Chatting & Having Tea

The always smashing Leela Cyd Ross invited me to chat about our most favorite beverage, tea. on her beautiful blog, Tea Cup Tea. This is a site where you will get some great recipes sometimes, beautiful photographs all the time, and inspiration as you sip. Meanwhile, Pink Slip Jam has been busy with apple & plum windfalls...chutney for your Autumnal roast dinners are being made nearly every day. Start thinking ahead for those chilly, blustery days when the smell of roast pork or roast chicken with Sir Isaac's Folly or Cranberry Bog will fill the house with deliciousness.

For other jammy business, we have been delighted with a recipe for 'healthy' Pop Tarts found on Pinterest. We used a combination of AP, WW, & coconut flour so things weren't too heavy, then filled them with Naked Fraises & In the Pink jam flavors. There are no leftovers. If you'd like the recipe, please send me a message & i will send you the link!

Dessert! Life's Short...

Yesterday while up to my forearms in Hood strawberries (a delicious local variety), I was informed that the interview with Leela Cyd Ross from Apartment Therapy had been posted. The photos are lovely (thank you!), the kitchen looks great (thanks, Oui Presse!), and it seems there have been some special requests for my jam crostata recipe. First & foremost, I'd like to express my gratitude for everyone who helps to support Pink Slip Jam, my stories~within~a~jar way of creative explorations. I would also like to express my thankfulness for all those lovely folks who have no problem sampling jams, chutneys, marmalades, and syrups. It's a tough job & I'm so glad you willingly opt in! Herewith the recipe:


Jam Crostata


INGREDIENTS
2 c. AP flour
3/4 c. granulated sugar
1/4 tsp. fine sea salt
1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 c. unsalted butter (cut into 1/2 inch cubes)
1 egg yolk ~ I have ducks & use a duck egg, but a large chicken egg works just fine!
1/2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
1 c. jam (of course I'd recommend Pink Slip Jam, but your Aunt Mary's preserves will be great!)
10-inch fluted tart pan with a removable bottom


PREP
1. Combine flour, sugar, salt, & cinnamon in a bowl.
2. Add butter & using your hands or a food processor, work it into the flour mixture until it resembles
    course cornmeal.
3. Beat egg yolk lightly with vanilla & stir into the flour mixture with a fork.
4. Mix until dough is blended & comes together into a ball.
5. Divide dough into 2 parts (one slightly larger than the other), form into 6-inch discs, wrap in plastic,
    & refrigerate 1 hour.


BAKE
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Roll larger disc of dough to fit the tart pan.
3. Spread jam evenly on top of dough.
4. Roll out the remaining dough into a 10-inch circle & with a sharp knife, cut into 12 strips.
5. Arrange 6 strips, evenly spaced over the jam; turn the tart 90 degrees, & place the remaining strips
    on top, creating a lattice pattern.
6. Place crostata in the bottom third of oven & bake until the jam is bubbly & the crust is golden (about
    30 minutes).
7. Cool to room temperature & serve - it's great on its' own, ice cream gilds the lilly, creme fraiche is
    elegant, and whipped cream is terrific. See which you like best. My personal favorite is when there
    is a slice left over & I can eat it for breakfast with a hot cup of tea.

I hope, if anyone makes this, that you will post a note or comment to let me know what you think!

A Little Shameless Self Promotion

A couple of weeks back the lovely Leela Cyd came to call at in the kitchen at Oui Presse here in Portland. I was making some Meyer Lemon & Vanilla Jam and we had a chance to talk. Her blog is so incredibly beautiful, each photograph leaves me breathless. Lucky for me Leela is doing a special series on Makers in Portland and Pink Slip Jam is very fortunate indeed to be in this company of talented folks! Pigeon Toe Ceramics, Salt & Straw Ice Cream, the list goes on! The artistic bounty in Portland has been written about countless times, yet I am always so very proud to be a part of this community of people creating lovely things.

As Tom & Ray from 'Car Talk' might say, this is the portion of the blog with some shameless self promotion, and I am pleased as punch to announce that Pink Slip Jam will be featured in an article in 'Kitchn' in May under the 'Makers' category. This is affiliated with the swoon-worthy blog, 'Apartment Therapy'. Each & every day this blog creates such house/design/garden lust in me that I am slightly ashamed to admit it publicly. But, here it is. And, in case anyone was wondering what I looked like, Leela captured me eating some jam, not in a kitchen frenzy with steam & pots boiling all over the place! Kitchen & photography magic! It happens!

PS The baguettes pictured are delicious and local! These would be from Ken's Artisan Bakery. The location of the kitchen & cafe is Oui Presse, and if you have not been there yet, you should!