Monday, July 27, 2015

Tomato Tart and Cooking Camp

 This Nana is having one of her favorite Summer time treats out on the patio.  I've posted this recipe before, which you can find here,  but will share it again.  It's such a perfect meal, with pie crust, garlic, cheese and tomatoes....so simple, but sooooo delicious!  The recipe for the Tomato Tart is at the end.


 My friend Rosie gifted me with several teacups from her late Mother's collection, as she knew that I would use and love them.  Isn't this Strawberry by Royal Grafton, a beauty?


 Yes, the kids and I are still busy at our weekly Cooking Camp!  Here are the little sweethearts after making our Teddy Bears at the Beach cupcakes.  You can find directions here.  We've made these before, but the kids have fun creating their little scenes.



 We also made Caterpillar Cheese Balls.  You can use a favorite cheese ball recipe,  and divide it into 8 balls, roll in parsley, leaving one ball plain.  Add some pretzels and raisins and there you have it!  This adapted version came from my Great Balls of Cheese cookbook, by Michelle Buffardi.  Each family of kids took one of the caterpillars home to share with their family.  


We also made Hot Buttered Soft Pretzels, which was a recipe from King Arthur Flour.  You can see that the pretzels are all labeled by one of my campers.  We want everyone to be sure to get their own!!  This is a quick yeast dough recipe, with only a 30 minute rise.  The kids loved these and afterwards I took the little bakers to my neighborhood pool to cool off! You can find the recipe for the pretzels here.

Tomato Tart

1 refrigerated pie crust
1 garlic bulb
1/2 t. olive oil
1 1/2 cups shredded fontina cheese
4 large tomatoes
1/2 t. salt
1/4 t. pepper. 
Press refrigerated pie crust on bottom & up sides of a tart pan.  Bake at 450 degrees for 9 minutes or until lightly browned; set aside.
Cut off pointed end of garlic bulb; place garlic on a piece of aluminum foil & drizzle with olive oil.  Fold foil to seal.
Bake garlic at 425 degrees for 30 minutes, or until the garlic is tender.  Test it with a paring knife.  Squeeze pulp from garlic cloves into bottom of baked pie crust.
Sprinkle 1/2 cup of fontina cheese over the garlic.
Slice tomatoes & place on folded paper towels.  Sprinkle with salt & pepper & let stand for 10 minutes. 
Arrange tomato slices over shredded cheese.  Sprinkle with remaining 1 cup cheese.
Bake at 350 for 30-45 minutes or until lightly browned.  I like to add some minced fresh basil before serving.
NOTE:  In place of the garlic bulb, I often just sprinkle the crust with garlic powder.  Also, in place of the fontina, which can be pricey, I'll sub an Italian blend shredded cheese.

45 comments:

  1. The tomato tart sounds amazing Kitty, especially with local tomatoes! Looks like the kids are having a blast at cooking camp, I'm sure you're helping to create some great memories:@)

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  2. How wonderful to cook with the kids and teach them how. The tomato tart looks good, my husband would love it.

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  3. Well I love the teacup! Shared the same one a few weeks ago, so...a fav! I love your kids cooking camp! They must just love that! The tomato tart looks wonderful, and I'm saving the recipe. Have a great week and thanks for linking to Tuesday Cuppa Tea!
    Ruth

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  4. How wonderful that you are teaching your grands how to cook during 'camp'. Love it! It is wonderful that the cousins will have wonderful memories of time spent with you and with each other. The tomato tart looks wonderful. I am saving the recipe to try soon. I love the strawberry teapot. I have one, too!

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  5. Beautiful tea cups....I'm not a fan of warm tomatoes, but this tart is lovely...might have to try this one!

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  6. Olá Boa tarde
    Nossa quanta coisa gostosa neste blog.Sou nova aqui no seu blog. Amei a sua receitinha. Passando para te convidar para conhecer o meu cantinho. Volto asim que eu me recupar. Vá até o meu cantinho que vc vai entender melhor. Uma semana super feliz para vc, Boa tarde. Com carinho.
    Ja estou sehuindo seu blog.

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  7. It is just great to teach the kids to bake and cook at your cooking camp. Thanks for sharing at our Cooking & Crafting with J & J this week!

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  8. You are the best Grtandma EVER. So clever, and what a fun learning experience.

    Thanks for your tomato tart recipe - yum yum yum!!!!

