it's all almonds

I was intrigued with this month's ABC Baking Challenge because I was expecting this tart to be a typical fruit tart with a chilled custard/pastry cream for the filling. So when I read through the recipe and realized I was baking the filling, I was intrigued. 

If you don't like almonds, then this isn't the dessert for you because it is almondy! Thankfully I happen to love almonds and was so happy with the outcome. Texturally speaking, it has all my favorite elements: each bite contains a wonderfully crisp shortbread crust, the filling that is slightly chewy and crunchy from the almonds paired with a brittle topping... it's just heavenly! 

Since it was my first time making it, I didn't really tweak the recipe (which I often do if I'm comfortable with a recipe) but I did add some seedless raspberry jam to the cooked crust, before adding the filling. I've done this before with other fruit tarts that I've made in the past, and it adds a nice tanginess to the sweet almond flavor.

more peaches!

With so much fresh fruit available in the summer I can't help but use them in my baking. Especially when I buy a bunch of peaches, with the expectation that a certain two-and-three-quarters-year-old little girl and I will devour them, only to find out that this little girl wants nothing to do with them.

And not wanting to risk fresh peaches going bad, I sought an alternate route and was directed (by my sister) to this recipe. Thankfully I was attending a birthday party that night so I was able to share in the wealth of this dessert because it makes a ton. 

Cherry Almond Brown Butter Bars

I've done so much baking this summer and am so behind on posting some of these perfect-for-summer-recipes that I'm sort of in a panic to get it all on here. SO, this week will be mostly about baking, and I'll get to the beauty stuff next week- sorry! 

I've been wanting to make these bars for over a year, but had missed cherry season by thismuch so I knew I'd have to be patient until those little red fruits came back around.

Then there's the problem of not having enough cherries for the recipe because 1. cherries are meant to be eaten the moment you buy them, so it's a tough task in saving them and 2. I wanted to ensure there was a burst of sweet cherry popping in each bite, so you need quite a few cherries (36 to be exact).  

Almond Joy's got nuts...

Ok, for all the label-lovers here they are: all-natural, preservative-free, heart-healthy, energy boosting, low-fat, blah, blah, blah. Honestly, it's more important that food tastes amazing before I consider the labels (I know I’m not alone in this, hence the reason people eat French fries) but these are really good even if they are good for you.

                            

It may sound decadent having a granola bar named after a candy bar; instead, these are all those same flavors you love (chocolate, almonds, coconut) just put in a healthier vehicle. These make for a perfect snack or even better crumbled into yogurt. Enjoy! (recipe after the jump)