Sunday Polo, Concert in the Park, and Cherry Plum Crumb Tart

Cherry Plum Crumb Tart, Cherry Plum Crumb Tart, Cherry Plum Crumb Tart...say that three times!

I'm just about a week late on this one, but it came in handy when I needed to put something together Sunday morning for Sunday evening's Concert in the Park. I had to leave home by noon to make it to the Aloha Sunday polo match with my photography group, so I was up early and scrambling to get this baked. It never would have happened without the sweet tart dough I happened to have left over in the freezer, or the cherries and plums I purchased the day before. I did have to to run out and get almond flour, but then it all came together easily...

I was lazy and pressed the dough into the tart pan, pricked it all over with a fork, and threw it in the freezer while I made the crumb topping. While the tart crust was baking, I made the almond filling, and pitted the cherries and plums. Dorie's recipe is for a cherry tart, but I had some cute little plums and decided to mix the cherries and plums. Because I was in a rush, I didn't even allow the crust to cool. I spread the filling into the crust, pressed the plum halves and cherries into the filling, baked the tart for 40 minutes, sprinkled the crumb topping over the top, baked for another 30 minutes, put it on a rack to cool, and raced out the door to the polo match. When I returned home at 4:30, I wrapped the cooled tart in plastic wrap, threw it in the picnic basket, and raced over to the park!

It was very crumbly, due to the buttery, flaky crust and crumble topping, so I just broke it into rustic shaped pieces and started handing out small plates to those who were sitting around me. I don't know how I managed to escape with a small piece to go with my coffee this morning, but I did! I served it room temperature at the concert, and chilled with my coffee, but I bet it would be perfect served warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream as well. This one is a keeper.

 A quick photo taken at the concert...

Cherry Plum Crumb Tart

The Company Men at Coronado Concert in the Park

A few photos from the polo match...

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Tuesdays with Dorie is an online cooking group where anyone can bake along. The group bakes from two books – Baking with Julia and Baking Chez Moi. I occasionally bake along with the Baking Chez Moi group. The group bakes two recipes per month (voted on by the members in advance) and posts on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month. We are asked to refrain from including the actual recipe in our posts, to promote the publishing industry and encourage others to buy the cookbooks.

See more Cherry Crumb Tarts here.

Baking Chez Moi - Roasted Peach Shortcakes Franco-American Style

If you haven't been to Coronado's Sunday Concerts in the Park, or experienced a festive Fourth of July on the island, you're definitely missing out! I am fortunate to have experienced both for several years and never grow tired of the community spirit and camaraderie.  Although I whine quite a bit about lugging everything to the park for our gourmet spread, and coming home to a disaster in my kitchen, those few hours relaxing with friends and family make it all meaningful.

This past Sunday was Father's Day, but it was also National Peaches and Cream Day! Our Baking Chez Moi recipe was Strawberry Shortcakes Franco-American Style, but I put a little twist on it for our culinary theme of "Peaches."

Biscuits à la cuillère, or ladyfingers, provide the French component in the form of soft and light cakes. I made ladyfingers once before for a Daring Baker's Challenge, but it's been a long time and I forgot how easy they are to make. Once the ladyfingers are baked, roasted peaches, bourbon-spiked whipped cream, and a dusting of powdered sugar complete this summer dessert.

Roasted Peach Shortcakes

I assembled the shortcakes at the park, which did add extra lugging of dishes, forks, separate containers for the ladyfingers and roasted peaches, my pastry bag, and an ice chest to keep the whipped cream cold, but I'm very happy with my Costco Foldable Wagon. I can load everything in the Jeep, drive over to mom's place, park in her extra parking space, unfold the wagon, load it up with food, strap on the roll up table and a few chairs, and walk across the street to Spreckels Park.

Here are a few more dishes from our peachy menu...Enjoy your week!

Holli's Peach-Stuffed Pork Loin with Peach Chipotle Sauce

Nina's charcuterie and cheese platter with Ghost Pepper +Peach Preserve

Pam's Curried Chicken and Peach Salad

Mom's Spinach, Grilled Peaches and Pecan Salad

Kai's Peachy Ceviche

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Tuesdays with Dorie is an online cooking group where anyone can bake along. The group bakes from two books – Baking with Julia and Baking Chez Moi. I occasionally bake along with the Baking Chez Moi group. The group bakes two recipes per month (voted on by the members in advance) and posts on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month. We are asked to refrain from including the actual recipe in our posts, to promote the publishing industry and encourage others to buy the cookbooks.