Sour Cherry & Almond Tarts

Once I get the first whiff of spring, I immediately want to do the following, all day every day: 1) stroll along Whyte Ave, coffee in hand; 2) sit on a patio, any patio, and get day-tipsy; and 3) go to the farmers' market, namely the Old Strathcona Farmers Market. The Strathcona market is great because it's indoors, so even if you have premature spring fever and it's still -10 degrees outside, you can get that lovely market experience without freezing your buns off. 

We went to the Strathcona market a few weeks ago, and it was packed with equally eager market-goers. Among the goodies I picked up was a bag of frozen sour cherries from Rainbow Acres farm. I can never find cherries in the grocery store that aren't candied or swimming in sugar, so this was exciting. Real cherries are such a rare treat. Plus these were already pitted! Since then I've browsed what feels like hundreds of cherry recipes, until I finally landed on this cherry almond tart from the Joy of Baking. It was a tough decision, but someone had to make it. 

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Soft Maple Cinnamon Cookies

There are few things that smell better on a dreary October day than something cinnamony baking in the oven. Add maple to the mix and you'll have the most comforting aroma that ever wafted through a kitchen.

I have been trying to recreate a cookie that I bought from Bloom this summer - a soft, maple french toast flavoured treat. [Note: if you haven't had Bloom cookies yet, keep your eye out for them. They can be found at the City Market downtown and at all three Remedy locations. Their cookies are always soft, chewy, and totally addictive. If you can find the London Fog cookies, buy them and eat them before someone else does!]


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Nectarine, Mascarpone & Gingersnap Tartlets

It's nectarine season, and ohhhh man are they good. You think you know what nectarines taste like... and then you take a big, juicy bite out of some ripe in-season fruit and your brain explodes from the sweet, gorgeous flavour party in your mouth. You basically have to make out with one of them to keep the juices from dripping all over you, but they're so insanely good that it's totally worth looking a bit vulgar while you eat. 

Anyway, I picked up a basket of perfect nectarines from Steve & Dan's fruit stand at the 124th Street Grand Market last week, and have been gorging on them ever since. While I mostly just eat them whole, I wanted to make something special with them - a celebration of nectarines - and make sure the internet knows how inappropriately in love I am with this fruit.

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Edmonton: 124 Grand Market

  
I just got back from the 124 Grand Market, where I got my fill of yummy food, sunshine, and small dogs wrapped in baby slings around their owners. Ahh, summer markets. Love 'em.

I especially like the 124 Grand Market. The evening crowds aren't as overwhelming as the Saturday morning crowds at other markets; everyone's just there to get something to eat and browse leisurely. It's just the right size, too - big enough to offer lots of variety but small enough that you can stop and talk to the vendors and see the sights, rather than skimming past hundreds of tables.
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