Marinated Buffalo Mozzarella and Tomato Salad

Summer feels as if it is moving at a lightening speed pace. Signs of the fall are already appearing. The first harvest of pumpkins is already appearing in the grocery stores and it is barely mid-August. Yikes. Quite possibly it is a function of my chronological age, but I want time to slow down just a bit or at least have more days feeling reminiscent of my youth. Days that seemed to go on endlessly, where an hour felt like an eternity, and where summer kept fall at bay for as long as possible. And here in the midwest, with only one season for tomatoes I want it, no I need it, to last as long as possible. Especially now that I have discovered what Yotam Ottolenghi's Marinated Buffalo Mozzarella and Tomato Salad tastes like. My search for the most descriptive culinary adjectives to describe what might be a perfect tomato salad is temporarily hindered by the use of the regressively youthful exclamation: OMG.

I thought the Marinated Buffalo Mozzarella and Tomato Salad would be a great compliment to the Mussels in Roasted Garlic Cream Sauce and a perfect post Saturday Farmer's Market lunch. After picking up beautifully ripened red and heirloom tomatoes, a bunch of fresh basil, and a loaf of sourdough bread at the market, I only needed to make a stop at Whole Foods to pick up the Buffalo Mozzarella and mussels. 

The tomatoes were so beautiful at the Farmer's Market this week I couldn't help but buy more than was needed for this salad. 

Fresh mozzarella di bufula is made from the milk of the Italian water buffalo, considered to be the richest milk in the cheesemaking arsenal. It has more than twice as much butterfat as cow's milk resulting in a cheese that is decadently creamier and more flavorful. It is has been described as being feather-light and unmistakably rich, delicate and assertively full-flavored, and slightly tangy and buttery all at once. Buffalo mozzarella is love at first bite. There is only downside to this cheese: its' accessibility. But I urge you to find a store selling this cheese relatively close to where you live. Even if relatively close means as much as an hour round trip drive.  Because this salad is not the same made with any other kind of mozzarella cheese.

The flavors of this Marinated Buffalo Mozzarella and Tomato Salad play brilliantly in the sandbox with one another. Toasted fennel seeds, lemon zest, freshly chopped oregano and basil, crushed garlic, sea salt, along with grapeseed and extra-virgin olive oils create a marinade for the buffalo mozzarella that will take your palate by complete surprise. One of those best kinds of unexpected surprises. 

Two to four fresh tomatoes are cut into wedges. Whether you choose to use red, yellow, heirloom tomatoes, or any combination of all three, use ones you can get from a garden or a farmer's market. In other words, you want tomatoes that are at their optimal texture and taste (unlike the tomatoes that have been refrigerated). 

After the buffalo mozzarella marinates for 15 to 30 minutes and the lightly sprinkled with sea salt tomato wedges are placed on the platter, the salad is finished with a drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil. 

Served with freshly sliced sourdough or Italian country loaf bread it is hearty enough to be a main course, a great starter to a meal, or the only side you need if serving with fish, chicken or beef. 

The Marinated Buffalo Mozzarella and Tomato Salad and Mussels with Roasted Garlic Cream Sauce made for an amazing lunch. After going to an outdoor concert where the average age of those in attendance appeared to be at least 70 and spending several hours rearranging and moving furniture in the home of another friend earlier in the week, it was not only the perfect reward lunch for me and my childhood best friend, it was a perfect lunch. At the end of our well-deserved leisurely meal, we both agreed the salad and mussels were worthy of being placed on the 'last meal' list. 

Recipe

Marinated Buffalo Mozzarella and Tomato Salad (a Yotam Ottolenghi recipe from Plenty)

Ingredients

1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds

Grated zest of 1 lemon

15 basil leaves, shredded

2 teaspoons fresh oregano, chopped

2 teaspoons high quality extra-virgin olive oil, plus extra for finishing

2 teaspoons grapeseed oil

1 clove garlic, crushed

1/2 teaspoon Maldon sea salt, plus additional for seasoning cut tomatoes

pinch of black pepper

8-9 ounces buffalo mozzarella

2-4 ripe tomatoes (red, heirloom, yellow or combination)

Optional: Loaf of sourdough or hearty italian country bread sliced thickly

Directions

1. Scatter fennel seeds in small frying pan over medium heat. Dry roast until fennel begins to pop and/or the the fragrance is released.

