Rustic Mulberry Tartlets

Mulberry Summer Tartlets

These free-form tartlets scream summer and are so easy to make. You can make the dough ahead of time in large batches (just double the dough recipe below) and keep the dough in the fridge for a few days or freeze up to two months.

Mulberries Aprons & Stilettos

Tartlet Dough

  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 10 tablespoons butter, chilled and cut into pieces
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • Ice water (4 tablespoons)

Process flour and salt in food processor until combined. Add butter and pulse until mixture resembles coarse  crumbs – about 6-8 pulses. Add one tablespoon of ice water at a time and pulse until dough begins to form small curds. Dough should be crumbly.

Transfer dough to a lightly floured counter. Using the heel of your hand, smear small amount of dough against the counter until all crumbs have been worked. Divide dough into four section and form each section into 3-inch disks. Wrap each disk tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour. Let dough sit on counter top for 5-10 minutes before rolling.

Roll each disk into 7-inch circle between two small sheets of floured parchment paper. Keeping the dough between the parchment paper, refrigerate until firm (15 minutes).

Rustic Mulberry Tartlets

Filling

  • Basket of mulberries (can substitute with your favorite berry)
  • 3-4 peaches, sliced
  • Sugar

Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees and adjust rack to lower-middle position. Gently toss peaches and mulberries with 2 tablespoons of sugar. Remove the dough from the refrigerator and remove the top sheet of parchment from each dough circle. Keep bottom sheet of parchment paper and transfer dough circles to a baking sheet. Mound fruit in the middle of the dough, leaving 1 1/2 inch border around the edge of the fruit. Carefully fold dough over fruit, pleating it every 1-2 inches as needed. Repeat with remaining fruit and dough circles.

Quickly brush the sides of the dough with water and sprinkle tartlets with a little sugar. Transfer baking sheet to oven and bake until crust is golden brown and fruit is bubbling, about 40 minutes. Rotate baking sheet halfway during baking.

Transfer tartlets with sheet to a wire rack and let cool for 10 minutes. Remove bottom sheet and let cool on rack until juices have thickened, about 15 minutes. Serve slightly warm or at room temperature with vanilla bean ice cream.

Makes 4 tartlets.


Adapted from The Complete Cooking For Two Cookbook
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Cool Down With A Blackberry-Mint Libation

Blackberry-Mint Cocktail | Aprons & Stilettos

It’s hot. Real hot.

This morning I left the South Bay at 4am to head back to Sonoma wine country and when I walked outside I noticed it was surprisingly warm – 67 degrees to be exact. 67 degrees at 4am! I couldn’t believe it. From that moment on I knew it was going to be another hot one in Northern California.

Aprons Herb Garden

When I returned home after work, I spent some time taking care of my herb garden as I was out-of-town all weekend. While I was watering, the aromatic notes of mint, basil, rosemary and lemon balm captivated my thirst for a refreshing patio cocktail. I decided to rummage through my cocktail bar to see what concoction I could whip up in order to satisfy my craving. Using the ingredients I had on hand, I composed this easy to make and delightfully refreshing gin-blackberry-mint cocktail. The sweet, tart, and slightly bitter flavors in the berries perfectly complemented the mellow and refreshing notes in the mint.

Blackberry-Mint Cocktail | Aprons & Stilettos

Blackberry-Mint Libation

1 1/2 ounces gin
1 teaspoon agave nectar
Handful of blackberries (4-5)
Handful of fresh mint (4-5 leaves…depending in how “minty” you like it)
1/2 lime, freshly juiced
Soda water, float
Ice
Cocktail shaker

Muddle the blackberries, mint and gin in a cocktail shaker. Add ice, nectar and lime juice. Shake and strain in a glass filled with ice. Float with soda water and garnish with a mint sprig.

 

Looking for more herb-inspired cocktails? Check out:

 

Which cocktails are you enjoying as the weather heats up? Share with us on twitter @ApronsStilettos. ~Cheers, Crystal

Meatless Mondays | Grapefruit Endive Salad

grapefruit3

It’s Monday and if you recall our past post we are going “Meatless” on Mondays. Today’s recipe was inspired by the spring issue of Food & Wine and is the perfect recipe for a warm California day, like today! So grab a chilled bottle of Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Albariño or any crisp white wine and start cooking!

  • 2 Belgian endives – halved lengthwise, cored and slightly sliced
  • 1 large grapefruit
  • 1/2 cup rice vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons sunflower seed oil
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 tablespoon finely crushed pistachios, plus more for garnish
  • 1 teaspoon fresh chives, minced
  • 1/2 cup fresh parsley leaves
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried marjoram
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1/2 teaspoon sugar
  • 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
  • Salt & pepper

grapefruit5

Pickling the onions will take about an hour so begin by combining the rice vinegar, water and sugar in a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Add the onion slices, turn off the heat and let the onions sit in the mixture for about an hour. Let cool completely and then drain.

In a separate bowl, whisk the sunflower seed oil and olive oil with cider vinegar and mustard. Add the crushed pistachios and chives, season with salt and pepper and let chill in the refrigerator.

Prepare the grapefruit by cutting in between the membranes to release the grapefruit sections and place them in a large bowl. Add the sliced endives, chopped parsley, marjoram and 1/2 of the cooled down onions*. Coat the salad with the vinaigrette and season with salt and pepper. Divide the salad on four plates, garnish with crushed pistachios and enjoy with a light-bodied white wine.

*Reserve the other half of the pickled onions for another dish. They are great in this slow-cooker pulled pork recipe!

Cheers! ~Crystal