For This, I Am Grateful No. 5
One weekend this summer, we hosted a small dinner party. Some things I was certain would turn out. A couple of dressings and sauces were a shot in the dark, although I was sure they'd pass as edible
Summer produce makes it such an easy season to cook in because little needs to be done to it. I know the best booth at the farmer's market for tomatoes, the corn is always sweet and crunchy. Even a basic fruit dessert requires little fuss; fresh and juicy berries can more than hold their own
That evening, I served fresh fruit with a healthy scoop of homemade vanilla bean ice cream and a few crumbled gingersnaps over the top. It was the most basic of dishes, but the one every person finished. Certainly, it was the smallest of desserts, but it made me wonder.
How often am I overcomplicating things?
— —
Fast forward a few weekends, and we were invited to an end of summer BBQ
A woman told me about a couple who had invited their family over for dinner. The hostess ordered pizza from a place on the corner and made a simple salad of greens from her garden. She talked about how much she respected her for it. How getting together, eating together, and a night of great conversation was more than enough
After they left, I wandered into the kitchen. I'd made everything from scratch: dressings, marinades, appetizers – the whole thing. We generally don't cook complicated dishes, but what I do make, more often than not, does take a fair bit of time. Not to mention the time spent planning the menu
Where's the sweet spot between making food for people that's special, but still allows me to enjoy their company and the evening in front of us? How to channel this effortless effort? How to not overcomplicate things when the answer is really the proverbial pizza?
Much of the fruit for the tart came from a run to the Co-op on a day where everything looked too good to pass up. I was looking for something easy, yet stunning to come bearing for the BBQ. I remembered a crust I'd wanted to try and layered from there
It's a new favorite. The perfect marriage of fresh fruit and healthy eating. It feels indulgent and expensive, although it is neither. It's best served with a stunning glass of white wine. Along with a toast to the end of summer in all of its glory.
“The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the grandest intention” ~ Oscar Wilde
So applicable to cooking, creating, to feeding others. The act is often far less complicated than we make it out to be. And for today, I'm grateful for these simplest of things
A few other excerpts from my #ForThisIAmGrateful list this week
The bluest of skies, fall leaves on the trees, and a long walking trail
Salt and vinegar chips
Spotify playlists
Candlelight yoga
Antique store treasures
Rainy mornings
Being someone else's pillow
Knowing you've left your credit card, hurrying back to retrieve it, hoping an honest person found it – grateful they did
Road trips and a great book to listen to
Table for one with a side of lake air
Learning to go easy and keep it loose (ps: Yoga helps. Yoga breathing helps, if you're not into triangle poses and down dogs)
What are you grateful for this week?
ps: For This, I Am Grateful No. 1 and No. 2 and No. 3 and No. 4
~ Adapted from Dr. Weil
End of Summer Fruit Tart
Ingredients
- Pastry Crust
- 1 cup oat flour
- 1 cup unbleached white flour
- ¼ cup skinned ground almonds
- 1 Tbsp freshly squeezed orange juice
- 4 Tbsp cold butter, diced
- 4 – 5 Tbsp cold water
- Filling
- 2 cups Greek yogurt (I used vanilla, but any flavor works)
- assorted sliced fresh fruit
Instructions
- Pastry Crust
- Preheat oven to 350°F
- To to the bowl of your food processor, add the pastry ingredients and 4 Tbsp cold water.
- Pulse briefly until just smooth, about 30 seconds
- (If the dough seems dry, add 1 - 2 more Tbsp water and pulse briefly again.
- Cut a piece of parchment paper that measures ~ 10 x 10 inches, roll the dough into a ball, wrap it in the paper, and chill it in the refrigerator for 10 -15 minutes.
- After the dough has chilled, unwrap it and roll it out on the parchment paper with a rolling pin, making a circle that stretches about 1.5 inches beyond the edges of a 9-inch pie pan.
- Flip the parchment paper over onto the pie pan and peel off the paper.
- Mold the dough to the bottom and sides of the pie pan by pressing down on the dough with your fingers. Trim the excess with a knife so it’s flush with the edge of the pan
- Cover and refrigerate for ~ 15 minutes
- Remove the pan from the refrigerator and bake for 15 minutes, or until the crust is dry in the center. (You can test for dryness by inserting a toothpick in the center; when the toothpick comes out dry, the crust is done)
- Let cool for 15-20 minutes
- Filling and Topping
- Spread the yogurt on top of the crust. Decorate with fresh fruit.
- Slice, serve, and enjoy
52 Comments
Your tart looks stunning! I bet it was delicious 🙂 Because eating out is very expensive in Denmark, people tend to entertain in their homes. We usually make everything from scratch because prepared foods are almost as expensive as going out to eat, and buying pizza for everyone would be cost-prohibitative. It took me awhile to get used to this way of doing things, but after six years, I kind of like it now.