2. Transfer fennel seeds to a mortar and pestle and crush.

3. In a medium sized bowl, mix together the basil, oregano, lemon zest, olive oil, grape seed oil, sea salt, pepper, crushed fennel seeds, and crushed garlic. Set aside.

4. Break balls of buffalo mozzarella roughly with your hands. Smear with marinade and set aside to marinate for 15-30 minutes.

5. Cut tomatoes in wedges.

6. Transfer marinated mozzarella to large platter, scatter cut tomatoes along edges, sprinkle tomatoes with additional sea salt, and drizzle extra-virgin olive oil over cheese and tomatoes.

7. Serve immediately with thickly cut slices of fresh sourdough or country loaf.

Lemon Curd Mousse and Blueberry Parfait

Years ago I promised myself that if I ever came across a really, really good sale on a high quality copper pot or pan, I would not walk away from it, again. This past week the opportunity presented itself. While not forgetting the promise I had made, working through the guilt of spending so much money on something I had longed to have but didn't absolutely need or had to have was an anticipated, yet unwelcome obstacle I had to overcome. The sales associate offering to discount one of the pots a little more was helping to make the decision a little easier (or harder depending on which way the decision making pendulum would ultimately swing). As I thought about what I would have to give up in the weeks (or months) ahead if I bought a copper pot or two, I also imagined how slow cooked, creamy scrambled eggs might taste made in the smaller copper fry pan or how making sauces or a lemon curd in a copper saucepan would change (for the better) the cooking process. Finding myself turning this purchase decision into one more difficult than it needed to be, I finally convinced myself I might never see a sale like this again. And I would just deal with the guilt later.

There was actually some serendipity involved in finding the copper pans on sale. My original and singular purpose for going to one of my favorite cooking stores (Williams-Sonoma) was to pick up some small Weck jars I had on hold. Not completely unpredictable I could not help but spend some time browsing.

The first intended use of the jars was for a Lemon Curd Mousse and Blueberry Parfait I had wanted to make. With the word parfait coming from the French word for 'perfect', the jars would be the 'perfect' size of a dessert, especially for those who are 'watching' what they eat but still having a 'craving' for a little bit of sweetness at the end of the meal. The Lemon Curd Mousse with Blueberry Parfait served in these small canning jars would be too hard to resist, even for those who take pride in their ability to show incredible restraint (and not just for dessert).

I had come across another lemon curd recipe that looked much easier to make than the one I had. What I didn't know was whether or not it would be as good. The new lemon curd recipe also gave me the added incentive to initiate the new copper saucepan. Now before I go any further I need to say you do not need a copper saucepan to make this curd, any heavy bottomed saucepan will do. The reason for this disclaimer is because this lemon curd is not only as good as my other lemon curd recipe, it just might be better. So whether you make the parfait or not (but why wouldn't you?), you need to make the curd.

The juice and zest from four lemons helps to make this curd perfectly tart. Four average sized lemons should give you the 2/3 cup of lemon juice needed for the recipe. So when buying lemons, remember size matters.

I would go so far as to say this is almost a 'no fail' lemon curd recipe as you don't need to worry about the eggs curdling. The sugar and eggs are first mixed together in a medium sized sauce pan. Before the heat is turned on, the remaining ingredients are mixed in. Julia Baker's lemon curd recipe called for using melted butter, but instead I decided to use very softened room temperature butter as I wanted all of the ingredients to be at the same temperature before the cooking process started. Stirring constantly, the curd is done when it comes to a boil. I didn't time it but I think it came together well under ten minutes. The curd should immediately be transferred to a heat proof container and directly covered with plastic wrap to ensure a crust does not form on the curd. Once cooled to room temperature it should be placed in the refrigerator for chilling.

