For Memorial Day

.... make and American Flag Tart!

You'll need two 4-by-14-inch tarts to create the flag. One tart has seven rows of berries and the other has six rows, so sort the berries according to size, using the smaller ones for the seven-row tart. If you like, bake another tart shell to have on hand just for serving.

via Martha Stewart Living

Makes two 4-by-14-inch tarts

• 2 recipes Pate Sucree
• Creme Fraiche Filling
• 4 ounces semisweet chocolate
• 1/2 cup apricot jam, for glazing blueberries
• 1/2 cup raspberry jam, for glazing raspberries
• 2 tablespoons water
• 2 pints red raspberries
• Confectioners' sugar, for dusting
• 1 pint blueberries, picked over 

Directions

1. On a lightly floured surface, roll out a disc of pate sucree 1/8 inch thick to fit a 3 3/4-by-13 1/4-inch fluted, rectangular tart pan with a removable bottom. Brush off excess flour with a dry pastry brush. Carefully transfer dough to tart pan, tuck dough into the edges, gently pressing along sides, and allow excess dough to overhang the edges. Trim the dough by running your rolling pin over the dough against the edges. Gently shape the edges by pressing the length of your forefinger against each flute along the sides. Prick all over the bottom with the tines of a fork. Repeat with remaining disc of dough. Transfer to the refrigerator, and chill for 1 hour.
2. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Remove chilled tart shells from refrigerator, and line each with a piece of parchment paper that overhangs the edges by at least 2 inches. Fill parchment with pie weights or dried beans. Bake until just starting to color, about 20 minutes. Remove parchment and weights from tart shells, and return tart shells to oven. Continue baking until tart bottom is golden, about 20 minutes more. Transfer tart shells to a cooling rack, and allow to cool completely. Carefully remove tart shells from pan.
3. In a small bowl in the microwave or set over a pan of simmering water, heat chocolate until it is just melted, about 1 1/2 minutes; stir until smooth. Using the back of a spoon, line each tart shell with chocolate. Refrigerate to set, at least 5 minutes. Meanwhile, heat apricot and raspberry jams in two separate saucepans with about 1 tablespoon water in each; strain into separate small bowls.
4. Make top tart: Remove one lined tart shell from refrigerator and spread 1/3 of the creme fraiche filling over the bottom. Arrange 3 rows of unglazed raspberries 2/3 the length of the tart, leaving space between each row and at the top and bottom edges for 4 more rows. Dust with confectioners' sugar until raspberries are completely coated. Toss blueberries in a bowl with strained apricot jam. Fill left third of tart shell with a layer of glazed blueberries arranged snugly in rows; top with another layer of blueberries. Toss half the remaining raspberries with the strained raspberry jam, and carefully fill empty rows with some of the glazed raspberries, rinsing your hands as needed.
5. Make bottom tart: Remove remaining tart shell from refrigerator, and spread a third of the creme fraiche filling over the bottom. Arrange 3 rows of remaining unglazed raspberries, starting at the top edge and leaving space between each and at the bottom edge for 4 more rows. Dust with confectioners' sugar until raspberries are completely coated. Fill empty rows with remaining glazed raspberries.
6. Arrange tarts on a large board or tray to resemble the flag, and serve with remaining creme fraiche filling on the side. Finished tarts will hold at room temperature for several hours.

 

A Pretty Patriotic Parfait

Red, White, and Blue Parfaits

For a sweet treat that doesn't pack on the calories and fat, try this pretty parfait. Layer blueberries, low-fat vanilla yogurt, and strawberries in a tall glass and serve cold. For an alternative to vanilla yogurt, try strawberry or raspberry.

See Red, White, and Blue Parfaits recipe

via Better Homes and Gardens 

My Stars

Strawberry Rhubarb Pie

If you can't find fresh, use frozen rhubarb from the grocer's freezer section.

Recipe: Strawberry-Rhubarb Pie

Tuesday Tip - Kitchen Fan

Kitchen Fan

Use your exhaust fan in the kitchen. Smoke and grease are sticky magnets for dirt and dust.

via Country Living

Simple Springtime Sandwich....

Avocado Crostini

 

 via Country Living

1. Pop 4 slices of crusty artisan bread in the toaster, or on the middle rack of an oven set at 350 degrees F, until crisp and golden brown.

2. While the bread is toasting, peel and mash 1 ripe avocado in a small bowl.

Tuesday Tip

When your stainless-steel sink could use a shine,



 

 via Country Living

buff it with a cloth dampened with club soda,

then wipe dry with another clean cloth.

P.S.

Club Soda is great for getting stains out of carpet. 

Club Soda lifts the stain right out, if you act right away!