Figs with Balsamic Vinegar, Fig Tart

Figs with Balsamic Vinegar and Gorgonzola

Fig Tart with layer of Almond Cream. Any tart shell recipe would work.

Grape Tart

After baking, I cut it into slices and froze them individually. Nice with cheese. Any tart shell or pizza dough would work

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Before and After Fruit Platter.

 

Every day this chicken hangs out on top of the stone pig.

Moro Blood Orange

The Moro is the most colorful of the blood oranges, with a deep red flesh and a rind that has a bright red blush. The flavor is stronger and the aroma is more intense than a normal orange. This fruit has a distinct, sweet flavor with a hint of raspberry.

Self Sufficient Living on Small Scale.

my vegetables 2016

double yolk egg

Fuerte Avocado, Blackberries, Red Baron Peach, Mexican Lime, Double Delight Nectarine, Thompson Seedless Grape

Various Fruit Tarts

Fruit Presentation

Apfel Strudel, Apple Strudel

*Pflaumenkuchen - *Zwetchgendatschi - *Plumcake

Zwetschgendatschi, Pflaumenkuchen (German recipe)

Blackberry Jam

Black Mission and Kadota Fig Tart

Both, the Mission and Kadota fig trees are loaded with fruit. The Black Mission figs are ripe again for the second time this year. I am sharing with raccoons at night and  crows during the day. However, there are still plenty to share with neighbors and friends.
 

This is a simple and easy to make tart. After  baking the crust I mix some Creme Fraiche and sugar for the filling and lay the sliced figs on top. A glaze of thinned apricot jam (lemon and sugar) can be used to make the tart shiny. 

I have also filled the unbaked pastry shell with an almond cream and topped with the fruit and baked it at 375.  My favorite almond paste recipe is Thomas Keller's recipe.This tart as well as similar ones are great to freeze and rebake at 350. I've done both, straight from the freezer and leaving in fridge overnight. Both ways work.

baked with almond paste

before baking

Recipes for Blood Orange Marmelade

Blood Orange Tart

It is that time of the year again when the Blood Orange tree is loaded with fruit and I am in constant pursuit of new ideas to make the most of this wonderful fruit.

This is one of my favorite tart recipes. It's from Alice Water's Chez Panisse Fruit book. It does take some time to make but is really worth it. You can find the recipe for the Pate Sucre and Sponge Cake under the label: "In the kitchen".

Chandler Strawberries, Loquats, Bougainvillea, Mission Fig

About Chandler Strawberry Plant... The Chandler Strawberry has a very large, medium red, glossy finish, with a large conical to long wedge shaped. The fruit quality is excellent, and the Chandler Strawberry produces a high yield, which are excellent for coastal areas. This particular strawberry has been adapted to planting for winter and summer areas.

Loquat

About Loquat

The loquat is also called may apple, Japanese medlar and Japanese plum. This slightly pear-shaped fruit resembles an apricot in size and color. The juicy, crisp flesh is pale yellow and has a delicate, sweetly tart cherry-like flavor. It surrounds 1 to 3 rather large seeds.Loquats bruise easily so they're not good travelers. . Loquats can be eaten as a snack, added to salads or used in chicken or duck dishes.
The Loquat tree is common to many countries: Italy, France, Germany, Spain, and Portugal, not to mention China and Japan. In Italy, it is known as nespola giapponese. In France, it is known as bibassier. In German, it is called wollmispel, in Spanish, nispero and ameixa amarelle in Portugese.

The Loquat was first discovered in the West by a botanist named Kaempfer in the year 1690. A man named Thunberg discovered it in Japan in 1712. It was planted in Paris in 1784 and in England in 1787. It spread from there all over the world.

Loquat trees originate in the southeastern part of China and perhaps southern Japan, although some believe it was brought to Japan long ago by Chinese travelers. Legend has it that it has been grown in Japan for one thousand years.

Blueberries

Growing blueberries in Southern California has become quite the trend. Not only are they easy to grow but they are also quite delicious and their nearly evergreen leaves are beautiful in the garden. The most popular ones are Sunshine Blue, Jubilee and O'Neal. I planted mine in containers 2 years ago and they are still thriving. I fertilize once a year with an acidic ferilizer.

Loquats

LOQUAT (Eriobotrya japonica) is a fruit tree in the subfamily Maloideae of the family Rosaceae indigenous to Southern China. Here in Southern California it is one of the first fruits to ripen in the spring. The fruit resembles an apricot in size, about 1-1/2 inch.It has a delicate tartly sweet flavor. It is eaten raw, cooked or made into jelly. It has about 3 shiny dark seeds that will sprout easily when planted.

Figs

We are still getting figs, going into the 3rd month now

Some of the harvest: Blood Orange, Washington Orange, Eureka Lemon.
Einiges von der Ernte: Blut Orange, Washington Orange, Eureka Zitrone.