    Hugs. ♥♥♥

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  9. Hi How sweet of your friend to give you those tea cups. But you will get so much happiness from them. Your kiddos are having a ball with you!
    Blessings, Roxy

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  10. A post full of deliciousness. Love the idea of the Cooking Camp! Such sweet campers and such great results.

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  11. Oh, those tea cups are just perfect, Kitty and your friend just knew they had to be yours! How adorable are those little campers - such a sweet idea! I am keeping this one close to my heart as a new grandmother. I'm sure those little cuties had a wonderful time! Hugs xo Karen

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  12. You are such a cool grandma! I bet the kids just love visiting you. That tart looks fabulous and sounds delicious as do the cheese balls and pretzels. Yummy! Thanks for sharing and I do love your teacup. I saw one much like it earlier today at an antique shop. Didn't buy it though as everything in there was too pricey. Thank you for joining me for tea.

    Blessings,
    Sandi

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  13. Kitty, I want to join your summer cooking camp! Such fun and creative recipes you're making with the grandkids. This special summer time activity is something they will always remember.
    Your teacup is perfect for summer time. I've shared a Hammersley with the same pattern-interesting. Thank you for the tomato tart recipe. I've been on the lookout for summer time lunch main dishes and this recipe is just what I needed. (Love your strawberry pitcher and teapot too!)

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  14. Oh I can tell that they've had a lot of fun! What a fun thing to do with them. The tomato tart sounds a lot like a tomato galette that we enjoy. Yummo!

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  15. What a nice lunch that would be - a slice of your savory tart and a salad! YUmmmmmmmmmm!
    Darling kiddos too!

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  16. My goodness, all that food looks good! Love the blue bear cupcakes! :-)

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  17. I wanna go to your cooking camp, Kitty! The Teddy Bears cupcake and caterpillar cheeseballs made me smile.

    Your new to you strawberry teacup is a perfect match for your strawberry teapot!

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  18. Hi Kitty,
    What a sweet post with such precious kiddies! I love your strawberry teacup and teapot! Your tarts look delish as your baking always does! Happy Tea Day Sweet Friend! Karen

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  19. The kids are adorable! I used to do things like that with Alex & Abby. I can relate to names being assigned ~ no doubt about which one belongs to which child. Lol

    You have some of the most beautiful tea cups, saucers and tea pots! I think it's great that so many are treasures from friends & family.

    The tart looks and sounds delish! I need to try that soon.
    xo
    Pat

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  20. Your grands couldn't be cuter! They are lucky to have a Nana like you to let them play in the kitchen. That's how kids learn to love cooking. I'm craving that tomato tart!

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  21. Oh, dear Kitty! You are certainly very industrious...your cooking camp sounds like wonderful fun and the smiles on those sweet kiddies faces say it all! :)

    Your tomato tart recipe is going on my list of recipes to try...hmmm...it looks scrumptious! And how pretty your strawberry tea cup! Such a sweet and thoughtful gift from your friend! Smiles...

    Have a wonderful and very blessed Tuesday, dear Kitty! Much love and hugs!
    Kelly-Anne

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  22. What delicious fun....Literally!! Making wonderful memories for these wee ones...so wonderful.
    Thanks for all the ideas & recipes, Kitty.

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  23. I love your idea of cooking camp. Such a wonderful memory making experience for all the grands. The tart looks so delicious, too.

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  24. What a nice friend, and what a lovely strawberry tea cup!

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  25. Your grands are adorable, Kitty, and you are making happy memories for them! That's one of the best things we can do for them. :)
    Your tomato tart looks like pizza and sounds delicious! Thanks for sharing your recipe, Kitty. Have a blessed week.

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  26. Oh, cooking camp is once a week?! How fun! The cupcakes are adorable, and so are the cheese ball caterpillars. Pretzels look delicious. You are a great grandma -- making good memories, and teaching some wonderful life skills. Our youngest son just moved, and thankfully, he knows how to cook. He'll save a lot of money and be healthier, too.

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  27. OMG KItty ..My grand children are coming this week ...and I was chalking up my "what to do list"..Love the cheddar cheese caterpillars... Kid love making and creating food... It's creative therapy for everyone. ( ha Ha)... Teacups are always more special when they come from a friend... Your Strawberry set is a perfect summertime teatime companion....especially with that tomato tart ..yummy in the tummy type of cooking ...I love it !!!... Hugs

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  28. Oh what a wonderful time they had you can tell they really enjoyed themselves!!

