Arugula Salad with Peaches, Basil, Goat Cheese & Pine Nuts

I have a quite a few summer recipes to share. 🙂  I loved this simple salad so much, I had to post it first. I’ve already made it a couple of times! It is composed of many of my seasonal favorites. Bright, fresh, creamy, crunchy and absolutely perfect.

This recipe is from The New York Times, contributed by Lidey Heuck. I used half of the dressing. I made the salad with white peach slices, but it would also be wonderful with sliced nectarines or mango. The author also suggested substituting cherries, strawberries, plums, raspberries or even cherry tomatoes. Lovely.

Yield: Serves 4 to 6 as an appetizer or side salad

• 1/4 cup (4 T) pine nuts or walnuts
• 2 to 4 T extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 to 2 T champagne vinegar or white wine vinegar
• 1/2 tsp kosher salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 5 ounces baby arugula
• 2 ripe peaches, pitted and cut into 1/4-inch slices (about 10 ounces)
• 1/2 cup julienned fresh basil leaves
• 2 ounces creamy goat cheese, crumbled (about ½ cup), plus more to taste

1. In a small sauté pan, toast the pine nuts over medium heat, tossing often, until golden brown, about 2 to 3 minutes. (I used a small cast iron skillet.) Remove from the heat.
2. In a small liquid measuring cup or bowl, whisk together the olive oil, vinegar, salt and pepper. (I used 4 T olive oil and 2 T vinegar but used about half of the dressing on the salad and reserved the remaining dressing.)
3. Place the arugula in a large salad bowl. Pour just enough dressing over the greens to moisten, and toss to coat.
4. Add the peaches, basil, goat cheese and toasted pine nuts and toss to coat.
5. Toss gently and serve immediately.

Damson Plum & Cream Tart

This is the second dessert I was able to make with the bounty of Damson plums I received in my CSA share. The plum compote was a great way to preserve the plums for a later use; it keeps for up to two weeks in the refrigerator.

The sweet compote paired very nicely with the lightly sweetened cream filling and crust. The quantity of compote used to garnish the top of the tart can be adjusted to affect the overall sweetness of the finished tart.

This recipe was adapted from Gourmet, via Epicurious.com. The pastry recipe is from Martha Stewart. Store-bought pie crust could easily be substituted. I have been eating the leftover compote drizzled over vanilla ice cream!

Yield: One 10-inch tart, Serves 6 to 8

For the Pastry:

• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 tsp coarse salt
• 2 sticks plus 2 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
• 1/4 to 1/2 cup ice water

For the Compote:

• 1 pound Damson plums or prune plums
• 1 3/4 cups sugar
• pinch of coarse salt
• 2 tablespoons white wine or citrus juice
• 1 Turkish or 1/2 California bay leaf

For the Cream Filling:

• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1/2 vanilla bean, split lengthwise
• 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon grated lemon zest

1. Make pastry dough: Pulse flour, sugar, and 1 teaspoon salt in a food processor until combined.
2. Add butter, and pulse until mixture resembles coarse meal, about 10 seconds.
3. Drizzle 1/4 cup ice water evenly over mixture. Pulse until mixture holds together when pressed between 2 fingers (dough should not be wet or sticky). If dough is too dry, add more water, 1 tablespoon at a time, and pulse.
4. Shape dough into 1 large disk, and wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate until firm, at least 1 hour. (Dough can be refrigerated overnight or frozen for up to 3 months. Let chilled dough stand for 10 minutes and frozen dough thaw before using.)
5. Make the compote while pastry chills: Bring whole plums, sugar, salt, wine/citrus juice, and bay leaf to a simmer in a heavy medium saucepan over medium-low heat, covered, stirring occasionally until sugar has dissolved (be careful juices don’t boil over). (I used an enameled cast iron saucepan.)
6. Reduce heat to low and simmer, covered, stirring occasionally, until plums fall apart, about 30 minutes.
7. Transfer to a bowl and chill, uncovered, until cold, then cover.
8. Discard pits and bay leaf, then add a little confectioners sugar to taste if desired.
9. Prepare the pastry: Between layers of plastic wrap, roll dough into an approximately 12-inch round, enough to cover a 10-inch tart pan bottom and sides.
10. Prick bottoms all over with a fork, then freeze tart pan on a cookie sheet until firm, at least 1 hour.
11. Preheat oven to 425°F with rack in middle, preferably on convection.
12. Place chilled tart crust in oven. Turn oven temperature down to 400°F and bake until golden all over, 11 to 13 minutes.
13. Transfer tart pan to a rack to cool completely, then remove shell from pan.
14. Make the cream filling: Put cream in a large bowl, then scrape seeds from vanilla bean into cream.
15. Beat in sugar and zest with an electric mixer until cream just holds stiff peaks.
16. Fold in about 2 tablespoons plum compote, then spread cream in the prepared tart shell.
17. Serve topped with some of remaining compote (you will have a lot left over).

