Blue Ribbon Kitchen: Be My Valentine ~ Berry Tart

I don't know about you...

but sometimes I feel like

simple is better.

I know...

Does that sound like a shocker??

Coming from a chronic holiday

over-doer...like me??

When it comes to Valentine's Day,

all that is sweet and sentimental...

about such a love-filled day...
I think I prefer simple. I really do.

Valentines that are

short and sweet...but also thoughtful....

are winners in my book.

Here's a thought:

Valentines don't have to be expensive

or traditional or red...

...they just have to be

thoughtful.

Nothing too over-the-top...

Because after all,

it's the thought that counts.

Because I LOVE that you stopped by

the Blue Ribbon Kitchen,

I pulled together a

few simple and very easy ways to

spread a little love in your home

this February...

Fresh Baked Love:

Nothing can beat a cute little berry tart...

I've found the

way to my family's heart...is definitely through

dessert...

and this lovely treat was no exception.

Don't have tart pans??

No worries...

Use rings from canning jars...they work perfectly!

I baked the tarts on a parchment lined

cookie sheet and they baked up beautifully.

Get the full berry tart recipe
with how-to photos below,
at the bottom of this post.

All Heart Table Runner:
Cookie cutters and craft paint transformed

a simple piece of burlap.

Wow.

This was a fun...and beyond-easy way to

inexpensively add a pop of

Valentine color to the kitchen.

What a great way to add

Valentine fun...without breaking the bank.

To see the full directions for the Valentine Table Runner,

Click here: All-Heart Table Runner

A simple felt banner...Looks like a lot of work...
but it's not...
A few unexpected felt hearts here and there,
go a long way

toward putting a little love in the air...

Find out how to make this easy banner with felt.

Click Here:

Valentine Banner

As always, thanks so much for stopping by...

I'm so happy

that you visit. -K

Berry Tart Recipe: How-To Photos Featured Below.

Two 5-ounce clam-shell containers of blueberries

One 5-ounce container of raspberries

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1/2 teaspoon lemon zest

1 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch

3 tablespoons water

Pie Dough:

For recipe and tutorial...I share ALL my tips to getting the very BEST

Award-winning pie crust!! Pie Dough Recipe and Secrets

Canning rings

parchment

baking sheet small heart cookie cutters
***

Pre-heat oven to 375 and make sure racks are at the lowest setting inside the oven.

Make pie dough, roll out dough on a lightly floured surface.

Dough should be 1/4 inch thickness.

Cut dough into circles large enough to fit inside canning ring.

Fill canning ring with pie dough. Flute or crimp edges.

Lay filled canning rings on a parchment lined baking sheet.

Refrigerate or freeze prepared tart shells while making the filling.

***

Clean and rinse berries.

Add 1 5-ounce clam shell of blueberries to a sauce pan.

Add the water, lemon juice, cornstarch, zest and sugar.

Cook on medium heat, while stirring until the berries become a thickened sauce, (About 5-7 minutes)

Add the rest of the fresh blueberries and raspberries to the sauce and turn off the heat.

Coat the berries in the warm sauce.

Let the berry mixture cool for 10 minutes.

Fill the chilled tart shells with the berry mixture. **Do not over fill tart shells... two-three heaping tablespoons or so in each tart should do the trick, depending on the size of your canning rings. Too much filling will bubble over.

Top each tart with a dough heart or other decorative dough cut-out.

Bake on the lowest rack of a pre-heated 375 degree oven for 40 minutes or until the dough is golden and the filling is bubbly.

Let cool on the the baking sheet. Tarts should easily pop out from their canning rings, with a gently push from the underside of the tart. If you had any bubble over, they may need extra attention to be removed from the canning rings.

Serve at room temperature or lightly warmed with a scoop of vanilla ice cream--for best results

Xo,

Enjoy.