Showing posts with label almond. Show all posts
Showing posts with label almond. Show all posts

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Apricot Raspberry Pie




I can't believe that it's already July! It's been a hectic summer but I'm getting back into the swing of things. Managing a new farmers market has been fun but extremely time consuming. The best part however is I get to buy freshly picked produce right from the farmer that grew it.
Here in the South, we are blessed with an abundance of fresh fruit this time of the year. This week I found apricots. I look forward to fresh apricots each year. The apricot season is short so I try to eat as many as possible while they'er available. I bought a large bag so I could use some in baking. I wanted to make an apricot pie. I've used apricots in many things but had never made a pie with them. This pie is really quick to put together and looks beautiful when finished.

Raspberries and apricots really compliment each other so I decided to use both in this pie but you could use just apricots if you prefer. If you use only apricots, you will need to use about 2 pounds of fruit.

Apricot Raspberry Pie
Adapted from Comfort Me with Apples by Ruth Reichl

(Print Recipe)

Serves 8
1 1/2 lbs fresh apricots
6 oz fresh raspberries
1 stick unsalted butter
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon grated nutmeg
1/3 cup slivered almonds (optional)

One 9" unbaked pie shell. You can use your favorite pie crust recipe or use a purchased pie crust.
Preheat oven to 400ºF with rack in lower third. Cut apricots (with skins) apart into halves, discarding pits. Melt butter in a small heavy saucepan over medium heat, then stir in sugar, flour, almonds, and nutmeg, and remove from heat. Cool mixture until firm enough to crumble, 10 to 15 minutes.

Put apricots and raspberries in pie shell and crumble butter mixture over them. Bake pie, with a foil-lined baking pan on rack below it (to catch drips), 10 minutes.

Reduce oven temperature to 350ºF and continue to bake until top is golden, 50 minutes to 1 hour more.
Cool pie to warm or room temperature on a rack.




Sunday, June 15, 2008

Apricot, Almond, Cream Cheese Crostata

This week marks the offical arrival of summer and brings with it the arrival of fresh apricots. Even their beautiful orange hue reminds me of a sunny day. When I saw them in the market this week, I couldn't wait to bake them into a tart. The season for the fresh apricots is short, so get them while you can.

I came across this recipe for an apricot, almond, cream cheese crostata. I love it's free form rustic look and thought the flavors sounded delicious.
This great summery tart doesn't require a special pan.
Recipe
Bon Appetit (slightly adapted)
Prep: 20 minutes
Total: 1 1/2 Hours (includes baking and cooling time)

Servings: Makes 8 servings.

Ingredients
2 oz log almond paste
3 1/2 tablespoons sugar, divided
3 ounces cream cheese, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1 large egg yolk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 pie crust, room temperature
5 to 6 large apricots, quartered, pitted
1/4 cup apricot jam, heat
Preparation
Preheat oven to 400°F. Blend almond paste and 3 tablespoons sugar in processor until finely chopped. Add cream cheese, egg yolk, and vanilla and blend until filling is smooth. Unroll crust on heavy rimmed baking sheet. Spread filling over crust, leaving 1 1/2-inch plain border. Arrange apricot quarters, rounded side down, in spoke pattern in 2 concentric circles atop filling. Fold dough border up over edge of filling. Brush exposed apricots with warm jam. Sprinkle with remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons sugar.

Bake crostata until crust is golden brown and apricots are tender and slightly browned, about 43 minutes. Cool 30 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Notes:
The recipe originally called for topping the tart with crushed amaretti cookies. I wanted to replace the cookies with toasted almonds. When I made the tart however, I forgot the almonds...oh well I guess I'll just have to make it again:) I used a homemade pie crust in place of the store bought one called for in the recipe. I think that made what would have been a good tart into a truly superb tart.