Pies + Tarts

A Simple Raspberry Tart (And Outtakes From Pure Green Magazine

Pure Green Magazine
*photo by Pure Green Magazine

‘In later life the idea of a moveable feast for Hemingway became something very much like what King Harry wanted St. Crispin’s Feast Day to be for “we happy few’: a memory or even a state of being that had become a part of you, a thing that you could have always with you, no matter where you went or how you lived forever after, that you could never lose. An experience first fixed in time and space or a condition like happiness or love could be moved or carried with you wherever you went in space and time.’ – Patrick Hemingway

I have a piece in the newest issue of Pure Green Magazine. It’s about Larry and Colleen Wolner from The Blue Heron Coffeehouse; the couple who made me fall in love with baking, and gave me structure for all my kitchen adventures. I spent a weekend with them last summer and we spent a lot of time in the kitchen: cooking, talking, and taking pictures. Here are some outtakes from our time, and a recipe for the simple, yet amazing, raspberry tart Colleen made. The story I wrote and other photos can be found in Pure Green Vol. 8, which you can order here. It’s a beautiful publication and if you haven’t checked it out, I highly recommend doing so.
The Blue Heron Coffeehouse
The Blue Heron Coffeehouse
The Blue Heron Coffeehouse
The Blue Heron Coffeehouse
Colleen Wolner | The Blue Heron Coffeehouse
The Blue Heron Coffeehouse
The Blue Heron Coffeehouse
The Blue Heron Coffeehouse
One other unrelated thing:

Recently I asked for your help in voting for me in the Saveur Food Blog Awards, and a good friend commented that if I won, “I bet she’ll make us chocolate cake!” I agreed, and now want to follow through on my promise. If you are a Minnesota local (or will be around here the first week of June) would you like to join me for chocolate cake and some sweet door prizes at Forage Modern Workshop? We’ll also be celebrating the Vanilla Bean Blog turning three. RSVP only, so if you’re interested in coming, please email me at [email protected] and I’ll give you all the details. I’d love to meet you and say thanks!

Raspberry Tart with Ice Cream | The Vanilla Bean Blog | Sarah Kieffer
Raspberry Tart

Pâte brisée adapted from the Joy of Cooking

Colleen used a 11 x 8 inch rectangle tart pan with removable bottom, however, a 10-inch circle pan will work, too. The dough will make enough for two tarts; this recipe just calls for one. You can double the amount of fruit and make two, or freeze one round of dough and use it another time.

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, cold
1/4 cup vegetable shorting, chilled
6 tablespoons ice water, plus more if needed

24 ounces fresh raspberries
3 tablespoons raspberry jam
ice cream for serving

In a large bowl, mix together the flour and salt. Cut in half of the butter into the flour mixture, and using a pastry blender (or your fingers), work the butter in until it has a cornmeal consistency. Cut the remaining butter and shortening into the dough, until the butter is pea-sized. Sprinkle the dough with the water, and gently blend the dough until it just holds together (if dough is not holding together, add more water, 1 teaspoon at a time, until it does). Divide the dough in half, shape each piece into a disk, wrap with plastic wrap, and chill for at least an hour, or up to 2 days.

Preheat the oven to 425. Lightly flour your work surface, and roll one disk of dough roughly 2-3 inches larger than a 9 or 10 inch tart pan with removable bottom (see note). Ease the dough into the pan loosely, and then press it firmly into the pan, trimming the edges of the dough with a scissors so there is no overhang, and the dough meets the top of the pan. Prick the dough generously with a fork, line the dough with foil or parchment, and then weigh it with dry beans or pie weights. Bake for 15 minutes. Remove foil and weights, and bake 5-10 minutes longer until the crust is golden. Cool before filling. (If you are new to blind baking, here are some visuals that may help!)

In a small saucepan, heat the raspberry jam with a teaspoon of water, just until the jam is loose and spreadable. When the tart has cooled, use a pastry brush to spread a thin layer of the jam over the bottom of the crust. Arrange the raspberries on top in an even layer. Cut into slices, and serve with ice cream.

  • Reply
    plasterers bristol
    Wednesday, September 14, 2016 at 11:26 am

    This sounds so nice, Chocolate and raspberry go together great. Wil have to try making this. Thanks

    Simon

  • Reply
    Phi @ The Sweetphi Blog
    Thursday, September 18, 2014 at 9:19 am

    Gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous! Love the simplicity of the raspberry tart, and the outtakes are beautiful as well!!!

  • Reply
    Chaya
    Tuesday, June 3, 2014 at 9:46 am

    i just made your no-churn frangelico ice cream sandwiches! they were delicious. thanks for a great recipe! http://retrolillies.wordpress.com/2014/06/03/hazelnut-coffee-ice-cream-sandwiches/

  • Reply
    Shikha @ Shikha la mode
    Monday, June 2, 2014 at 7:52 pm

    What a great looking seasonal tart! Congrats as well – I wish I lived closer to get in on that chocolate cake goodness!

  • Reply
    Kristin
    Wednesday, May 28, 2014 at 7:28 am

    These pictures are beautiful and your writing is delightful!

