A Theraputic Tart
Peach and blackberry therapy pie
I have been absent for a while, a few weeks. Honestly, it has been very hard coping and adjusting and I was not doing well. I have felt uninspired and have not cooked at all for almost 3 weeks. Today though I started reading posts from you all, I have a back log and will try to get to them all, I may not be able to but I will try. Your blog posts inspire me and I actually felt better today after looking at some of your wonderful recipes and stories. It will take me a few days to catch up and I am looking forward to all the good reads.
So today I made a tart. Saturday for only the second time this summer I went to the farmers market and I thought seeing all the gorgeous summer produce would inspire me. I bought tomatoes, peppers, peaches, nectarines, Japanese turnips and a few other things. They sat in a bowl on my table until today. I decided I better start cooking again and the peaches were in danger of going bad so I made a peach tart I also threw in a few blackberries that I had in the freezer. I like to think of this as therapy, making myself get back into the kitchen was good for me. The peaches were amazing, tart and sweet at the same time, perfectly ripe and juicy.
The pie dough is my go to basic recipe from Julia Child. It has never failed me.
Julia Childs Pie Dough Recipe
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 cup cake flour
1/2 tsp salt
6 oz cold butter cut into cubes
4 tbs cold shortening or leaf lard
1/2 cup ice water
Whisk salt and flour together, add the butter and shortening or lard, using your hands or pastry cutter work into the flour until it resembles crumbs with pieces of the butter the size of peas.Alternately you could use your food processor pulsing it. Add the water and mix with a fork until combined. Don’t over work. Gather it with your hands, divide into two discs and wrap in plastic. Refrigerate overnight or for at least an hour.
The fruit filling is simple I used 5 peaches and a handful of blackberries, peeled and sliced the peaches, added 1/3 cup sugar, 2 tbs flour and a pinch of salt and cinnamon.
If I were making pie I would not blind bake but for the tart I did. Blind bake the crust, line with parchment, weigh it down with beans or pie weights put it in a 400 degree oven for 15 minutes, remove the parchment and pie weights and bake another 10-15 minutes, it should be blonde only ever so slightly brown. Add the fruit, I like to make a lattice top, place in the refrigerator for 15 minutes, lower the oven temp to 375 degrees and bake for about 45 minutes until its golden brown and bubbly. Oh, don’t forget to put an egg wash on the lattice top and sprinkle with a little sugar before baking.
apuginthekitchen 
This recipe looks amazing!
Hang in there. It takes time to work through a loss of a loved one.
One day at a time.
Yes exactly, one day at a time and thank you.
Sounds yummy! Sorry I hope you are doing better! It takes time!
Thank you so much Lynz. It has been hard yes it will take time but gets a bit better as time passes.
Yes I am sure it will!!! loved your post! hugs
Suzanne, I am so glad you found your way back into the kitchen. I strongly believe that cooking is therapy. It will help you to work through your sadness and loss. Lately, I have been playing with crusts and I will try Julia’s pie crust the next time I make a pie. Your tart looks delicious!
Hugs
Gerlinde
I love Julia’s recipe have been using it for years. It never fails me. Thank you so much.
OMG, scrumptious! And it’s just the season. The peaches are terrific. Blackberries in my garden are just starting to ripen. Thanks a million for the recipe and inspiration! 🙂
Thanks so much Mike, yes the peaches were amazing the berries so big and sweet it was wonderful.
It looks like good therapy to me xx I hope you’re okay x
Thanks Elaine, pulling myself back now.
xx
Looks delicious! So glad you’re feeling better x
Thank you so much Ree. Hope you are doing well.
“I am happy to be a mess of tears now because I was, and my family was, loved by Miles unconditionally, and I savor this grief as the way the gift of unconditional love is painfully but properly repaid.”
This is a quote from the best thing I’ve read on the death of a pet.
http://www.newsweek.com/rabbi-gellman-his-dogs-death-106583
That is so beautiful, thank you so much.
