Pear and Apple Custard Tarts

Recently, I tried a recipe from the Liquor Control Board of Ontario's spring magazine, and, while it didn't end up looking quite as pretty as the inspiration picture, it was delicious.

Here's the picture, from the magazine, that caught my eye.  Isn't it pretty?  Isn't it tantalizing?  I read over the recipe and thought, how hard could that be to make?  Well it was in fact a little more difficult than it seemed - but, oh so worth it!

Here's the recipe (by Nancy Midwicki)


Tart Shells:
8-10 sheets phyllo dough
1/2 cup (125 ml) unsalted butter, melted (although I just used margarine because I'm fancy like that)


Fruit filling:
2 Granny Smith or Macintosh apples, peeled, cored, and sliced
2 firm pears, peeled, cored, and sliced
2 tbsp (25 ml) fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup (125 ml) granulated sugar
1/4 tsp (1 ml) ground cinnamon
pinch salt
1 tbsp (15 ml) cornstarch
1 tbsp (15 ml) sweet butter (again I just used margarine and it tasted fine)
1 can (14 oz/398 ml) Devon custard


Garnish:
Assorted edible flowers
Fresh mint sprigs
Confectioner's sugar for dusting


Method:
1.  Peel, slice, and core fruit and cook in a pan with lemon juice, sugar, salt, and cinnamon.  Simmer until tender, but firm.  Add cornstarch and, when thickened, gently stir in butter until melted.  Cool
2.  Melt butter and brush each phyllo sheet evenly.  Place another sheet on top (this is where an extra set of hands sure came in handy) and repeat four times.   Cut each stack into four parts and trim the squares into rounds and gently fit into a large buttered muffin tin.  Repeat.  Always cover remaining phyllo dough with a damp tea towel to prevent drying.  Cool unbaked tart shells in the fridge for 15 minutes (although between you and me, I was so excited to have the phyllo cut and into the muffin tins that I forgot to put it in the fridge to cool and it baked just fine).  Bake in 325F (165C) oven for 8-12 minutes until golden.  Cool.  
3.  Just before serving, place tart shells on plates and put a spoonful of custard in the bottom of each.  Repeat with fruit mixture.  Top with more custard.  Garnish as desired.  

The hardest part of the recipe was dealing with the phyllo dough.  If you've used it you will know what I mean.  I had never used phyllo before and boy is it thin and tears easily.  I had Kate help me and together we managed to get four layers buttered and cut and put into each of the sections of the muffin tins.  I only broke out into a sweat a few times and didn't utter any bad words so all was good.

The apple and pear mix was straightforward and really got my mouth watering as I love cooked fruit and the combination was delicious.

We had friends over for dinner whose eight year old daughter helped me assemble the dessert.   I didn't have any edible flowers or mint sprigs, so we dusted some icing sugar on top to make them pretty.  My assistant was very helpful.

She was in charge of the icing sugar dusting.

And she took her job very seriously.  

The tarts definitely got a 10 on the yummy scale!!!

A Few More Wedding Photos

Life has been busy and I haven't had the time or energy to post much recently as I'm sure you've noticed.   I'm going away for seven weeks in just one month -yikes- and there is still so much to do.  Not to mention dealing with all the other curve balls that life throws at you.  I hope you are able to bear with me.  


One of my most recent obsessions distractions is pouring over the wedding photos that we got from the photographer on the weekend.  I'm in the process of making a photobook, which I love doing.  I thought I would share some of my favourite photos.

And just in case you think I only like photos without faces, here are a few others I adore.

And this last one brings tears to my eyes.

Linked to Good Life Wednesday at A Beach Cottage

Hooray for Long Weekends

Thank you all for your lovely comments about the wedding.  We all look back on it with warm and happy memories and are pleased that it was so wonderful and that now Malcolm and Christie are starting their lives together.


