For years I have been driving the 50 mile round trip to Aptos and back to buy the most luscious fruit tarts from a store called The Farm.
The Farm is a cute little bakery and café with an eclectic gift shop just south of Cabrillo College. It is mostly famous for its amazing fruit tarts. The fruit is fresh, and not coated in that thick, overly-sweet, gelatinous glaze. The base of the tart tastes similar to a cheesecake.
Because of the Farm’s geographically inconvenient location and the fact that I am a cheapskate, I just recently tried to make my own.
After my second imperfect attempt, I thought to myself, “What is that stupid acronym? Oh yeah, K.I.S.S. -- Keep It Simple, Stupid.” So on my third try, I got it right.
Here is the 411:
Take a Trader Joe’s pie crust and lay it down on the bottom of a tart pan. Bake it according to the directions. Take it out of the oven –duh - and let it cool.
Beat together with the paddle attachment of an electric mixer one 8 oz. package of cream cheese, ¼ cup sour cream, 2 tsp vanilla and ¾ cup of sugar.
Beat them together, some would say cream them together, for a while -- somewhere in the 4-5 minute range -- then spread evenly over the crust. Slice up your favorite fruit or combination thereof, and lay the fruit on top of the cream cheese mixture.
Start working from the outside in, or from the middle out, or go straight across or up and down. It don’t make no never mind. It still tastes real good.
Slice and enjoy, and enjoy even more because you didn’t just spend $24 and a whole bunch of gas for the indulgence.
My kids say my tart is even better than The Farm’s, but of course they know they’d better say that, or I won’t feed them again…ever.
Congratulations, it's gorgeous.
Damn you, now I will be obsessed with fruit tart until I make one.
Posted by: Jacqueline | September 12, 2012 at 07:26 AM
Maawaaaawahahaha, Yes, it was my evil plan to tempt you. SUCCESS!
Posted by: chigiy | September 12, 2012 at 11:17 AM
Wow, it's obvious you aren't not only an ace on the stripper pole but also an ace in the kitchen! Xo
Posted by: kimmy | September 12, 2012 at 09:20 PM