Pumpkin Spice Layer Cake is one of our favorite fall desserts. I start this dessert by mixing together a rich pumpkin spice cake batter. Then, I make a fluffy cream cheese frosting and spread it all over the cake. Finally, I edge the cake with …
Frosted Pumpkin Spice Cookies are one of our favorite fall desserts. I start these cookies by beating together a sweet pumpkin cookie dough. Then, I top the baked cookies with a fluffy cream cheese frosting. We like these cookies for several reasons. First of all, …
Hi! I’m Sharon, a home cook and blogger at aperfectfeast.com. Growing up, I didn’t have much interest in cooking or food, but that all changed when my boyfriend (now my husband) gave me a cookbook filled with beautiful food photos. As I cooked my way through that book, I began to love everything about cooking. Now, years later, I still love cooking and especially enjoy creating my own recipes. I hope my blog and Instagram feed inspires people to cook at home more. Since, I really feel that home cooking can be fun and easy, with good recipes and great equipment.
Some of my favorite pieces of kitchen equipment are my Takenaka Special Collaboration Nibble Bento Box and stainless-steel cutlery set. I like to pack my bento box with salads, fresh fruits, and cheese and crackers. Using my bento box allows me to keep all my food items separate so that I can enjoy the distinct flavors of each dish. My bento box definitely makes my food look more appetizing and adds to my enjoyment of the meal. I chose the Meringue bento box because I think white is a nice neutral background for the colorful dishes I compose. My bento box truly adds to my enjoyment of lunch and is one of my favorite dining accessories.
Chicken and Cherry Tomato Salad
Roasted chicken, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, red onion, fresh oregano, kalamata olives and feta cheese all tossed with a Tomato Balsamic vinaigrette.
¼tsp. eachkosher salt, black pepper, paprika, garlic and onion powders
2tbsp.fresh lemon juice
2tbsp. eachextra virgin olive oil and unsalted butter
4cupsromaine lettuce, chopped
2cupshalved cherry tomatoes
2cupssliced cucumbers
½cupsliced red onions
½cupKalamata olives, pitted
1cupfeta cheese, crumbled
1tbsp.fresh oregano
For the Tomato Balsamic Vinaigrette:
½cupextra virgin olive oil
3tbsp.balsamic vinegar
1tbsp.Dijon mustard
1tsp.minced garlic
1tsp.minced fresh oregano
⅛tsp.kosher salt and black pepper
½cupseeded and diced plum tomatoes
Instructions
Begin by roasting the chicken: Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Put the chicken in a small baking dish and sprinkle the salt, pepper, paprika, and garlic and onion powders all over the chicken. Add the olive oil and butter to the tops of the breast, and drizzle on the lemon juice. Bake for twenty minutes or until the chicken is no longer pink in the middle. When the chicken is done, cut the breasts in half inch slices.
While the chicken roasts, make the vinaigrette by shaking up all the ingredients in a small jar.
Put all the romaine in a large bowl, or on a large platter. Arrange the cooked chicken and vegetables on top of the lettuce. Drizzle on as much dressing as you like.
Summer Farmstand Tuna Bowls are one of our favorite warm weather dinners. I start these bowls by roasting corn on the cob. Then, I fill our bowls with spring green lettuce mix, and top them with Natural Catch tuna fillets, tomatoes, avocado, cucumbers, the corn …
Berry Shortcakes with Mascarpone Cream are one of our favorite summer desserts. I start these shortcakes by making sweet buttery biscuits. While the biscuits bake, I make mascarpone whipped cream and sweeten berries with some sugar. Then, I serve the shortcakes stuffed with the berries …
Easy Summer Peach Tarts are one of our favorite warm weather desserts. I start these tarts by stirring together an easy tart dough. Then, I make a sweet peach filling and whip up some whipped cream. We like these tarts for several reasons. First of all, I like that I can make these tarts in just about one hour. Secondly, I like that I can make all the components of these tarts ahead of time. Then, I just assemble them right before serving time. Thirdly, I like that this recipe uses ingredients that I usually already have in the house. That makes this recipe inexpensive to prepare. And, lastly, we all love the buttery dough, the sweet peaches, and the fluffy whipped cream.
The Equipment I Used
An Electric Mixer- You’ll need this to make the whipped cream.
A Pastry Blender- Use this to cut the butter into the flour. You can also use your hands to do this.
The Ingredients Needed for Easy Summer Peach Tarts
Peaches- Be sure to peel the peaches and remove the pits. Cut the peaches in uniform half inch cubes.
Flour- Use all-purpose flour. I like the King Arthur brand of flour.
Butter- Your butter should be very cold for best tart dough results.
Cream Cheese- Use brick cream cheese, not whipped cream cheese.
Cream- Use heavy cream to make the whipped cream.
Cornstarch- You’ll need this to thicken the peach filling.
How I Made my Tarts
First, I made the dough. This dough is very forgiving. You can reroll it if you need to.
Next, I made the filling. Simmer the peaches until they are soft but not mushy.
Then, I made the whipped cream. Start your mixer on low, and then gradually increase the speed until the cream is light and fluffy.
If you like peaches, you need to make these Easy Summer Peach Tarts.
