berry tart

 

Shortbread crust

	2¼	cups plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
		Pinch of salt
	½	cup (firmly packed) light brown sugar
	1	cup (2 sticks) cold unsalted butter, cut into tablespoon-sized slices
	2	tsp. almond extract
	3 to 4	Tbsp. water

Mascarpone filling

	8	oz. mascarpone
	3	Tbsp. confectioners’ sugar
		Finely grated zest of 1 lemon

Berry topping

	1	pt. fresh blueberries, rinse and strain/remove excess water
	1	pt. fresh raspberries, rinse and strain/remove excess water
		Confectioners’ sugar for dusting

Steps

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees, with the rack in the center position. Line a 12-inch springform pan (or round pan of your choice) with foil to press the dough into the bottom.
2. Make the crust: Place the flour, salt, and brown sugar in the bowl of a food processor fitted with the metal blade. Pulse a few times to mix. Add the butter and almond extract to the work bowl and process for about 30 seconds, adding just enough water to make a soft dough.
3. Gather the dough into a ball and place it on the springfoam pan. Dust lightly with flour, then cover with a sheet of plastic wrap. Use the palms of your hands to press it into a 12-inch disk.
4. Bake for about 30 to 35 minutes, or until lightly browned. Allow the crust to cool on a wire rack before filling.
5. Fill the tart: Mix the mascarpone, 3 tablespoons of the confectioners’ sugar, and the zest in a small bowl just to combine. Spread over the cooled crust. Scatter the berries over the filling, and just before serving, dust with confectioners’ sugar.

❇This is a great 4th of July recipe.  You can change the raspberries with strawberries or just use one fruit if needed.  You can also just use strawberries or raspberries for a great Valentine's Day or Christmas tart.  Change the fruit to make it fit any occasion in any season of the year.  This is also great for any picnic or backyard get together.

Frosty Fizzy

Juice or fruit-flavored beverage Seltzer - plain Fill an ice cube tray with a fruit-flavored beverage or fruit juice (such as Cherry juice, Blueberry juice,  Grape juice, Cranberry juice, Gatorade, Kool-Aid) and let the cubes freeze solid. Then drop three or four colored cubes into each glass, pour in flavored seltzer water or clear soda, and watch the special effects. As the cubes melt, colored bubbles will swirl through the seltzer.     ✵ This is a fun drink to make for kids and adults!  You can use specific colored juice in the cubes to match holidays.  For the Forth of July, use red and blue.  For Christmas, use red and green.  For Valentines day, use red.  Be creative and have fun with this drink recipe!

pineapple blueberry drink

• 1/4 cup soy milk
• 1/2 cup pineapple juice
• 1/4 cup of blueberries
• 1 cup pineapple chunks, fresh or frozen
• 1 banana, peeled
• 2 teaspoons flaxseed oil
• 1 tablespoon wheat germ

1. Place the soy milk, pineapple juice, pineapple chunks, blueberries, banana, wheat germ and flaxseed oil in a blender, and blend until smooth and creamy.
2. Pour into a glass and serve at once.

berry cocktail

1 oz Absolut Berri Açaí Vodka
5 Blueberries
1 oz fresh lime juice
1 oz simple syrup
champagne
blueberries and fresh mint - optional

Muddle the blueberries in a shaker. Add Absolut Berri Açai Vodka,  fresh lime juice, simple syrup and ice cubes. Shake and strain into a beautiful champagne flute or a glass with or without ice. Top it off with chilled champagne and garnish with  blueberries and mint.

blueberry morning cake

• 2 cups and 1-2 Tbsp of sifted, all purpose flour separated
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, softened
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 pint blueberries

Topping ingredients:

• 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/3 cup sifted all purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1 Preheat the oven to 375°F. Grease an 8-inch spring form pan. Set aside.
2 Sift together the 2 cups of flour, the baking powder and the salt. Set aside. Cream the butter and sugar until fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in the egg. Add the flour mixture in 3 parts, alternating with the milk. Toss the berries with the remaining 1 to 2 tablespoons of flour (to separate and scatter evenly throughout the batter) and fold in. Pour batter into the prepared pan. Set aside.
3 Combine ingredients for topping with a fork to make crumbly mixture. Sprinkle this over the batter.
4 Bake for one hour. Check cake if done; if not bake another 5 to 10 minutes.
5 When the cake has cooled, run a knife around the edges and lift the cake out o the pan. Serve with whipped cream.