Tuesday, January 5, 2010

TWD's 2nd Birthday - Tarte Tatin


Two years ago, when Laurie at slush got Baking From My Home to Yours by Dorie Greenspan for Christmas, she put out a message on her blog. She planned to make one recipe from the book each week, and invited others to join her. Tuesdays with Dorie was born, and hundreds of us have glommed on to her idea and aspiration.

Two years ago, I really didn't know what a blog was (no, I hadn't been living under a rock). I found Tuesdays with Dorie six months later, and wished I could participate, but not only did I not have a blog, but I was about to be without a kitchen. That's when Laurie threw down the gauntlet...join by Oct. 31 2008 or forever be on the outside looking in.

Kitchen or no, blog or no, I knew I couldn't let TWD escape me. I set up my blog and joined. Two weeks later, my kitchen was demoed. Two months later, my dream kitchen was finished and I rejoined my online buddies in making recipes from the quintessential book for the discerning home baker. I never dreamed that blogging would merge my old love of writing with my perpetual love of baking and sharing.

As Laurie is nothing if not inclusive, she queried the group about which recipe should be chosen for the two year anniversary (Dorie herself chose the first anniversary recipe). Laurie ultimately picked two recipes for our second anniversary.

Now, if I could still fit into my favorite jeans, I would probably have made both of these recipes, but I chose the Tarte Tatin. After all, Dorie and I share a love of Paris and its food, and it's a dessert I've never made. For me,TWD has been all about trying new things and honing my craft and it just seemed right. Many of my fellow TWDers are making the Cocoa Buttermilk Birthday Cake, and some are even making both.

This dessert is (please don't throw things in my direction) pretty easy, unless you're forgetful like I am. It requires you to make caramel in a cast iron pan, layer apples and then top with puff pastry. I rolled out the puff pastry with the paper still on one side, and it was extremely hard to peel off after I set it on top of the tart. After baking, you face the most difficult step--flipping the tarte tatin onto a serving platter. Even that is manageable with your third hand. What, no third hand? No worries. You're certainly a neater flipper than I am. Seriously, this requires one pan and a knife to peel and cut the apples. The results are a spectacular, unctuously gooey caramel apple experience that will earn you many fans. Even over-caramelized like mine, the apples are the star. If you make this, think about sprinkling a little Vietnamese cinnamon on the apples before putting the puff pastry on. If you'd like the recipe, you'll find it here. Even better, buy the book and discover your baking muse.

Thank you, Laurie, for all you do for us. And especially for inviting us on this journey.

25 comments:

Sabrina said...

Great job! I really ejoyed making this one... and eating it too! :)

natalia said...

Ciao !I love the bubbling sugar photo !!

slush said...

You guys all have perfect looking tartes! Thanks for baking along with me. xo

Susan said...

Love reading your posts. They always make me smile (or laugh!) Your tarte looks delicious and I am wishing I had made it instead of the cake. Oh well, there's nothing stopping me from making it in the future!

chocolatechic said...

This is such an elegant dessert for how ridiculously easy it is.

Yours looks great.

Kayte said...

Yours looks absolutely perfect. I thought it was all pretty easy, except it was hard to tell just how done the bottom layer of apples was getting, so a few of mine got a little dark, tasted great, though!

Anonymous said...

Your tarte looks wonderful! I wonder how many of us did a happy dance when we flipped it over.

Michele said...

I think that your tart looks lovely.

Anonymous said...

It looks lovely! I joined the group right before she threw down the gauntlet too, and I'm glad I did!

Katrina said...

I made both.
The tatin was a fun one because I'd never made anything like it before.
The cake, was only so-so, a little dry. And I'm ignoring my favorite jeans! ;)
Having a giveaway on my blog!

Welcome to our crazy blessed life said...

I absolutely love everything you wrote about this! I am glad to be a part of something so fun with you! :)

Karine said...

Great job with your tarte tatin! It looks delicious :)

Unknown said...

Oh man, your gorgeous photos make me so jealous of your tarte! I am going to make this one as soon as I get my hands on a smaller cast iron skillet! Great job!

By the way, I'd never seen your posts about your kitchen makeover. It is stunning - I'd love to cook in that kitchen :)

Paula said...

Enjoyed the story of your journey with TWD. It was the same with me in that I wanted to join but had no blog. Good job with the Tatin.

dharmagirl said...

so lovely! i was scared by the caramel. but this would be so cute in my little cast iron skillet:)

Anne said...

I was thinking cinnamon would be perfect here, too. Yours looks perfect and I'm so glad you're in TWD!

Megan said...

I've got to remember to add cinnamon to my tart - I really wish I'd made it instead of the cake.

steph- whisk/spoon said...

wow--your dream kitchen might be my dream, too. it's gorgeous!! and your tart's not bad lookin' either (i like the cinnamon idea)! happy anniversary!

Foodie with Little Thyme! said...

Beautiful! You did great work! I would love to taste it but unfortunately I don't have the cookbook. OH no, I better go shopping!

margot said...

Your tart turned out beautiful, so nice and caramelly! I was tempted to make both too, but after the holidays I just couldn't do it; I figure I'll have plenty of occasions to make chocolate cake in the future.

spike. said...

cinnamon on top sounds perfect! Still hoping to get to this one eventually

Nancy/n.o.e said...

We have twin Tarte Tatins! Except that mine is half sized. And I didn't use puff pastry. But otherwise we are sisters-in-tarte this week. I voted for this recipe for the same reasons you listed, but then had the perfect reason to bake the cake and almost, almost, didn't get the tarte baked. I'm so glad I did though. Unctuous is a perfect word. Yum!!

Bella Baker said...

Your tart look phenomenal!! Great job!!! I loved this one as well and I will definitely make it again!

TeaLady said...

this was my first tarte tatin. And it won't be my last.

Yours looks fantastic. The caramel looks perfect.

I love a one skillet cake....

Chats the Comfy Cook said...

It came out beautifully.

I bought myself two cast iron pans but failed to buy the right size for such recipes such as these. I am kicking myself. I thought I was so clever.

Isn't it great baking in cast iron?