Easy Summer Peach Tarts
Four-inch tarts filled with a sweet peach filling and topped with homemade whipped cream.
8tbsp.cold unsalted butter, cut in half inch pieces (112g) (for the dough)
3ouncescold cream cheese
¼cupice water
4tbsp.unsalted butter (for the peach filling)
6cupspeeled peaches, chopped in half inch pieces
¾cuplight brown sugar
¼tsp.kosher salt
1tsp.cornstarch
1cupheavy cream
1tsp.vanilla extract
2tsp.sugar (for the whipped cream)
Instructions
First, make the tart dough. In a large bowl, mix together the flour, sugar and salt. Using a pastry cutter, cut the butter and cream cheese into the flour, until the flour is fully incorporated, and everything is pea sized. Pour in the ice water, stirring with a fork, until a scraggly dough is formed. Empty the dough onto a floured board, and shape the dough into a ball. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least thirty minutes.
Roll out the dough until it is very thin and cut out 8 six inch rounds. It's fine to reroll the dough as many times as you need to. Press the rounds into the tart pans, and up the sides of the pans. Prick the tart bottoms all over and then refrigerate them for fifteen minutes. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
Place parchment squares in each tart pan, and fill them with pie weights. Bake for fifteen minutes and then cool them to room temperature.
While the filling cools, make the whipped cream: In the bowl of an electric mixer, with the whisk attachment on start beating the cream on low power. Start on low and gradually increase the speed to high. When the cream starts to thicken add the vanilla extract and sugar. Beat until the cream is fluffy. I used a piping bag with a star attachment on to pipe on the cream.
Make the filling: In a three-quart saucepan, melt the butter on low heat. Stir in the peaches, brown sugar, cornstarch, and kosher salt. Simmer ten minutes, or until the peaches are soft. Cool to room temperature. Divide evenly among the shells. Top with the whipped cream.
Tuna-Vegetable Salad with Lemon Dressing is one of our favorite no-cook summer dinners. I start this salad by assembling a platter of chopped lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes, radishes, and onions. Then, I top it with Natural Catch White Albacore Tuna Filets. Finally, I drizzle on a …
Honey Barbecue Chicken Tacos are one of our favorite summer dinners. I start these shredded barbecue chicken tacos by braising boneless, skinless chicken thighs. Then, I stir the shredded chicken into my homemade honey barbecue sauce. Finally, I topped the shredded barbecue chicken with strawberry …
Nutella-Topped Banana Bread Waffles are one of our favorite breakfasts. I start these waffles by making an easy banana waffle batter. Then, I top the waffles with homemade vanilla whipped cream, Nutella chocolate spread, sliced bananas, walnuts, and strawberries. We like these banana waffles for several reasons. First of all, I like that these waffles can feed a small crowd. Each waffle easily feeds two people. Secondly, I like serving these waffles for breakfast for dinner. The whole family gets excited when I make these waffles for dinner. And, lastly, we all love the nutty waffles, the fluffy whipped cream, the sweet fruit, and the chocolatey Nutella.
The Equipment I Used
A Waffle Iron- You’ll need this to cook the waffles.
A Mixer- Use this to whip the cream.
The Ingredients Needed for Nutella-Topped Banana Bread Waffles
Flour- Be sure to use all-purpose flour. I always use King Arthur brand flour.
Eggs- Use large eggs
Sour Cream- I always use full-fat sour cream.
Milk- I also use whole milk.
Bananas- Use any bananas. They don’t need to be especially ripe.
Butter- Use unsalted butter.
Cream- Be sure to use heavy cream to make the whipped cream.
How I Made my Banana Waffles
First, I made the banana waffle batter. When making waffle batter, it’s important to not overmix the batter. You want to mix in each ingredient, until it’s just combined.
Next, I cooked the batter in the waffle iron.
Then, while the waffles cooked, I made the whipped cream. Take care to not overmix the cream, or it will stiffen into butter.
Finally, I topped each waffle with some Nutella, some sliced strawberries, some finely chopped walnuts, some sliced bananas, and some whipped cream.
If you like bananas, you need to try these hearty and delicious Nutella-Topped Banana Bread Waffles.
Nutella-Topped Banana Bread Waffles
Walnut-flecked banana waffles topped with strawberries, Nutella, and whipped cream.
Sift the flour, baking powder, and salt together. Stir in the sugar and set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, beat the eggs, and then mix in the sour cream, bananas, vanilla and milk. Add the walnuts and flour mixture, stirring just until no streaks of flour appear. Try not to overmix. Stir in the butter.
Cook batter in your waffle iron, according to its directions.
For the Whipped Cream:
In the bowl of an electric mixer, with the whisk attachment on, start beating the cream on low, gradually increasing the speed to high. When the cream starts to thicken, add the vanilla and sugar. Beat until the cream is fluffy.
For the Toppings:
Top the waffles with all the toppings and the whipped cream.
Lemony Lobster and Wine Fettuccini is one of our favorite seafood dinners. I start this lobster fettuccini dish by steaming four live lobsters. Then, I make a rich and buttery lemon and white wine sauce. Finally, I toss the lobster and fettuccini with the sauce …