Cranberry Crackle Tart ~ Tuesdays with Dorie

Per Tricia~

Team work in the kitchen involves splitting calories as well as work. 

 Nana graciously agreed to do the heavy lifting for Thanksgiving and 

delighted us with a spectacular meal. No surprise there.  We delivered 

the organic turkey from Vermont and she did the rest. Yes, we are

completely and utterly spoiled. And very thankful. 

My easy assignment ? Knock out the Cranberry Crackle Tart for the 

blog. Note to file, Nana is not a huge fan of cranberries but does make 

an outstanding orange relish with them each year. Just not tarts.

The recipe offers options regarding the type of crust to use and I chose the 

sweet tart dough (pâte sablée) for this go around. In fact, I recalled using 

Dorie's recipe for this crust before and promptly made a second batch that

 went right into the freezer. It is so easy to whip up and have on hand- 

all the more important with the holidays closing in.

crust baked, filling ready to be baked~

And even though we are all settled in our new home, I am months away 

from truly "finding" all the items stored and packed away in the process.

Case in point, my hand mixer and my pie weights. I crossed my fingers

 that the KitchenAid would do the trick for the meringue and it

thankfully delivered. For the pie weights I was more desperate creative-
 using my younger son's rock collection from several years back. 

Yes.

Yes I did. 

I have to say that I was a bit intimidated when first reading the recipe

 between the dough prep, the meringue and then incorporating whole 

cranberries -but it truly was not a difficult recipe and the results were fantastic. 

 My favorite moment was when my younger son walked into

 the kitchen and saw the finished creation. 

"Wow."

"Wow"

"Wow"

  "That's really something. What is it ?" 

In full disclosure, I had decided by the second "wow" that this was 

a "company worthy" dessert and that I had to remember this for the next 
time we have guests.  He looked completely incredulous that I could have 
caused such a creation to come out of the oven. I probably should have
 been insulted, but instead I reveled in the moment. Opportunities to 
impress do not come along as easily now that the boys are older :)

This was obviously a seasonal choice for us but the concept of mixing the 

fruit with the meringue and baking it over the crust that had been layered

 with jam is one that lends itself to change ups between the seasons. I look 

forward to playing around with this one as well as enjoying it again

 next year with the cranberries.

This marks our second recipe as we cook along with the "Tuesdays with Dorie" online group.  Please note that we do not post the recipes, per the group rules, but we do encourage others to RUN out and buy their own copy of Dorie Greenspan's "Baking Chez Moi".  Better yet, buy the book and join the group ! www.TuesdaysWithDorie.wordpress.com