This is the perfect thing to take to a pot luck. It’ll cement your reputation as the best cook in the neighborhood!

Ingredient List:

for the pastry:

3 cups all purpose flour
2 T granulated sugar
3/4 t salt
1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter
6 T solid vegetable shortening
large egg yolk, room temperature
2 T fresh lemon juice
3 or 4 T ice water

for the filling:

1 12 oz bag fresh cranberries (or frozen, thawed)
2 Golden Delicious apples
2 T grated orange peel
1 cup granulated sugar
1 t cinnamon
1/2 t nutmeg
1/2 cup walnuts
1/2 cup apple jelly
2 T cornstarch
1/4 cup fresh orange juice

to prepare the pastry for the fruit:

large egg
3 T graham cracker crumbs

glaze:

1/2 cup apple jelly
coarse sugar

Pulse together flour, sugar and salt in a food processor

add shortening

slice the butter

add to the flour mixture with the egg yolk, lemon juice and 2 T of ice water through the feed tube, pulsing several more times

add just enough of the rest of the ice water so that the dough begins to hold it’s shape and no more – then form it into a disk, wrap it in plastic wrap and put it in the refrigerator for 1/2 hour or more

rinse the cranberries

slice the apples

combine in a large bowl with the orange peel

sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, walnuts and 1/2 cup of the apple jelly

mix the cornstarch and orange juice

and mix into the filling mixture

butter a circle about 17 inches around on a piece of aluminum foil (shiny side down), then flour the edges. Make an egg wash from the egg and 1 t water and brush the circle, then sprinkle with graham cracker crumbs

pile the fruit on top, trying to stay within the circle area and turn up the edges of the pastry, folding the aluminum foil to help hold it together

heat the other 1/2 cup of apple jelly in a small saucepan until it liquifies, brush the tart with the jelly and then sprinkle a little sugar on top (I used raw sugar and it gave it a nice crunch)

bake in a preheated oven at 425 degrees for 15 minutes, then reduce the heat to 325 for another 15 to 25 minutes

Serve as is, or cut into cut little tarts like I did so it’s easier to eat

This is tart and tangy, not too sweet…

Adapted from “Pie in the Sky” (one of the best high altitude baking books I’ve ever come across)…

xxoo,

RMW

Mrs. Z- you won my giveaway. I hope you love this book as much as I do.

Send me your address and I’ll get the book right out to you…

xxoo,

RMW

So, I picked this up in the wine store a few days ago to celebrate my successful completion of Jenny Matlock’s Alphabet Thursday.

I believe that I participated in each and every letter this time, it was so much fun!

When I saw this at the wine store, I thought it might be fun to sip while I visit my classmates on the last letter of this round.

I love all varietals of wine, but I think Oregon Pinot Noirs are my favorite, and this is a nice example of that varietal.

It has a nice fruity flavor, with a refreshing dash of acidity…it would be a nice wine to serve with poultry, or maybe at Thanksgiving…

Go ahead, have a glass, you’ve earned it!

I decided to read “Delights and Prejudices” while I was in Oregon because I knew James Beard lived in Portland and I had never read this landmark book in the history of all things food. It turns out that Beard not only lived in OR, his family had a beach house in Gearhart just like me! (Well, just like I hope to one day).

I am still waiting patiently for these folks to decide to sell this house to me…

In the meantime, I just stay at this lovely place

and eat at this lovely place

This book is simply delightful. I read it sitting outside this lovely place…

and down on the beach and in my little cottage…

It’s a wonderful look back at another age and the cuisine that defined it. Beard’s mother ran a hotel and was an amazing cook, it includes some of her recipes as well as some of his own. Beard’s voice is authoritative, a little haughty and yet engaging at the same time. The book is a memoir which spans quite a bit of his childhood and career, a peek into how one of the great culinary figures of American cuisine felt about food. I liked it so much, and because I am such a nice person, I stopped at a used book store on the way home, and picked up a copy for you!

To win your very own copy of “Delights and Prejudices”, just leave a comment telling me the name of your favorite cookbook or food book. The winner will be chosen at random, and announced a week from now (next Friday)….

And if you think this is just a sneaky way for me to get recommendations for new books to read, you’re right.

xxoo,

RMW

I first saw this at the Sundance Film Festival. It’s hands down the best movie I’ve seen in a couple of years. It’s the story of Rodriguez, a Detroit born musician who writes soulful, amazing songs and eventually is “discovered”. His album bombs in the US. In South Africa, however, it is a different story – he becomes the voice of the struggle against Apartheid.

This film will make you believe in the human spirit again.

The sound track is amazing. It’s been my go to music for over a year now…

Find it. See it. You won’t be sorry…

This post is in honor of the letter “Y” and part of Jenny Matlock’s Alphabet Thursday. For more “Y” posts, please click here Jenny Matlock.