The curd can be made in the morning or the day before you are assembling the parfait as it needs to be well chilled before it is mixed with the whipped cream. One cup of the chilled curd gently mixed with two measured cups of whipped cream (sweetened with three tablespoons of confectionary sugar) turned out to be the right whipping cream to curd mousse creating ratio. Note: Two cups of whipping cream will yield more than two cups of measured sweetened whipped cream, leaving you with enough to pipe on top of the parfaits.

The amount of blueberries you mix into the lemon curd mousse will range from three to four cups. The density of blueberries in the parfait is a decision you can make. One made after you gently mix in three cups. Just remember to reserve enough of the most beautiful of the blueberries for the garnish. While my obsession with blueberries continues, these parfaits can be made with blackberries or a combination of blueberries and blackberries.

The use of clear glasses not only reveals the luscious lemon curd waiting on the bottom, but they create a beautiful layered look to the parfait. Seeing the entire parfait should make it even harder to resist.

The finishing touches to the parfaits are piped sweetened whipped cream, a blueberry and a sprig of mint (yet another reason to grow mint in your garden). Serve chilled in small jars or glasses, these parfaits make for a perfect refreshing, creamy, ever so slightly tart end to a lunch or dinner especially on a hot summer day. 

Just as the making of the lemon curd in my new copper saucepan helped to alleviate a teeny tiny bit of the guilt I felt over this indulgent purchase, these small Lemon Curd Mousse and Blueberry Parfaits are almost guaranteed to alleviate some of the guilt anyone might have over eating dessert. Mantra of the day: every now and then moderation is a good thing. 

Recipe

Lemon Curd Mousse and Blueberry Parfait (modification of Julia Baker's Lemon Curd recipe)

Ingredients
Lemon Curd
4 large eggs, room temperature
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
2/3 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (from approximately 4 lemons)
Zest from four lemons
12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter), room temperature soft
pinch of sea salt

Whipping cream
2 cups heavy whipping cream
3 Tablespoons confectionary sugar

3- 4 cups fresh blueberries (blackberries or a combination of blueberries and blackberries)
sprigs of mint for garnishing

Directions
1. In a heavy bottom medium sized saucepan, beat eggs and sugar together.
2. Add lemon juice, lemon zest, butter, and sea salt. Stir until all ingredients are combined.
3. On medium-high heat, bring mixture to a boil (stir constantly).
4. Remove from heat, transfer to a heat proof bowl or jars. Place a piece of plastic wrap on top to prevent a crust from forming. Allow to cool before chilling in the refrigerator. (Note: Mixture will need to be well chilled before proceeding. Can make lemon curd early in the morning or the day before.)
5. Whip cream with confectionary sugar until it holds firm peaks.
6. In a medium sized bowl add in 1 cup of prepared lemon curd and 2 cups prepared whipped cream. Stir gently until well combined. 
7. Add 3 to 4 cups fresh blueberries to the lemon curd mousse. Stir gently to prevent blueberries from breaking.
8. Assembly: Using small, tall clear glass containers, place a generous tablespoon of lemon curd on bottom; spoon in lemon mousse/blueberry mixture; top with whipped cream piped with a pastry bag; garnish with a single blueberry and sprig of mint. 
9. Serve immediately or chill until ready to serve.

Note: For a fancier presentation serve the Lemon Curd Mousse and Blueberry Parfait in martini glasses and/or use a star tip on the pastry bag to decorate the top of the parfait.

