I kept hoping September would be hot and I’d get to do a little more swimming in the lake, especially since I got some wild swim shoes or water shoes or whatever they’re called! I waited and waited for them and now it’s cool. There’s no denying fall is in the air, and right on time this year and I’m already thinking about pears and apples. In the meantime, though, I’m pulling out one last summer hurrah. I’m breaking out with this Strawberry Dream Cake.
Strawberry Dream Cake
Summer is just about over, folks. I am finding myself feeling like I do every year that I somehow missed out. That I didn’t get enough of our fresh fruit to fortify myself against the pending cold, bleak winter. Ugg. Did I just say Winter? The summer fruit just seems to come in so fast and furious that I just about feel like I have A.D.D. trying to choose! Peaches, Apricots, no, maybe Watermelon! Well, today, it’s Blueberries. My Blueberry Cobbler with Sugar Cookie Topping.
Blueberry Cobbler with Sugar Cookie Topping
So have you guys ever heard of German Rumtopf? This post is all about How to Make German Rumtopf. The name means Rum Pot and it’s basically a fruity alcoholic dessert made in a crock. Successive fruits are layered in with sugar and rum, starting in the spring with strawberries.
My Rumtopf Pot
As the summer progresses and each fruit comes into season, it’s added to the pot, and the contents just get better and better. Once fall comes, and summer is over, the pot is closed up and left to mature until the Christmas season where it is traditionally first sampled for the first time in December on the first evening of Advent. We’ve been getting such good fruit this year that I don’t think there’d be an issue with starting a Rumtopf, now, even if it is a bit late in the summer.
“Life is better than death, I believe, if only because it is less boring, and because it has fresh peaches in it.” Alice Walker. I think she might very well be right, and I think this Bourbon Brown Sugar Peach Crostata will prove her so.
Bourbon Brown Sugar Peach Crostata
Our Strawberry season is just ending up Nord, here, in Minnesota. So before it’s too late, I’ve been taking advantage and using strawberries, a lot! One is this Fresh Strawberry Compote. It’s just a simple, little sauce but it’s infused with fresh strawberry flavor.
Fresh Strawberry Compote
If there is ever a show stopper of a dessert that’s really just a big, easy “cheat” it’s got to be Pavlova. And this White Balsamic Strawberry Pavlova is a perfect ending for a summer party.
White Balsamic Strawberry Pavlova
It must be a really good year for blueberries and I swear I’ve made a ton of blueberry desserts – some with success, some not. This Blueberry Nectarine Buckle was perfect (even if the pics aren’t the greatest) and just loaded with fruit.
Blueberry Nectarine Buckle
It seems like I’ve been doing a lot with desserts lately, partially because I updated all my dessert menus which took weeks! So, in way of saying thanks for your patience about post after post, I’m posting another dessert! Peach Upside Down Cake.
Peach Upside Down Cake – Impossibly good, caramelly deliciousness.
Ok guys, its time for true confessions, here. Do you have any fears? See, I do. I’m afraid of anything wriggly other than puppies & kitties. I have a thing about going too fast in cars, especially around drop-offs after rolling a car down a cliff. And. Most. Of. All. Wait for it: I’m afraid of cherry pie filling. Ummhmm. You heard it right. Cherry Pie Filling.
cherry cheesecake bars
Many of my favorite desserts are made with fruit (the rest are usually chocolate!) Here you’ll find fruit-based desserts, desserts with fresh fruit or dried or those that have a fruit sauce. Enjoy!
I can’t tell you how excited I was to see apricots at the store last week. While they may not be my all time favorite to die for fruit, I was like, “Well, hello old friend!” Seriously, I spotted a lady carrying some to her cart and went back to produce to find them.
Apricot Tart
I’ve got a treat for everyone, today! A lovely lemon tart that I’m calling a Sabayon Lemon Tart. It’s beautiful, bright, and creamy & dreamy.
Sabayon Lemon Tart adapted from Thomas Keller
I love this simple recipe for Oatmeal Jam Bars – it’s a super easy recipe, a classic, really, and a great way to finish up any jam that might be lingering in the fridge. These are made from a fig compote and fig compote just seems so right for fall, but any jam will do. You can hardly go wrong.
Brandied Fig Compote & Almond Oatmeal Bars
Do you ever open up a magazine and want to make everything in it? That’s how I felt about the July/August issue of Midwest Living. I recently whipped up a variation of their Vanilla Orange Cake with Apricots but it was this recipe, this Chocolate Cherry Crisp, that I couldn’t get out of my mind.
Cherry Crisp with Dark Chocolate
I’ve been going nuts over a Midwest Living magazine this summer and you’ll see more recipes inspired from them in the coming days and weeks. This recipe, Orange Apricot Snack Cake, was inspired by their Vanilla Orange Snack Cake and is so much more than it sounds!
Orange Apricot Snack Cake
I could hardly believe my eyes as I turned the pages of this month’s Bon Appetit…and saw this recipe in the R.S.V.P. section. A dessert from the famed Babbo in NYC. Now, I don’t know about you, but I may never have a chance to eat at Babbo, but this? This dessert is easy to pull off.