Note: Compote keeps, covered and chilled, 2 weeks.

One Year Ago:

• Whole Wheat-Bartlett Pear Crumb Cake
• Blueberry Cornmeal Cake

Two Years Ago:

• Jacques Pepin’s Plum Galette
• Raspberry Custard Tart
• Blueberry Margarita

Three Years Ago:

• Key Lime Pie with Chocolate Graham Cracker-Almond Crust
• Blueberry Cornmeal Butter Cake

Single-Crust Damson Plum & Apple Pie

I “had” to make this wonderful weeknight pie with the Damson plums I received in my CSA share. 🙂 Apparently, they are too tart to be eaten raw and must be cooked. Lucky for me, I received over two pounds of them and was able to enjoy them in two different desserts!

The combination of tart fruit with a sweet cookie-like crust in this pie was absolutely delicious. Blending plums with apples was a wonderful bridge from summer to fall as well.

This recipe was adapted from The Guardian, contributed by Nigel Slater, via Smitten Kitchen. The original recipe used prune plums. It was almost a cobbler with its crumbly lid and oozing filling. Amazing.

I’m sharing my pie at Angie’s Fiesta Friday #138 this week, co-hosted by my friends Mollie @The Frugal Hausfrau and Johanne @French Gardener Dishes. Enjoy!

For the Pastry Lid:

• 7 tablespoons (100 grams) unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 1/2 cup (100 grams) granulated sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon finely grated orange zest (I used the zest from about 1/2 a naval orange.)
• 1 large egg, lightly beaten
• 1 cup plus 6 1/2 tablespoons (175 grams) all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon coarse or flaky salt
• milk or heavy cream, for brushing crust
• turbinado or granulated sugar, for sprinkling crust
• softly whipped, lightly sweetened cream, or vanilla ice cream, for serving, optional (unnecessary!)

For the Filling:

• 1 pound ripe Damson plums or Italian prune plums, pitted and quartered
• 1 pound apples, peeled, cored and cut into smaller chunks (I used Pink Lady apples.)
• 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• squeeze or two of fresh orange juice

1. Make the pastry lid: In a stand mixer, cream the butter, sugar and orange zest until light and fluffy.
2. Mix in the lightly beaten egg and scrape down sides.
3. Slowly add the flour, baking powder and salt and beat until combined.
4. Scrape dough into a piece of waxed paper or plastic wrap, and stick in the freezer for 10 to 20 minutes, or until firmed up.
5. Assemble the pie: Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C or gas mark 4).
6. Butter a pie dish. (I used cooking oil spray.)
7. Add the fruit and sprinkle it with the sugar, cinnamon and orange juice. Gently toss the ingredients together once or twice. 
8. Roll out the firmed-up lid dough between sheets of plastic wrap or on a very well floured counter.
9. Gently lift it onto the pie and fold the edges underneath to fit the dish. Crimp the edges, as desired. (Note: The crust may tear- all the better to let juice erupt through.)
10. Cut 4 vents in the top to allow steam to release and additional juice to bubble through.
11. Brush the crust with milk or cream, sprinkle with sugar. 
12. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, until lightly golden on top, covering the edges after the first 15 minutes of baking to prevent over-browning.
13. Scoop onto dishes and serve plain or with whipped cream or ice cream, as desired. (I thought it was perfect on its own!)

One Year Ago:

• Selma’s Plum & Cinnamon Cake
• Mini Pear & Blueberry Upside-Down Cakes

Two Years Ago:

• Fourth of July Blueberry Pie
• Blueberry Buckle

Three Years Ago:

• White Peach & Raspberry Cobbler with Butter Biscuits
• Blackberry Crumb Cake

Selma’s Plum & Cinnamon Cake

When I first met Selma through Fiesta Friday, I let her know that the “About” page on her blog was truly one of the best and the most interesting I’d ever read. I even had my husband read it! She was a wonderful writer and described her life and culinary journey so beautifully. Her blog was no different- such great recipes with stories to go with them.

I particularly loved this post on Selma’s Table. (I’ve had it bookmarked to make ever since I read it the first time!) Not only did the cake look and sound wonderful, Selma told a great story about it that I could really relate to… She describes how her son Jake was always cooperative but frustrated waiting for his meals to be photographed. (My entire family may have the same complaint!) After making this delicious cake, Selma set it aside to rest overnight only to find a large slice messily cut out of it in the morning! I suppose her son’s patience had run out. 😉 Maybe this cake was just that irresistible.