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  29. This sounds really good! I've pinned it! :)

    Thanks for joining Cooking and Crafting with J & J!

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  30. Isn't this just the most fun ever...I am so impressed with all this good baking
    (I am making that tomato tart tomorrow...no wait, we're going to daughters for grilled pork chops tomorrow...so I'll make the tart another day...)
    What I am impressed most with...those adorable grands. Oh, Kitty, aren't we so so blessed !
    I thank HIM every single night.
    Love to you...

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  31. Kitty, What fun you cooking camp is! Your little campers are the cutest and so accomplished in the kitchen! Those sweet faces make me smile. ♥

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  32. Oh Kitty, so happy to see you again! Your time with your adorable grands, nothing like it, right? Love the cooking camp!
    Hope you have a great day!
    Nancy

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  33. Hi Kitty! It looks like everyone is having a great time...good and the pool! Love all the strawberries, the new cup is great, but the pitcher is lovely! yum, now I want pizza...

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  34. Cooking Camp, again! I love it, Kitty. Your grands are so lucky to have you in their lives. Cute photos!

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  35. I often make a tomato tart for an appetizer and there's never a time when it's not a favorite.

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  36. Hi Kitty, Your tart sounds so delicious! I peeked at your last post of it and your are right about the usual tomato pies being filled with mayo. This one sounds so easy and tasty too. Those little campers have the best grandma and the smiles on their faces are so precious! I hope you are staying cool. Linda

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  37. You have the sweetest teapots.. Love the white strawberry teapot.. I'm also loving that pretty strawberry teacup. I have been wanting well at least one to go with my strawberry teapot.. It's a off white though.. but as cute as your teacup is I don't think it will matter much.. thanks for sharing the recipe.. Have a great weekend with love Janice

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  38. Hi, Kitty! I'm so happy to stop by! I really hope to get to that delicious-looking tart--SOON!! :) I just love your ideas for those darling campers! I'm sure you're having so much fun with them!! I hope to get to some of those as well!! I've been out of the blogging loop for a while--new grandbaby arrived in early July, vacation, etc., so I'm happy to stop in to visit you! ~Zuni

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  39. Kitty, I have made your delicious tart and can't wait our local tomatoes to ripen! Nana's Cooking Camp 2015 has been wonderful to follow. Pretty soon your little chefs will be returning to school with the fond memories.

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  40. Kitty, what a delightful thing to do. Cooking camp must be so much fun. looking forward to seeing what your future chefs create, plus the happy memories. xo

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  41. Oh Kitty, my heart is so touched by the memories you are making with your grandchildren. What fun all of you are having :) You are such a precious lady.

    Your tart looks oh-so-good! I am not a big tomato lover, but if the tomatoes are fresh from the garden than I will eat them so I think I need to try this recipe with garden-fresh tomatoes. Thanks for sharing with Roses of Inspiration. Love to you!

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  42. You are making me feel like a slacker Kitty, I have only cooked with my grand kids once or twice...your camp looks like so much fun and the recipes you chose are just perfect for kiddos! These are lifetime memories for them, and hopefully they will love to cook as adults!
    Jenna

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  43. Hi Kitty,

    I really enjoyed this post! Your cooking camp looks like such a fun activity for you and your grands. :) I think those caterpillars and cupcakes are so cute, and the pretzels look yummy. Thanks for sharing your recipe for the tomato tart -- that's always a lovely dish to make in the summer during tomato season. Has anyone ever told you that you should write a cookbook? I'm thinking you should. :-D

    I hope your weekend was good and hope you have a great week, Kitty!

    Hugs to you,

    Denise at Forest Manor

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  44. What a fun grandma you are Kitty! I finally picked my first tomatoes this week. I usually pick by at least July 4th. Crazy year for sure. We made a cucumber salad today and used all that I picked, but I have a lot more close to being ripe so I can't wait to try this! Thanks for sharing the recipe with SYC.
    hugs,
    Jann

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  45. What a treat indeed, it is so much fun to spend time with the grands in the summer. Looks like you had a awesome cooking camp! We always enjoy your post at Full Plate Thursday and thanks so much for sharing them with us. Hope you have a great week and come back soon!
    Miz Helen

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