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Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Fresh Cherry Crostata


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A while ago I made an Apple Crostata that I absolutely loved. The crostata crust was amazing. I had fresh sweet cherries that needed used up and I thought of that crostata.  To Read More, Click On The Recipe Title.
This is fantastic. I think what absolutely makes this crostata is the crust. You could use any fruit you wanted to and it couldn't help but come out great, because of the crust. It's flaky and tender-- it literally melts in your mouth. I gave 2 slices of this to my sister in law to try. Her comment? "It tastes like a croissant with cherries!"
The crust recipe came from Epicurious, and the cherry filling recipe came from Napastyle. All the work for the crust is done in the food processor! Here's a link to the Apple Crostata, where there are step by step pictures and instructions for the crust. Trust me....it's EASY, and the best crust recipe you'll ever make!
After the crostata came from the oven, I sprinkled more white sugar on top as the cherries weren't as sweet as I had hoped. The sugar melted, and gave the cherries the sweetness they needed.
Make this...you WON'T be sorry!!

Wanna print just the recipe, click here!

All Butter Crust Dough
Epicurious

Ingredients

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (not unbleached)
2 teaspoons sugar
3/4 teaspoon salt
2 sticks (1 cup) cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
9 to 12 tablespoons ice water

Special equipment:
a pastry or bench scraper

Preparation:

Whisk together flour, sugar, and salt in a bowl, then blend in butter with your fingertips or a pastry blender (or pulse in a food processor) just until most of mixture resembles coarse meal with small (roughly pea-size) butter lumps. Drizzle evenly with 9 tablespoons ice water and gently stir with a fork (or pulse in food processor) until incorporated. Squeeze a small handful: If it doesn't hold together, add more ice water 1 tablespoon at a time, stirring (or pulsing) until just incorporated, then test again. (Do not overwork mixture, or pastry will be tough.)

Turn out mixture onto a lightly floured surface and divide into 8 portions. With heel of your hand, smear each portion once or twice in a forward motion to help distribute fat. Gather dough together with scraper and press into a ball, then flatten into a 6-inch disk. Chill dough, wrapped in plastic wrap, until firm, at least 1 hour.

Roll out pastry on a lightly floured surface with a floured rolling pin into a rough 16-inch round (1/8 inch thick), then transfer carefully to parchment-lined large baking sheet. Loosely fold in edge of pastry where necessary to fit on baking sheet, then chill, covered loosely with plastic wrap, 30 minutes.Preheat oven to 425°F.

Put baking sheet with pastry on a work surface and unfold any edges so pastry is flat. Spread cherry mixture over pastry, leaving a 2-inch border. Fold edges of dough over filling, partially covering cherries(center will not be covered) and pleating dough as necessary, brush pastry edge lightly with water and sprinkle with remaining 1/2 tablespoon granulated sugar. Bake crostata in middle of oven until pastry is golden and cherries are bubbling are , 40 to 45 minutes

Cherry Filling:
Napastyle

Filling:
4 cups pitted fresh cherries
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon unbleached all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Make the filling:

Combine the cherries, sugar, flour, and cinnamon in a bowl and toss well. Fill the center of the dough round with the cherries in an even layer, leaving a border of about 1 1/2 inches. Fold the border up and over the cherries to make a rim. Brush the rim with egg wash, then sprinkle with coarse sugar. Trim the excess parchment with scissors.


52 comments:

Linda said...

What a great menu! Everything just looks delicious and very bookmark-worthy. :)

Kathy said...

Wonderful menu ladies! Everything on the menu looks yummylicious! Love those cherries Bunny!

Denise said...

This is a perfect summer menu. That watermelon is really cute

Lyndas recipe box said...

What a delicious menu you all have prepared!I make lime chicken too, and love the flavor-your cherry dessert sounds wonderful as the others dishes!Very yummy!

Donna-FFW said...

I missed you and am very happy you are back. A 51 hour work week, I hope you get a long well deserved rest right about now. Geez, I am tired for you.

The food looks fantastic, every single dish, I am so terying the crostata.. you have sold me big time with the description of the crust!

Barbara Bakes said...

Sounds like a perfect meal to me! That jello is too cute!

Claudia said...

Gorgeous and will be doing your chicken this week! Happy 4th!

Creative Classroom Core said...

That watermelon is hilarious! Love it!

Mary | Deep South Dish said...

Happy to see you and everything looks beautiful as always!

Wow, a 51 hour work week?? Yikes!! I'm not even sure I could do that anymore - hope things calm down for ya!

Sharon said...

Hope you get some rest this weekend! As usual I love everything in your post, but I have a soft spot for that jello! Its adorable and I am definitely making it for my mom this summer.

Coleens Recipes said...

I get the biggest kick out of your postings for an entire meal!

Marie Rayner said...

Everything looks so good!! (especially that wiggly melon!)

Sherrie said...

That chicken looks delicious ! And so does the cherry crostata.

♥Rosie♥ said...

This is one mouth-watering menu ladies and I wish I could have just kind of sneaked in and shared with you some of this wonderful food ;0) Yet again I couldn't choose one as a favourite I would have to sample them all teehee..