I am bringing this cake as a tribute to Selma at this special Fiesta Friday in her honor. I was shocked and saddened by her passing. She touched and influenced so many and will be truly missed. This recipe was adapted from Marian Burros’ Famous Purple Plum Torte and Deb Perleman’s Smitten Kitchen Purple Plum Torte, via Selma’s Table. According to Selma, this recipe was printed every autumn in the New York Times from 1983 until 1995! You know it’s good. Thank you, Selma. ❤

Yield: Serves 8

• 140 g all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• pinch of coarse salt
• 150 g granulated sugar
• 115 g (8 T/ one stick) unsalted butter, softened
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla paste or extract
• 2 large ripe, tart plums (I used red)
• 4 small ripe, tart plums (I used black) (Selma used 8 medium plums)
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 2 T turbinado sugar

1. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees on convection. Prepare a 9-inch springfrom pan by lining it with parchment paper and then buttering the base and sides. (I used cooking oil spray.)
2. Halve the plums and twist to remove the pits, then cut each half into quarters; set aside. (Selma quartered the plums, and the original recipe halves them.)
3. Place the flour, baking powder and salt in a small bowl; whisk to incorporate the 3 ingredients throughly.
4. Place the butter and sugar in a medium-sized mixing bowl or stand mixer and cream until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl a couple of times.
5. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, until well incorporated – scrape down the sides after each addition. It may look curdled but if you add a spoonful of the flour mixture all will be well again.
6. Add the flour mixture and the vanilla paste/extract and beat only just until incorporated. Using a rubber spatula, scrape under to make sure that there is no raw flour and mix in if there is.
7. Scrape into the prepared tin and smooth it out to cover the base. It will seem very scant but don’t worry – it will be enough!
8. Arrange the plums from the outside into the middle, keeping it quite tight. (I placed mine skin side down- like Selma- but the original recipe places them skin side up.)
9. Scatter the cinnamon and turbinado sugar over the top.
10. Bake for 40-50 minutes. Insert a toothpick into the cakey part – if no batter is left clinging to it then it’s done. If there is batter clinging to it then pop it back in for 5 mins increments and keep checking.
    Try and make this the night before to let it mellow, covered and at room temperature, when it will be at it’s best.

One Year Ago:

• Watermelon Sangria

Two Years Ago:

• Watermelon Mojito
• Raspberry Cocktail

Jacques Pepin’s Plum Galette

Galettes have the most fabulous presentation- and simple preparation. The best combination! 🙂 This buttery and flaky crust can be made in minutes, and this tart can be made with any seasonal fruit. It was amazing with a combination of red and black plums. This recipe was adapted from a staff-favorite Food and Wine recipe, contributed by Jacques Pépin.

I’m bringing it to my favorite weekly blog party, Fiesta Friday #33, at The Novice Gardener this week. Enjoy!

Yield: Serves 8

For the Pate Brisee:

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 sticks cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/3 cup ice water

For the Filling:

• 1/4 cup plus 1/3 cup sugar
• 3 tablespoons ground almonds
• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 2 1/2 pounds large plums—halved, pitted and cut into 1/2-inch wedges (I used a combination of red & black plums)
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into small bits
• 1/2 cup good-quality plum, apricot or raspberry preserves, strained if chunky or seedy
• 1 teaspoon turbinado sugar

1. Make the Pate Brisee: Put the flour, butter and salt in a food processor and process for 5 seconds; the butter should still be in pieces. Add the ice water and process for 5 seconds longer, just until the dough comes together; the butter should still be visible.
2. Remove the dough from the processor and gather it into a ball. On a lightly floured surface or plastic wrap, roll out the dough into a 16-by-18-inch oval 1/16 to 1/8 inch thick. Drape the dough over the rolling pin and transfer it to a large, heavy baking sheet (I used a very large cutting board.). Chill the dough until firm, about 20 minutes. Preheat the oven to 400°(convection).
3. Transfer the chilled dough onto a large piece of parchment paper.
4. Make the Filling: In a small bowl, combine 1/4 cup of the sugar with the ground almonds and flour. Spread this mixture evenly over the dough to within 2 inches of the edge. Arrange the plum wedges on top in a circular pattern and dot with the butter. Sprinkle the remaining 1/3 cup sugar over the fruit. Fold the edge of the dough up over the plums to create a 2-inch border. (If the dough feels cold and firm, wait for a few minutes until it softens to prevent it from cracking.) Sprinkle the border with the teaspoon of turbinado sugar.
5. Transfer the tart, on the parchment paper, to a large, rimmed baking sheet. (I used a pizza peel for the transfer.)
6. Bake the galette in the middle of the oven for about 40 to 45 minutes (on convection) or up to 1 hour in a standard oven, until the fruit is very soft and the crust is richly browned. If any juices have leaked onto the baking sheet, slide a knife under the galette to release it from the sheet. Evenly brush the preserves over the hot fruit; brush some up onto the crust, too, if desired. Let the galette cool to room temperature before serving.

One Year Ago:

• Easy Peach Cobbler