gathering2 – Spectra potluck

I love testing my baked goods at gatherings. The art teachers got together at Stephanie’s lovely wooden house for a potluck to celebrate the end of the school year. Here are two things I cooked, and, coincidentally, I found both recipes in the Martha Stewart magazine.

(addendum: here is a link to what seems like an identical recipe, on Epicurious.  http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/CREAM-CHEESE-CROSTATA-WITH-ORANGE-MARMALADE-232111)

Cheese tart with Marmalade and almonds.

The filling does not require baking, and thus, the tart is pretty easy to make. First make a buttery tart shell and bake it. Meanwhile, beat cream cheese, mascarpone cheese, and sugar to make the filling. After filling the tart shell and chilling the tart in the refrigerator, spread orange marmalade over the top and sprinkle toasted almond slices. Contact me for the recipe!

Red potatoes with buttermilk and blue cheese dressing, garnished with crispy bacon and chives.

There was another tart I made with custard cream, but people loved the Marmalade & Almond tart better. The making of the custard cream was much more complicated and more grueling, since I tried to whisk up a meringue single handedly with a whisk, instead of using an electric mixer. This was another occasion when more work doesn’t mean better reception. In any case, I was really happy that the other art teachers liked my tart. I will miss the whole community next year.

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