Lemon Ricotta Tart
With my dwarf Meyer Lemon tree currently weighed down by fragrant yellow fruit, the time was right for a lemony dessert! This tart is made with my signature simple crust (organic flour, organic butter, a pinch of salt, and water), filled with a simple mixture of organic eggs, just the minimal amount of organic sugar, generous amounts of zesty grated lemon rind, and vanilla, folded into creamy, whole-milk Italian ricotta cheese.
Ricotta isn’t just for lasagna! Reminiscent of a large lemony canoli, this tart is an acquired taste for those who are used to traditional American cheese cakes. Instead of a smooth, processed creaminess, the ricotta adds a pleasantly chalky texture to this tart. Ricotta cheese is also significantly healthier than cream cheese!
Topped off with swirls of unsweetened organic whipped cream and and thin slivers of lemon made edible via boiling sugar syrup, the tart is a perfect complement to a heavy, Italian-influenced meal!
Strawberry Tart
A quintessentially summer dessert, this strawberry tart is as delicious as it is breathtaking to look at. A simple crust (organic flour, organic butter, and filtered water), is topped with a layer of heavenly mascarpone cheese spiked with orange zest, lemon juice, vanilla, and powdered sugar. Organic strawberries macerated in sugar and more orange zest crown the top, with a few mascarpone flowers for decoration. Sure to be a hit at any gathering! Best of all, this tart is not overly sweet and will NOT make your teeth ache.
Mixed Fruit Tart
A perfect summer dessert, my fruit tarts are a simple combination of regular or gluten-free crust, filled with mascarpone (sweet Italian cream cheese) spiked with orange zest, lemon juice, and vanilla, topped with a colorful assortment of sliced fresh, seasonal, organic fruit.
In the example shown above, I used ripe kiwis, a valencia orange (whose peel provided the zest for the filling), black grapes, raspberries, and a blackberry centerpiece. Mascarpone flowers add a finishing touch.
Another example above features oranges, kiwis, strawberries, and blueberries, also with a blackberry centerpiece (all organic of course!), and the mascarpone flowers.
Because there is only a little added sugar in this tart, it is richly satisfying without the sugar crash, and a great way to get young children to eat fresh fruit! Beware: fights may break out at the dinner table over this dessert!