That looks way too pretty to eat. I’ve never made a fruit tart but have always wanted to. I’m definitely saving your recipe.
I love fruit tarts, but I have never made one before. It sounds easy enough and since I pay good money for them at the bakery, I think I will make my own the next time.
I’ve been known to overcomplicate things when it comes to entertaining. I also notice that it’s the simple foods that seem to be the most popular at my get-togethers. I’m in love with the vibrant colors of your fruit tart. It’s the perfect dessert to enjoy while bidding farewell to summer.
Wow, what a delight that looks! I love fruit pies and tart and this looks super delicious! I would like a slice right now.
This fruit tart looks fabulous. I’m a fan of all the fruit on it, yum! I’ll be making this soon!
This looks absolutely delicious! I’m grateful that fall has come and the kids are back in school (haha)
I agree that we overcomplicate things! I am happy with pizza 🙂 This week I’m grateful that I’m going to Los Angeles soon!
I think in life people just overcomplicate things because it is natural to over think things because we want to make sure “it” is perfect. I would love to make this tart! The colors in it are AMAZING!
Wow! This is a gorgeous piece of art–but go ahead, call it a tart!
I love your list of gratitude! such simple things that if we pause, bring great joy. Thank you for that reminder.
Celebrating you and this beautiful post all day.
This looks so good! I love fruit tarts. I always hate to eat them though because they’re so pretty.
There’s always something to be grateful for and the more we appreciate, the better our life is. The fruit tart just makes my mouth water. I could just feel that fruity sweet and sour taste.
The Roadside Pie King, thinks this is stupendous! What a beautiful tart! This one I will have to try out for myself. Very sexy, indeed! Question for the sexy tart queen, would you mind if I re-blog this for my readers?
Peace,
The Roadside Pie King
The tart looks absolutely incredible! And I love that a host ordered pizza. I definitely wouldn’t be offended if the host didn’t cook. Mind, home cooking is amazing and I love how much effort people go to but I think good company and good food is enough for me, I don’t expect anyone to go to any major trouble for me.
Must try this yummy tart!
We have started to feel a bit of fall’s briskness in the mornings here. It is something to be thankful for after a hot summer. I will miss summer fruit, though, and I should make this soon to savor the last bit of summer flavor.
I am grateful for finding this fruit tart today. Grateful for my health and many, many other things.
What’s the big fruit in the middle? Who’s pillow do you like to be?
I love the fresh taste of berries during the summer. This summer fruit tart looks delicious!
Oh I love that Oscar Wilde quote, what a wise man he was. That tart looks absolutely delicious, I love the colours and the patterns you have made!
It’s crazy what a small dish of food will do to list someone’s spirit. I love cooking and will often just make things as a little thinking of you gift and sometimes I don’t realize that it was just the right thing someone was needing. It’s simple but huge all at once.
That looks amazing. I have been wanting some figs lately. I love how small touches can really make a dinner special.
I have a tendency to over complicate things too. It’s so easy to let things get out of hand.
This looks amazing and I am grateful that I got to see these beautfiul pictures! I have never really thought about that quote before, The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the grandest intention, until now. I believe that small acts of kindness are important although I believe the intentions are more important. It can be hard to do the right thing even with the right intentions, I feel that is no fault to the one who is trying though. I would rather someone hurt me in an attempt to help me rather than help in an intention to harm.
I am grateful for the many doors that are opening, since quitting corporate America, to build my brand fulltime. I am also grateful for this yummy and oh so eye captivating recipe! Your pictures are worth over 1000 words.
Wow this looks ALMOST too pretty to eat. I love all of these great fruits – all of them are favorites in our house. I am grateful for having an amazing visit this morning with my old coworkers. AFter being at a company for over 10 years, I made friendships for life. So far it has been a great week.
Mouthwatering!!!!
I am grateful for the time to have lunch with a for a friends who I haven’t talked to for a long time.
And I am looking forward this Saturday to meet with friends from my college days!
Your list of being grateful is so poetic like one chair along the lake air.. sounds so simple but really worth doing thing. I Being grateful for beautiful summers to end and welcoming winters. I always love the change of season as it brings some freshness in our lives. Your summer fruit tart is so tempting and a healthy option too. So many berries with different colors and varieties is a treat for me.