Bravo my friend-I admire your strengths Suzanne. I am only a phone call away! Cheryl Mega Huge Hugs to you.
Thanks Cheryl, you are such a source of strength for me.
It’s beautiful! Hang in there!
I will Mimi, thank you so much.
What a beautiful therapy tart. And I’m sure it tastes as scrumptious as it looks. Thinking of you at this difficult time…
Thank you so much and hugs to Hugo and Java.
Hi Suzanne, glad your back, so sorry for your loss.
Thank you so much Cheri.
Suzanne your tart looks incredible. I have missed you. I hope as you continue to mourn and heal you know the online community loves you!
That means so much to me, thank you Michelle.
So happy to see you’re once again inspired. I always enjoy your posts.
Love,
Maria
Thanks Maria, working on it. Hope you and the family are all well.
Hi Suzanne. It’s lovely to see you back. And this tart… my mouth is watering. There’s no telling what kind of trouble I’ll get into at lunch! LOL. Oh, but I have a meeting-rush, so I guess I’m safe from the bakery down the street after all. Darn.
Sending you sunshine super hugs! 🙂
Thanks Teagan, I think of you often and Aspen and know how well you understand,
Good to see you back at it–the blogosphere is a happier place when you are making us all hungry….
Thank you so much Jeff. How sweet of you to say that.
So happy to see you’re back in the kitchen Suzanne. Cooking is a most wonderful form of therapy for myself as well. Hang in there, time is always your worst enemy when recovering from a loss. P.S. Your tart is most inspiring 🙂
Thank you so much Heather, I just couldn’t face being in the kitchen, but decided I have to and am focusing on the happy memories.
This dish is the perfect therapy – food in general is, I find. Hang in there, my friend. You are going through the worst part of having pet family member. It’s tears your heart out, but leading up to that, we get so many joyful and tender memories of when they were with us.
Thanks Susan, I guess the stages of grief really do exist. I have to wrap myself around cooking again, working my way there is hard, never thought this would happen. Yes, the joyful memories are what I am trying to focus on now.
Glad to see you back. The tart looks amazing! 🙂
Thank you so much Ronit.
I’ve been thinking of you- it’s so hard to get back to life after a loss. 😦
I am happy to see that you made a fabulous rectangular tart to make yourself feel a little better- it looks SO good!!! Beautiful too. Hang in there. ❤
Thanks so much Josette, it did feel good to get back in and get my hands dirty (well not really dirty but floury)
Welcome back Suzanne:) The tart looks amazing! I hope you are doing better 🙂
Thank you so much Freda.
I’m so sorry you have been having such a difficult time. I understand about you not wanting to cook. I’m glad you are feeling a little bit better, though. What a good idea to go to the farmer’s market for inspiration. Your tart is just beautiful, and I’m sure tastes amazing. I love the combination of peaches and blackberries.
Yes the farmers market was great, I used to go almost every Saturday. Hoping to get there again this weekend too. Me too, peaches and blackberries are so wonderful together.
The tart looks delicious. I’ve been wondering how you were doing over the past couple of weeks, but I didn’t want to pry into your personal life. I’m glad you feel like cooking again.
You would never be prying Sharon, thank you so much.
It’s just beautiful, Suzanne! So glad you’re feeling inspired to create in the kitchen again. Hugs & Kisses XOXO
Thank you so much Angie.
Glad to see you’re back. Had meant to send an email, but I’ve been sort of preoccupied with TDPC. Shouldn’t really blame it on that, though. 🙂
TDPC really helped me get back in the kitchen as I had to do the main course for the Fall menu. I missed some of your posts. I have to get back and read them, your creativity is inspiring to me.
You are absolutely right!– cooking is great therapy, especially for you, because you love it so much. This tart looks delicious!
It really is thank you so much.
