Friday, May 20, 2011

Flaming strawberry tarts and tablescape



Every year when I was growing up, I requested fresh strawberry pie for my birthday instead of cake.  It was a wonderful concoction of baked pie pastry filled with fresh strawberries and topped with seven minute icing.  I wanted to try bite sized pies (because I love my new little tart pans) and top them with flaming strawberries (because I like to play with fire). 

This is very easy and makes a knockout presentation.  I fit pie dough into tart pans that were sprayed with nonstick cooking spray.  A note here - whenever I bake a pie crust without a filling, I generously prick the bottom, line it with foil, and fill with dried beans to avoid shrinkage.  Halfway through the baking, I remove the foil and beans.




After the tart shells had cooled, they popped right out of the pans.  I filled each one with a sliced strawberry.




Top with seven minute frosting, Italian meringue, or if you had a week of migraines like me, marshmallow fluff.  All choices are gooey and good. 




Now its time to play with the fire.  Take a whole strawberry, cut out the stem, and hollow it out just a bit.  Pour a little orange extract in the hollow, place it on the tart, and light it up.




I have a really old and simplistic camera, so catching the flame was not easy.  You will have to take my word for it - really beautiful.  I'm a sucker for anything you can flambe.




Really bad picture, but you get the idea.  I was so hoping to do a dessert and coffee in the garden for this, but south central PA can't seem to get a break from the rain.  Instead, I set up shop in my dining room.  I also made strawberry and strawberry blossom sugar cookies.




I didn't have a strawberry cookie cutter, so I used a heart and the end of a magic wand cutter and put the two together.




Love these Goodwill purchases.  The taller one is a hobnail vase and I put a tiny plate on it.




I didn't have a runner that looked good with the colorscheme, so I just wove one out of ribbon.  I have an Offray factory outlet nearby and the last time I was there, I got a GARBAGE BAG full of beautiful ribbon for $3.11. 




I hope you try these because they really are good, and fast, and easy, and present wonderfully in person.






I am linking with
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15 comments:

  1. Everything looks great! I never would have thought to set the extract on fire, bet the orange adds great flavor too. Your cookies are very pretty-enjoy:@)

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  2. I love this! Everything looks so very yummy! I love the way you displayed it, too. Wow, the extract on fire, I will try this, I think it'll give it a great taste. Beautiful cookies, my granddaughters, Cayetana 4 and Victoria 6yrs.,10mths.old, love making cookies with me and I know they'll love yours! Have a great weekend!
    FABBY

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  3. I wish we lived next door!!! I love your posts. Great job on the cookies, the flambe (how flippin cool is THAT) and your tarts. YUM!!

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  4. Fabulous!!! I can't wait to see the owl cookie!! I'm following you now, so I can see what you make next!!
    HPS!
    xxDaniella

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  5. I want those!! The tarts are lovely and the cookies are supercute and very clever! Happy Pink Saturday!

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  6. First time to your site. What a cute table. I love the lemonade glasses and strawberry on the rim. I am having a tea party for my daughter's high school graduation with her friends and moms. This is inspiring! HPS

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  7. How pretty. Love your clever strawberry cookies and the ribbon runner.

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  8. That's a whole lot of strawberry fun! Perfect for strawberry time. Have a delightful week!

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  9. I came by to say hi and grab your button. I don't see it though. Maybe that is because I only have had a tiny sip of coffee.lol It will most definitely go on my blog when I find it.

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  10. I added your button but it is only showing up as an x on the bottom of my blog. When you click it the link works but no picture. If you change your button drop me a note so I can grab the new one. Only a suggestion, but I would have one that says Enchanted Oven on the pic so people know where they are headed when they click it, and better advertising for you.

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  11. How sweet and pretty! Your table looks wonderful with your darling creations and love strawberries!! Thank you for sharing this at Feathered Nest Friday- hope you will come share again soon :)

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  12. These look delish!

    - The Tablescaper

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  13. How sweet and clever! Really good use of a heart cutter! I have a small strawberry cutter that I traced, then enlarged to make a template. Took too long =S. Definitely trying your tip next time. Thanks!

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