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. 

Keep reading »

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.

Keep reading »

Rhubarb & Strawberry Galettes

It's been so gloomy out the past few days, but this weather makes me all the more grateful that our May long weekend was so gorgeous. I booked off an additional two days from work to turn it into a five day weekend, as did my mom (who came up to visit), and we had an awesome family weekend that included seeing Fleetwood Mac in concert, shopping on Whyte Ave, and wandering around the jungle of flowers and plants at the Enjoy Centre. On Saturday we all went to have lunch on the Manor Bistro's sunny patio (if you live in Edmonton and haven't been to this little hidden gem, you need to go. Like, right now). Afterward we went on a leisurely walk up 124th Street - we purposely skipped dessert at the restaurant so we could go to Duchess for a treat. It was packed in there, as usual, and I panic-bought the most delicious looking thing I could see through the crowd of customers - a rhubarb galette. I demolished it before we even got back to the car. 

Keep reading »

Frangipane Tarts

So... if you don't already own British chef Jamie Oliver's book Meals in Minutes, or haven't seen the accompanying TV series, then you need to do either or both (probably both) right now. The book is full of relatively simple and extremely delicious recipes, designed as full meals, so you can impress people with a beautiful spread without working at it all day long. Plus the photographs in the book are so gorgeous you'll want to eat the page itself. 

Keep reading »

Blackberry Curd Tarts

I think I ate my own body weight in blackberries last summer. Behind our flat in Chelmsford were miles and miles of blackberry bramble, and it seemed like we were the only ones picking them. All-you-can-eat blackberries! I was in heaven. Thinking about it now, Chelmsford seems like some kind of mythical promised land - not the land of Milk and Honey, but of berries and rosemary:


Keep reading »

Tarte au Sirop d'Érable (Maple Syrup Pie)

Having an end-of-November birthday is kind of depressing when you’re a university student – everyone is too busy with final projects and papers to spare a couple hours to celebrate with you. Or they’re watching the Grey Cup.

Anyway, in 2009 I was going to school in Montreal, and when my birthday rolled around I decided to book a hotel, get on a train, and have a holiday in Quebec City by myself.


Keep reading »