Tuesday, August 24, 2010

TWD: Crunchy and Custardy Peach Tart


Rachel of sweet tarte decided on Crunchy and Custardy Peach Tart for this week's Tuesdays with Dorie recipe.

This tart was straightforward enough... sliced peaches are layered in a tart shell and simple, sweet custard is poured over, then it's topped with a layer of struesel.

I made half of the recipe, which was perfect for two mini tart shells. I used canned peaches since the peaches available at the time I made this were hard as rocks.


This was light and tasty and perfect for the dog days of summer. I have to say that if I made it again I would cram more peaches in... I didn't really think the custard brought a lot to the party. The peaches were the star of this show.

If you'd like to see the recipes, please pick up a copy of Dorie Greenspan's book "Baking, From my Home to Yours", or stop by Rachel's blog.
__________________________________________
I wanted to share a few pictures from one part of our vacation a few weeks ago... our visit to Cedar Point, a fantastic amusement park that is a must for serious roller coaster fans.


The highlight of the park was the Top Thrill Dragster, a beast of a coaster that is so fast that you almost don't have time to be scared. Seriously, it shoots you down the track from zero to 120 miles an hour in 4 seconds. And tall... it's the second tallest coaster in the world at 420feet tall... the first over 400 feet and the first of this kind.

Pictures don't do justice to how tall it is. It is *massive*. You can see the dark blue train on the right side of the hill going up... it looks small but it probably seats 20 people.


Check out the "POV" or "point of view" video. In the aeriel view at the beginning you can see it towers over everything else in the park.





I know, I need to stop gushing. It was just so thrilling to go that FAST.

Here's a view from the gondola ride looking to the back half of the park. One thing about this park, it is long and skinny so you'll put in some serious miles. Gym shoes are a must!


The Power Tower has two sides that shoot you up and two sides that drop you down from the top. My opinion... the side that launches you up = fun. There's a moment at the top where you feel like you're floating. The side that drops you down = scary as hell! If you've ever had a dream (make that nightmare) where you're falling... yea, this is it. In real life.



If you've been there, you probably know the Raptor, it's my favorite ride anywhere... but the Maxair is my new close second. At the top all you see is your feet and blue sky. Awesome!



I could go on, but I'll stop here. I highly recommend a trip to northern Ohio if you like roller coasters. My kids love it!

Friday, August 20, 2010

TWD: Oatmeal Breakfast Bread and Chocolate Ganache Ice Cream


Oh holy cow! Am I a slacker or what? Please bear with me, it's getting to the make-or-break part of summer... the part where I question whether I am truly cut out for motherhood. Or at least summer break.

Yea, yea, enough whining, you say. We're all in the same boat here, right? So let's get on with it... last week for Tuesdays with Dorie, Natalie of Oven Love selected Oatmeal Breakfast Bread.

The week before, Katrina of Baking and Boys picked Chocolate Ganache Ice Cream.


Both recipes were fantastic! Thanks so much to Natalie and Katrina for the excellent picks.

You want to hear what a knucklehead I am? I actually left the oatmeal out of the the Oatmeal Breakfast Bread. Derrrrrr! Totally spaced it out... as in, I didn't even measure it out and forget it on the counter this time... I totally missed it as a component of this recipe.

Somehow it still came out awesome... moist and spicy and totally addictive.

And the chocolate ice cream... so tasty! The caramel and mini M&M's made for a serious sugar rush.

OK, that's it for now. I'm going to try to get some pics posted next week of our vacation to Northern Ohio and (according to my kids) the most awesome amusement park EVER!



Please visit the awesome ladies' websites for the recipes, or find yourself a copy of Dorie Greenspan's book, "Baking, From my Home to Yours".