Blueberry and Rye Slab Pie

Every time I open Facebook or Twitter there is another one of those quick, fun, non-scientific, the kind that appeals to your curiosity surveys to take. You know the ones, answer ten questions to find out things like which Southern city do you belong in (New Orleans), which Game of Thrones character you would be (not telling), which dessert reflects your personality (popsicle, really?), what city should you actually live in (Cape Town) and in honor of Shark week which shark you would be (does anyone really want to be a shark?). But of all of the surveys out there, I have yet to see one about which pie best reflects you. If there isn't one already out there, there is probably someone is sitting in a room somewhere creating one now. My faith in these surveys would be completely lost (not to worry, I really don't take any of these surveys seriously) if I don't get 'any pie having a rustic look to it'. For me, nothing is more visually appealing than a pie that looks homemade. And the more homemade it looks, the better. Maybe this affinity for homemade looking pies has something to do with my pie making abilities. Or maybe not.

The excitement that came with the discovery of a free form fruit slab pie recipe was on par with the exhilaration that comes from reading a great book, seeing a great movie, or listening to a great soundtrack. When I saw food blogger Yossy Arefi's creation and recipe for Blueberry and Rye Slab Pie, I was immediately smitten (as smitten as one could be with a pie that is). Yet for a brief millisecond I wondered if making one more blueberry dessert this summer was one blueberry dessert too many. One look at and one taste of the finished slab pie had me thinking of one of my favorite mantras 'there is no such thing as too much of a good thing'. 

I decided to make the Blueberry and Rye Slab Pie for a family gathering my childhood best friend was having.  More often than not I usually ask if there is anything I can bring when invited over for dinner. But this time I purposely didn't ask or offer as I wanted the slab pie to be an unexpected surprise (and had it not turned out, well the surprise would have been on me). Based on everyone's reaction to seeing (and tasting) it, I can say with a pretty high degree of certainty the mission was accomplished. And judging by how much of it was left, I would have to say the rustic looking slab did not disappoint.

In making the Blueberry and Rye Slab Pie, I used Yossy's dough recipe (which is actually based on a recipe created by Kim Boyce in her book 'Good to the Grain'). However, until I develop a knack for creating pie dough by hand I continue to rely on the food processor. What makes this pie dough different from most others is the use of both all-purpose and dark rye flours. Having never made a dough with rye flour before I wondered 'was it going to taste like rye bread?' (it didn't). Instead it added a great flavor and helped to create a beautiful brown baked crust.

With the flours weighed and butter mixed in, I began by adding only 8 Tablespoons of the ice cold water along with the 1 Tablespoon of apple cider vinegar. It took only one additional Tablespoon of ice water for the dough to come together.

The dough should be refrigerated for at least two hours or overnight, time constraints had me chilling it for only an hour. If I would have done one thing differently it would have been be to allow the dough to sit out for about five minutes before rolling it out.

I made substantial changes to the filling recipe which turned into a hybrid of several different blueberry filling recipes. I loved how the cornstarch worked in the Blueberry and Peach Crisp, so I used it instead of all-purpose flour. Cinnamon and blueberries are one of my favorite flavor combinations and I couldn't bring myself to using ginger instead. Rather than use lemon zest only I added a generous Tablespoon of freshly squeezed lemon juice. And lastly, I replaced the one cup of granulated sugar with equal amounts of demerara and granulated sugars. The result was a a perfectly thickened, just the right amount of sweetness filling.

In a preheated 400 degree oven the slab pie is baked for 35-45 minutes (my baking time was almost the full 45 minutes) or until the filling is bubbling and the crust is a deep golden brown. But before baking the entire slab is brushed with an egg wash and sprinkled with a white sanding sugar. Not only do sanding sugars have a coarser grain than granulated sugar, they add great sparkle to baked goods.

As hard as you might try to crimp down the edges of the crust, some of the filling will ooze out. For me that just added to the rustic beauty of this slab pie and it just seemed to scream 'I am homemade!' when served.

After making this blueberry and rye slab pie I am faced with conundrum, but not necessarily a bad one to be faced with. The next time I pick up blueberries from the market do I make a blueberry pie, blueberry and peach crisp, blueberry crisp or the blueberry and rye slab pie? Decisions, decisions. 