Polenta Budino with Plum Marmellata
If there was ever a frugal “cheat” of a dessert, Profiteroles, or Cream Puffs, as they are often called, have to be it. Easy to make, requiring no special equipment, although a piping bag & tip is nice, inexpensive, and make ahead. And once made, they can be filled & topped with all kinds of deliciousness. What more could one want?
A home-made Mascarpone Cheese filling is in the center; they’re just waiting to be topped with Blueberry Compote
Rhubarb Pistachio Cake. came about because there’s a “perfect storm” of ingredients! A neighbor volunteered some rhubarb, I had just picked up a new carton of yogurt and I knew I had a stash of pistachios in the freezer. Then I happened to open up the April Martha Stewart magazine.
Rhubarb Pistachio Cake
I suppose these bars should have a better name. They’re luscious, creamy and dreamy from the silky custard topping, just bursting with blueberries, all the way down to the gorgeous shortbread crust.
Blueberry Custard Pie Bars
For some reason, I’ve been craving Blueberry Custard Pie Bars. See it all started when I picked up blueberries on sale right before Easter, with no real plan in mind. Then I started thinking about blueberry pie, then blueberry custard pie, then of course, Blueberry Custard Pie Bars.
Blueberry Custard Pie Bars
Do you have old family recipes that just take you back to childhood? Maybe it’s a photo, maybe it’s the first whiff of them baking in the oven, or maybe it’s that first bite? This is one of those for me…my Grandma Irene’s Applesauce Cupcakes. I’d guess these date back to the 1930’s, at least.
Grandma’s Applesauce Cupcakes
St. Paddy’s is just around the corner, so it’s time to think about partying just a little, isn’t it? When I was a kid, that meant anything green. Green ice-cream cones, cupcakes tinted green, and green beer.
Nigella’s Chocolate Guinness Cake
If you’re interested in making the best Cranberry Sauce, ever, one that your family and friends will devour, one that you might actually make more than once a year, try this recipe. Pin it for next year.
Our Favorite Cranberry Sauce, adapted from Bon Appetit
On an earlier post, the one on Almond Praline, I spoke of a master plan to make ahead components of a showstopper of a dessert, Roasted Pears with Lemon Cream and Maple Caramel Syrup. This gorgeous, tart, sunny lemon curd is just one component but also stands on its own as a fantastic recipe.
Lemon Curd
There are many names for this part cake, part pie dessert, and just as many recipes. A vague list of ingredients in my Irish Grandmother’s box pointed me towards it, and so began my search to find the particulars. Sometimes old recipes are like that, written I suppose, for the user and not some future progeny!
Irish Apple Pie Cake
Oh you’re having a party, you say? A special party? Like the blockbuster blogging event, the anniversary of Fiesta Friday? The event where the premier food bloggers can’t wait to bring their favorite dish every week? And you’d like me to bring a dessert, you say? You don’t have to ask me twice!
Austrian Crepes in Custard Sauce, served with Apricot Caramel Sauce
An Apricot Caramel Sauce? To American tastes, the combination of dried fruit and caramel may seem a bit different, but it is absolutely surprising and certainly delicious.
Apricot Caramel Sauce – made for Austrian Crepes but so good over anything vanilla!
Easy to make, watch the sugar carefully and don’t burn it – if it becomes darker around the edges or you catch even the faintest whiff of a burnt smell, move your pan off the heat and keep stirring until the sugar is melted, moving it back on if needed. A fork seems to work very well for stirring.
Blend a long time – there will be some texture; if that bothers you, simply strain it while it is still liquid enough to sieve. Once it cools, it thickens, so rewarm if necessary.
This is the caramel I normally serve with my Baked Austrian Crepes in Custard Sauce. It’s so good in or on so many things. The dried apricots may be replaced with a different dried fruit.
Austrian Crepes in Custard Sauce, served with Apricot Caramel Sauce
In a dry heavy saucepan (about 3-quart capacity) cook sugar over moderate heat, stirring with a fork until melted and then swirling pan, until sugar is a golden caramel, perhaps just a bit past golden towards amber, but not too dark.
Remove pan from heat and carefully add 3 cups water down side of pan (it will bubble up and steam). Return pan to heat and simmer, stirring, until caramel is dissolved.
Slice apricots and add to pan. Simmer until soft, about 10 minutes. Cool mixture 10 minutes and in a blender purée with vanilla until very smooth. Add any or all of the additional water if desired.
Sauce may be made several days ahead and chilled, covered. Reheat sauce to warm.
I’ve made this before with both pears and peaches instead of apricots and both are wonderful! I’ve not yet tried dried apples, but I imagine they’d give a lovely flavor to the sauce.
Dulce de Leche – does it translate as caramel of the Gods? I love it in these marvelous Apple Crisps; just a dab of Dulce de Leche simply transforms these crisps into deeply caramelly goodness. No Dulce de Leche? Make with any salted caramel, easy caramel or butterscotch sauce, home-made or store-bought.
Individual Dulce de Leche Apple Crisp