I have to say that the combination of the wedding and getting some shots to go overseas and doing some extra driving to take Kate to work last week have plum near worn me out.  Fortunately this past weekend was spent at the cottage.  It was a weekend of rest and thoughtful walks (fast walks, I might add, to keep the black flies from getting me),

and wading around in the water which was surprisingly warm for the Victoria Day long weekend,

and eating chocolate chip cookies,

and reading lovely Summer magazines which I poured over from cover-to-cover.

My Mother's flower garden was looking lovely with the daffodils blooming,

and the pansies smiling,

and of course loads of forget-me-nots.

The forest had its own quieter beauty with the soft greens of new spring growth

and forest flowers.

It was lovely to be away from the routines of life for three days, but good to be back as well.

A Lovely Relaxed Wedding

Yesterday was Malcolm, our oldest son, and Christie's wedding.  The bride and groom radiated joy and happiness.

The weather was misty and rainy and created a beautiful soft backdrop to the photos taken in the gazebo.  Fortunately we got the outdoor photos taken before it really started to rain and the weather didn't really interfere too much with the rest of the day. 

The flowers worked out well and Christie and her sister, who was the maid of honour, were thrilled with them.  

My friend came over on Friday and helped Kate and me make all the bouquets, corsages, boutonnieres, and flowers for the centre of the tables.  Together we were a flower making machine as we had everything made by noon.   Not only that, but I had bought all the flowers from our local grocery store and had had to eyeball the quantity as I wasn't sure how much I would really need.  I figured I could go out and get more if we ran short.  After we were finished making everything I gathered up the leftovers and there were only ten flowers remaining!


On Saturday we went early and had photos taken before the wedding service so it wouldn't interfere with the rest of the day.  After we had finished taking the photos we all needed some coffee.  You can see in the photo below the bride and groom standing in the coffee shop with their timbits and coffee.  Oh so Canadian!

The wedding service was personal and lovely.  The fathers of the bride and groom served communion, friends played the piano, sang a solo, and played during the signing of the register, and my brother read a scripture reading, and my Mother said the prayers.   I loved how the church was decorated with colourful banners - such a gorgeous backdrop for the wedding. 

The reception afterward was an afternoon tea, which perfectly suited Malcolm and Christie.  

There were several types of tea along with coffee and punch.  There were sandwiches, crackers and cheese, veggies, scones with a variety of jams, a dessert table,

and cupcakes instead of a traditional cake along with a fruit bouquet.  It was delicious and casual and fun.

I had suggested to Christie's mother that we give each other's child a special cup to use at the afternoon tea.  Christie's family is from the Netherlands so her Mother bought Malcolm a cup from the Dutch shop in town.   I decided to go with a sentimental cup.  My Mother and Father were given many tea cups at their wedding 55 years ago (some of which she has given to me) so I asked my Mother is she would be willing to give one to Christie, which she did.  So my Mother selected this one for Christie from her collection.  You can see Malcolm and Christie using their special cups in the photo below.

Malcolm and Christie had sent out an email ahead of time letting everyone know that they would kiss at the reception, but not when people clinked on glasses.  They would only kiss when someone sang a song, told a story, recited a poem etc.  Everyone was very creative and it was a lot of fun.  Jonathan and I told three stories about how smart, charming, and frugal Malcolm is and how we can see these same qualities in Christie and what a great match they are and how we have enjoyed seeing them grow in love and affection for each other.

 We wish you well Malcolm and Christie!

May the road rise up to meet you.

May the wind always be at your back.

May the sun shine warm upon your face,

and rains fall soft upon your fields.

And until we meet again,

May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

I'm Going to the Chapel

The flowers have been sorted out and bouquets and corsages made.

The food has been ordered and the cupcakes are being made.

I have my dress.

And the bride and groom have been counting down for ages.


Tomorrow's the day -  Malcolm, our oldest son, is getting married to a wonderful girl.  I will be there with a smile on my face, joy in my heart (and between you and me a tissue in my purse - just in case). 


Details and pictures coming soon.