  • Reply
    Carol at Wild Goose Tea
    Wednesday, May 21, 2014 at 11:02 pm

    I loved the photos. Thank you. Really gave me a sense of place. Yes, its a simple tart, but then again what is simple about the glory of a raspberry from color, taste, the pattern of its ‘skin’.

  • Reply
    ioanna
    Wednesday, May 21, 2014 at 4:54 am

    beautiful pics as always + a delicious tart!

    • Reply
      Sarah
      Wednesday, May 21, 2014 at 10:35 am

      Thank you so much!

  • Reply
    Vanessa
    Tuesday, May 20, 2014 at 11:18 pm

    Found you via Steller. Your work is absolutely gorgeous.

    • Reply
      Sarah
      Wednesday, May 21, 2014 at 10:34 am

      Thank you so much Vanessa! I love Steller. I’ll have to find you there. 🙂

  • Reply
    J.S. @ Sun Diego Eats
    Tuesday, May 20, 2014 at 10:34 pm

    Never thought to use all three colours of raspberries when baking with them, it would make for a stunning final product 🙂

    • Reply
      Sarah
      Wednesday, May 21, 2014 at 10:34 am

      Yes, the three colors were so pretty. Colleen is a genius. 🙂

  • Reply
    Tieghan
    Tuesday, May 20, 2014 at 10:29 pm

    I SO wish I was going to be around your neck of the woods. How fun and nice!! Eating cake with you would be awesome!

    Beautiful photos!

    • Reply
      Sarah
      Wednesday, May 21, 2014 at 10:34 am

      Thank you Tieghan! And, I wish you were nearby, too!

  • Reply
    Emma Galloway
    Tuesday, May 20, 2014 at 9:46 pm

    Such beautiful images, as always love! See you real soon! xx

    • Reply
      Sarah
      Wednesday, May 21, 2014 at 10:33 am

      Thanks Emma! And, can’t wait! (eek!)

  • Reply
    Melissa@Julia's Bookbag
    Tuesday, May 20, 2014 at 3:40 pm

    lovely photos!! girlfriend, you better believe that if I were anywhere within 100 miles of you, I’d come a-visiting!! alas. i know! you should come out to Seattle and meet Aran Goyoaga of Cannelle et Vanille for one of her workshops (i really want to take one someday!) or just to hang out at the Book Larder (a book store solely devoted to cookbooks, it’s amazing!!). And then I could come say hi, and we could talk cameras, and food and have a tea party. I just made myself giddy at this imaginary idea! 😉

    • Reply
      Sarah
      Wednesday, May 21, 2014 at 10:33 am

      Thank you Melissa! And yes, that sounds like a lovely idea! 🙂 Maybe one day….

  • Reply
    Sini | my blue&white kitchen
    Tuesday, May 20, 2014 at 3:16 pm

    Congrats on having your story in Pure Green Magazine! This tart looks delicious; will remember it when the raspberry season starts here. On another note, I wished I lived anywhere near Minnesota so I could join you in June! It would be so wonderful to have a chat with you in person.

    xo, Sini

    • Reply
      Sarah
      Wednesday, May 21, 2014 at 10:32 am

      Thanks Sini! And yes, I wish you lived nearby; it’d be so nice to meet. Hopefully one day!

    • Reply
      Sarah
      Wednesday, May 21, 2014 at 10:32 am

      Thanks Iris!

  • Reply
    Sandra Harris
    Tuesday, May 20, 2014 at 1:59 pm

    Love Pure Green Mag! It’s gorgeous to look at and beyond that, it has a depth that is more than just “pretty”.

    Beautiful photos…

    • Reply
      Sarah
      Wednesday, May 21, 2014 at 10:31 am

      Thank you! And yes, Pure Green is such a great publication. I’m so honored to be part of it. 🙂

  • Reply
    salvegging
    Tuesday, May 20, 2014 at 1:53 pm

    Love these photos.

    • Reply
      Sarah
      Wednesday, May 21, 2014 at 10:31 am

      Thank you!

  • Reply
    Amanda Paa
    Tuesday, May 20, 2014 at 12:48 pm

    love the moments you capture. can’t wait to celebrate your success with you soon!

    • Reply
      Sarah
      Wednesday, May 21, 2014 at 10:31 am

      It will be so nice to finally meet you! 🙂

  • Reply
    Kathryn
    Tuesday, May 20, 2014 at 12:24 pm

    How I wish I was anywhere near Minnesota – I would love nothing more than to eat chocolate cake with you. I love these photographs too; they capture the mood and characters so well.

    • Reply
      Sarah
      Wednesday, May 21, 2014 at 10:30 am

      I wish you were too, Kathryn! I’d love to meet you. xx

  • Reply
    renee (will frolic for food)
    Tuesday, May 20, 2014 at 11:38 am

    oh how i love this. the story you tell with your photos is beautiful. plus you’re hard pressed to find something that brings me more food-joy than a simple berry tart. i never thought to brush a jam over the baked crust before layering fresh fruit over top. fantastic!

    • Reply
      Sarah
      Wednesday, May 21, 2014 at 10:30 am

      Thank you so much Renee! And yes, I hadn’t thought of brushing jam over it either, until I saw her do it. Genius + simple.

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