Wow! Loved your post. It’s so artistic. I am thankful to God to provide me basic necessities and everything that I have.
suck a pie is a great thing for people like me, who love fruit and healthy things but sometimes want to eat something gourmet and sweet! Using apples and fall fruits is my personal way to welcome the cooler season
I also tend to over-complicate things. My issue is that I multi-task, thinking I can do everything and then I end up with half finished tasks and then I start to panic. I am grateful that I have a very understanding family who understands and supports me every time I do things like this.
Oh i love all kinds of fruits. And with this tart, i am sure it’s so delicious.
You have to find a balance of what suits you best, not everyone would want to order food as opposed to make it, but you have to do what you want to do. Thr fruit on the tart looks so juicy x
Oh my word. This summer fruit tart looks delicious! I think I may give it a go with almond flour instead of oat flour. I love the yogurt and fruit filling for this light and simply gorgeous tart. Perfect for summer! I am going to give it a go! Thanks for the delicious recipe.
That tart looks amazing! So full of all the things I love about summer. As for what I’m grateful for this week, it’s been a rough one, but I’m grateful that my son is doing so much better this year in cyber school than he was last year in his old public school.
What a gorgeous dessert tart. All those beautiful colors and fruit. I to love bringing a dessert to get together’s and barbecues. It is always so fun to pick something out and even more exciting when everyone loves it. This week I am grateful for “Family”. It’s been a round couple weeks so I’m excited my sister in law will be visiting tomorrow so we can have some family and girl time.
I love that you also find time to be grateful for every day. To show appreciation for even the most mundane is very uplifting. I love how you celebrated the end of summer with this amazing fruit tart. I can never make anything as pretty as that!
This tart reminds me of the fruit pies and tarts my Grandmother used to make for Sunday lunch when I was little. I always loved food like this for dessert and it was a great way to use up the fruit that was about to become overripe from the garden. It looks so pretty too!
Oh, delicious tart! I hope it tastes as amazing as it looks. The pictures simply want me to make one right now. I absolutely adore the fruit combination too – such beautiful colors
I can be grateful for so many amazing and beautiful things in this world. And the list can be never-ending. But one thing I am grateful for is having gotten to know you a little and read your very thoughtful and inspiring posts. Aside from all of the amazing dishes you prepare. This tart looks mouthwatering. Definitely a kind of fruit pizza.
I suddenly missed baking and food photography, as I look through your photos…mouthwatering! I’m sure, your friends are grateful for the extra time spent in preparing everything! Thank you for sharing your thoughts and the recipe as well. One of my favorite things to do, btw, is: to throw kindness around like confetti! 🙂 Keep it up!
What a delicious way to celebrate the end of summer. I am going to miss all those berries but I am excited for my favorite season – Fall. Thank you for always reminding us to be grateful for our blessings, big or small.
Oh wow, This is absolutely looks amazing and I really want to try this I’m sure my hubby would love this too
Wow!! That fruit tart looks so tempting and delicious. I really love berries so this one is perfect for me. I like it!
Although I more ” a brownie kind of girl ” this tart made me want to go downstairs in the kitchen and bake one ! Looks incredibly scrumptious. I don`t know how you resisted and took the pictures I would be had eat it in like 2 seconds 🙂
What a great list of things that you’re grateful for! This fruit tart looks like an amazing treat to satisfy anyone’s taste buds! These pictures itself makes me drooling over it! Looking forward to all delicious Fall delicacies from your bucket soon in your future posts.
Have a great weekend Alison!
Oh wow, your tart looks amazing! I don’t think I will ever have that ability to make something so beautiful — but it’s well worth a try with your recipe. Thank you so much for this! I love berries too so this is perfect for me.
This fruit tart is giving me cravings to have something sweet. Lol. Please don’t do this to me else I will not be able to complete my keto diet course of 41 days. This really looks tempting and i am getting goosebumps for this.
I absolutely love a “Table for one with a side of lake air”. So many people don’t know how to enjoy being a lone without feeling lonely and knowing that there is a difference between the two. As for that fruit tart, your photos made me want to lick the screen. Would love to make this but I have never heard of or seen oat flour in Ireland but maybe I could make my own. Your food photography is simply wonderful. You really made me taste the summer with that recipe.
I love a fruit tart! It is always sweet but without being too much, also a very refreshing dessert. I think this makes a great late summer dessert to make!
I got started on some kind of a diet this week and your dessert recipes are doing me no good 🙁
How yummy and delicious does this tart look, I am not so much of a tart person but I do want to give this a try!
xx,
What a lovely and probably my favourite post today. I love the fact that you love salt and vinegar crisps as much as I do, and you friend appreciates pizza from the local delivery service as much as i do.
Thats looks amazingly colorful and im sure tastes equally awesome too! Had a few of these and they sure are refreshing, thanks to the generous dose of antioxidants that all those fruits deliver!