Recipe
Blueberry and Rye Slab Pie

Ingredients
Dough
9 ounces dark rye flour (recommend Bob's Red Mill Dark Rye Flour)
9 ounces all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon Kosher salt
12 ounces (3 sticks) unsalted butter, cold, cut into tablespoons
8-12 Tablespoons ice cold water
1 Tablespoon apple cider vinegar

Filling
5 cups (2 1/2 pints) fresh blueberries
1/2 cup demerara sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
4 Tablespoons cornstarch
1 teaspoon Saigon cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla paste (or vanilla extract)
1 Tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
Pinch of Kosher salt

Finish
1 large egg
2 1/2-3 Tablespoons white sanding sugar (or other coarse grain sugar)

Directions
1. To make the crust: Mix the flours and salt together in the food processor. Add in butter and process until the butter is broken up into small pieces (think the size of small peas). Mix together 8 tablespoons of cold water and 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar. Add to flour mixture pulsing until the dough begins to form. If necessary add in additional ice water one tablespoon at a time (do not exceed 12 tablespoons). Divide the dough in half, wrap in plastic wrap and chill for at least two hours or up to a day. Allow to sit out at least 5 minutes before rolling.
2. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
3. In a large bowl, mix together the blueberries, sugars, cornstarch, cinnamon, vanilla paste, lemon juice, lemon zest and Kosher salt. Set aside.
4. On a lightly floured surface roll out one piece of the dough into a rough 9 x 12 inch rectangle. Transfer to baking sheet and place in the refrigerator while rolling out second piece of dough.
5. Roll out second piece of dough into another 9 x 12 rectangle. Cut dough into generous 1 inch strips. 
6. Remove dough from the refrigerator and spread blueberry mixture on top leaving at least an inch border along the edges.
7. Using the strips of dough, create a lattice top on top of the blueberry mixture. Fold up the bottom edge of the dough over the top of the lattice strips and seal by pressing firmly with a fork. Place the slab in the refrigerator or freezer until the crust is very firm.
8. Remove slab for the refrigerator or freezer, brush with a beaten egg and sprinkle generously with the sanding sugar.
9. Bake for 35-45 minutes or until the crust is a deep golden brown and the filling juices are bubbling.
10. Cool slightly. Cut into squares and serve with vanilla ice cream or freshly whipped cream.

Tomato, Onion, and Roasted Lemon Salad

From sandwiches made with warm, ripe tomatoes, white bread, some sea salt and mayonnaise to a salad made of any size or variety of tomato dressed ever so lightly in olive oil and fresh herbs, summer tomatoes ramp up the flavor of these simple creations to exponential levels. There are probably only three, maybe four months a year I eat or rather overdose on fresh tomatoes. For the remaining nine months of the year I go on a (fresh) tomato fast rather than take a bite of any of the tomato impostors found in the grocery stores from October through June. If only going on a carbohydrate or chocolate fast could be as easy.

Summer also happens to be that time of the year when you hope friends and/or neighbors will keep you in mind when their tomato plants yield a harvest even the most zealous of all tomato aficionados are unable to consume. But in the event your friends/neighbors don't garden or you don't have friends/neighbors who garden, thankfully there are farmer's markets selling an ever increasing variety of tomatoes. And in recent years, the availability of my newest favorite heirloom tomatoes has grown significantly.

When I saw Yotam Ottolenghi's Tomato, Onion, and Roasted Lemon Salad on the cover of Bon Appetit's August issue, I had to keep myself from drooling in public. Before even opening the magazine to look at the recipe, I anticipated a new kind of transformational simplicity would be brought to the tomato salad as only as Ottolenghi could. He did not disappoint. Actually he never disappoints.

It had to be either fortuitous or knowingly deliberate when I chose to plant mint, parsley and sage in my garden containers earlier this spring. Had I known there would be a tomato salad recipe calling for these three herbs, I wouldn't have used so many containers for flowers. Because when one thinks of a tomato salad one doesn't normally think of mint, parsley or sage. But that is the genius of Ottolenghi. 

