "French Women Don't Get Fat: The Secret of Eating for Pleasure" by Mireille Guiliano
Posted by: Lorraine Kalisz | November 22, 2007 at 07:44 AM
Just when you think things can't get any better.....they do! Thank you!!
Posted by: Ellen - aka Nini | November 26, 2007 at 07:19 AM