Gosh, a 51 hour week now that is some hours put in! I hope you manage a good rest now - zzzzzz for you!!

Cristine said...

51 hours?!?! What a crazy week!

Everything looks fantastic! I will definately be trying the chicken and watermelon. YUM!

Shelby said...

You made us wait a while - but it is an awesome meal you have here! Time to take a break from work! ;-)

Leslie said...

I love all these items! The cherry Crostata looks amazing!

amandalouden said...

love it. I love anything lime and chicken...and lime...and cilantro...and lime!

Debbie said...

What great recipes! I know I will have to try the Cherry Crostada...I have a bunch of cherries on my counter right now!

grace said...

i want all of this and i want it now. cilantro = favorite herb. chicken = favorite protein. jalapeno = favorite spice. cherry = one of many favorite fruits. anything wiggly = just plain fun. great work!

Eliana said...

All of this food looks amazing. Especially your crostata. Great job.

Reeni said...

The chicken sounds refreshing and delicious - love the flavors. And the spicy potato salad - I don't think I've ever seen anything like it! The cherry dessert is just luscious! Love the cute little watermelon wigglies. Hope your getting a break now after that long week!

Melissa said...

What great summer recipes. Wiggly watermelon looks like it would be a children's favorite.

Karen said...

Everything looks great! I love how the watermelon jello looks - how fun! I'm going to have to put some jalapenos in my potato salad, now!

Dewi said...

Great menu, and the jello look almost like real watermelon. Love your cherry crostata.

Tina Butler said...

That chicken is so for me. I saw a link for the sanfranciso brown butter chicken as well. I need to try both of those. Those watermelons are the cutest thing.

Kerstin said...

What a great meal! The chicken looks right up our alley - we are always looking for new yummy chicken recipes!

Jaime said...

i love cilantro...and look at that pile of cherries!!! mmmmm!! those watermelon slices are too cute- i have also seen it done with sorbet.

♥peachkins♥ said...

That watermelon jell-o is really cute!

Lori said...

Very clever. My kids would go crazy over the watermelon.
I would go crazy over the chicken and mashed potatoes. Great flavors.

Katy ~ said...

Oh my, what a feast for the eyes and for the belly!

Lucy..♥ said...

Wonderful, just wonderful!! I love the sound of that lime chicken, and those desserts... that watermelon is soooo much fun!!

sara said...

Everything looks wonderful! That cherry crostata is calling my name :)

Gloria Baker said...

All is nice Bunny, really love your cilantro chicken, adore your Cherry Crostata (I love cherries)) look wonderful and Watermelon look absolutely amazing, well donde dear. look so beauty!! and tasty!! xxGloria

giz said...

The jello is a hoot - what a fun thing to serve to unsuspecting people. I have to try this.

Susan said...

Oh Yum! That menu sure sounds terrific...but I have to say that watermelon jello has to be the neatest I have ever seen. What a hit that would make. I have to try it.
Thanks for such a fun idea!

Jacque said...

Mmmm, what fun and delicious recipes!! You girls are always hitting home runs, I tell 'ya.

Valerie Harrison (bellini) said...

Love everything about this menu. You all sure now how to enjoy a great meal.

Kim said...

That must have been some meal! Can I have dessert, first? Cherries are a favorite with me, and the Crostata looks especially fabulous.

http://sowhatareyoumakingfordinner.blogspot.com/ said...

What fun. I am making the Cherry Crosta. It looks great!

Deeba PAB said...

Happy 4th to you Bunny. You continue to amze me. This is a real treasure; each recipe winner. I just love the chicken & the cherry crostata. Everything's singing to me!!! YUM!!

Ingrid_3Bs said...

That chicken looks good. Maybe I can manage to not overcook. :)

That wiggly watermelon is too neat!

Happy 4th!
~ingrid

pastry studio said...

Ooohh, your Cherry Crostata looks perfect! And wow, I can't wait to try the Jalapeno Potato Salad!! Sounds terrific for a pot luck.

Gloria Baker said...

Happy July 4th dear Bunny!! xxGloria

test it comm said...

The chicken and potatoes would go well together and I could certainly go for a slice of that cherry crostata for dessert!

Kristen said...

Everything looks so good and perfect for this time of year. That watermelon cracks me up! I love it!

Proud Italian Cook said...

Everything, I mean everything looks so good! Why don't you 3 have a party for all us bloggers!!

Ivy said...

I love your posts as we get a full course meal here. Everything sounds delicious and those wiggly watermelon are so creative.

The Short (dis)Order Cook said...

Great food all around. Who would have thought of jalapeno potato salad? I'm very intrigued.

I'm also loving your crostada. I should have made that instead of the cherry pie I made a few weeks ago for a bake sale.

Watermelon slices are adorable!

Jeff said...

Awesome menu and I love the the jello idea!! Actually the cilantro lime chicken is more up my alley. Still though the watermelon freaking cool!

Sophie said...

This is such a fun idea :)! I love that you even included the little seeds.

Jade said...

Your menu looks fabulous. I love the watermellon idea. Great summer dessert.