Suzanne this look so so delicious, I have not made a fruit anything yet this summer, I guess since there is no fruit coming from my Dad’s garden its like out of sight out of mind…LOL
Anyway I think I know want to make something too, I will have to look for some good fruit and get on that 🙂
Cheers Suzanne good to see you coming back slowly!! Lots of love to you!!
I haven’t done much this summer at all, almost nothing. Shame too because the fruit and vegetables are beautiful. Looking forward to seeing what you make!!! Thank you so much Amy.
Suzanne, your tart looks fabulous! So glad you are back. Take care.
Thank you so much, getting back slowly I have missed cooking.
Welcome back. Looks great! Interesting the recipe has two kinds of flour and two kinds of fat.
Yes it’s a master recipe from julia child and it works really well. I like using leaf lard with the butter. Thank you.
Welcome back Suzanne! I’m so happy you’re here! The tart looks gorgeous!
Thank you so much Marcela!
Cooking is sometimes the best therapy. Happy you’re back. ❤
Thanks Lindy and I am reading your book and loving it. I will post soon. It’s fascinating.
Oh goodness Suzanne – that’s incredible. Thank you for reading it – that means SO MUCH to me.Truly! xo
Good to see that you are ready to be back. ‘Time’ can be a remedy that heals us gently. Your tart looks very delectable and you photographed it so well. 🙂
Yes you Fae, yes I am sure with time things will feel better. Cooking really does help.
So good to see you Suzanne!
As mentioned by many of your well wishers, one day at a time, it is!!!
That pie looks really good.
❤️❤️
Thanks Sonal, I have so much to catch up on. My heart hurts so badly but I will rebound I am sure. I have much to do read.
You believe in your strength… 😘❤️
Welcome back Suzanne..tart looks dleish..
Thank you, the fruit is so wonderful and I love fruit pie, it was fun to make.
OK, beggar the diet, it’s good to have you back.
xxx Huge Hugs xxx
LOL, well the diet went out the window had to have some tart. Thanks so much David.
A visit to the farmer’s market and baking such a beautiful, fragrant tart with the produce, is the perfect therapy for someone who loves food as much as you do Suzanne! Lovely to see this post from you today. M.xx
Thank you so much Margot, I love going to the farmers market, always over buy can’t help myself. Next week going to stock up on tomatoes.
Suzanne, I love your blog and have nominated you for the Beautiful Blogger Award! Please check out my post, http://wp.me/p4Rb3P-188. Have a great day! Rena
How sweet thank you so very much. I am so happy to be nominated.
Exquisite Suzanne! I can see the juicy fruit popping out from behind the beautiful crust. Glad you got off to the farmers market– that is a place to sent you back to mixing up things in the kitchen. I’ve missed you and your warm words and always good food. xo
Thank you Rhonda, working my way back.
You’re the best Suzanne.
You are too kind, thank you.
How very clever, love the looks of. This colorful tart. I keep promising myself that I’d buy that tart pan but still haven’t. I hope you’re doing better these days.
Thanks Loretta, hanging in. I love my rectangular tart pan, they make such a beautiful presentation.
Thanks for this recipe. Cooking therapy is a good way to feel better. (I do this too.) Thanks for being so supportive of my blog. It’s so good of you.
Thank you and I love your blog.
Oh thank you! Such a kind heart.
Love this! xx
Thanks so much Emma.
I felt the same way, wasn’t inspired for 3 weeks & took a blogging break & went on a holiday! Now, I am also back with plenty of energy & I see, you too!
This tart looks just stunning & even fabulous too, darling! MMMMMMM!
Thanks Sophie, sometimes we need a break to re energize. Glad to see you are back and very inspired.
hahahaha,…You too! x
Big hugs, my friend. Big hugs.
That tart looks amazing, Suzanne! Hope you’re feeling more like yourself. Sending you big hugs x
Thank you so much, each day is a bit better.
Sounds great Suzanne… yummm
Thanks so much.