3000 miles 'til dinner.

Original MIL Mission #50: Apple-Almond Tart

First off, 50. FIFTY! How incredible is it that we’ve had fifty missions on this little website we three started. I feel like I’m at least 50 times the cook I was when I started, so thank you MIL and other DIL. This is so fun.

And the universe rewarded me on this 50th mission by reminding me that I already had a frozen ball of sweet tart dough in the freezer from when I made a Pecan Tart this winter. Foresight is delicious. 

And the other ingredients. 

♥HOW I MADE IT.♥

I let the dough defrost while I was at work all day, and it was ready to be rolled out by the time I got home. 

I pre-baked the shell while I peeled, cored and chunked my granny smith apples. And then melted my butter in a coffee mug. (look familiar, portland people? same mugs they serve at Stumptown)

It just so happens that 9-year-old Ava from the second floor was visiting me and Walter. So I put her to work reading me recipe directions and coating the apples in the butter. Go, Ava, go! (pictured: tiny ava hand)

I took out my tart shell and it looked pretty pre-baked to me. 

Then into the oven went the almond slivers and the apple chunks. 

The almonds did toast quickly and I put them in the processor to be ground.

And I mixed up my sugar, eggs, vanilla, flour and salt to make the liquid custard filling.

My pre-baked apple chunks went into the shell and I started pouring the liquid on top. It was at this point that I dialed MIL’s phone number. 

I seemed to have WAY too much liquid. But as it turns out, I actually had way too many apple chunks. They must have been some giant grannies, because I had to take MIL’s advice and scoop some out of the tart. (giant grannies makes me think of giant granny panties which makes me giggle)

Into the oven it goes.

♥MIL MISSION #51: ACCOMPLISHED.♥

Sweet tart, no?

I had plans to serve this tasty apple-almond tart following a dinner I was cooking for my friend Dawn. But because I had help from a talented mini sous chef, I just had to cut into the tart early so I could leave a slice on her doorstep. 

And when dessert with Dawn came around later that night, she was happy to help make a dent as well! Get it, Dawn.

♥PLATE IT, ATE IT, GRADED IT.♥

scale: 0 (not at all) to 5 (very)

Cupboard to table time: about an hour

Difficulty: 4 (anything that involves homemade crust gets a 4 in my kitchen)

Deliciousness: 4.5 (If I make this again, I will forgo the actual almond slivers left whole and allow for more fruit. So, keep the almond flavor but eliminate some of the actual almonds. Also, whipped cream is a MUST)

Impressed Husband factor: 4 (HE FORGOT THERE WAS HOMEMADE WHIPPED CREAM IN THE FRIDGE. Quelle tragedy!)

Leftover-friendly: 4

(posted by jessica)