Lemon slices tossed in extra-virgin olive oil, barely the hint of sugar and sage are roasted in the oven. With the bitterness of the lemons removed from a quick boil before roasting, they add yet another dimension of flavor to the salad. Whether you use a lemon or a Meyer lemon may not matter, but if you have a choice, chose the Meyer lemon.

When I looked at the dressing ingredients, I wondered if one tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil, one tablespoon of pomegranate molasses, some allspice, salt and pepper to dress one and one-half pounds of tomatoes was enough. Again, why I even questioned Ottolenghi's wisdom was pure silliness. Not only was it enough, it was the perfect amount of dressing to bring out, yet not mask the flavors of the tomatoes, sliced red onion, roasted lemon and herbs.

When it was mixed together it truly is a feast for the eyes. Honestly if it was not an Ottolenghi recipe I may not have taken the 'risk' to make it. Until I took my first bite I was wondering how to wrap my head around what a salad dressing using allspice and pomegranate molasses would taste like. The explosion of flavors of this salad and its' dressing turned out to be nothing short of amazing. 

The Tomato, Onion, and Roasted Lemon Salad could be served along with a fresh baguette as the main course for lunch or as a side to accompany chicken, fish and even red meat for dinner. The lemon slices can be roasted earlier in the day, however, this is a salad at its' best when served freshly tossed. Should there be any leftovers, cover and refrigerate them so you can enjoy them all by yourself. Some leftovers were not meant to be shared. Not only would this be one of them, you can safely drool over this salad in the privacy of your own home. 

Recipe

Tomato, Onion, and Roasted Lemon Salad (barely a change to Yotam Ottolenghi's recipe shared in Bon Appetit)

Ingredients

1 lemon, halved lengthwise, thinly sliced, seeds removed (recommend using a Meyer lemon)

1 Tablespoon fresh sage leaves, thinly sliced

1/2 teaspoon superfine sugar

2 Tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided

1 Tablespoon pomegranate molasses

1/2 teaspoon ground allspice

1 1/2 pounds mixed small tomatoes, halved (suggest a mixture of  heirloom, cherry, and Sun Gold)

1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced

1/4 cup fresh flat leaf parsley leaves with stems

1/4 cup fresh mint leaves, torn if large

1/4 cup arugula microgreens or purple sprouts (optional)

Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

2. In a medium saucepan of boiling water, cook lemon slices for two minutes to remove bitterness. Drain and pat dry.

3. Toss lemon slices, sage, sugar, and 1 Tablespoon of extra-virgin olive oil in a medium bowl. Spread on a parchment paper lined baking sheet. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until lemons are no longer wet and only slightly colored. Allow to cool.

4. Whisk together pomegranate molasses, allspice and remaining 1 Tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil in  a large bowl. Season with Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper.

5. Add lemons, tomatoes, onion, parsley, mint, and micro-greens (or sprouts). Toss gently. Season with salt and pepper. Serve immediately.

Note: When looking for pomegranate molasses in your grocery store, look first in the aisle with Middle Eastern and/or Mediterranean foods. 

S'mores Fudge Tart

Great, memorable endings to a dinner, particularly one celebrating a birthday, almost always involve chocolate. At least in our family. So I have no idea what was I thinking when I asked my niece if she wanted a blueberry crisp with vanilla ice cream or a s'mores fudge tart for her birthday 'cake'. I knew the answer to the question before I even asked it. There are just moments when it is hard to resist asking the rhetorical question. Almost as hard as it is to resist chocolate.

Last year my niece and I celebrated her birthday on Martha's Vineyard. From the ferry tide, to the harrowing bike ride to Edgartown, to swimming in the ocean amongst the tiny, initially a little scary but harmless jellyfish, it was a memorable, weather perfect, fun day. So making this year's birthday equally as memorable was going to be a bit of challenge. Every birthday is 'special' but maybe one's 19th birthday is not meant to be same as their 18th birthday. Or maybe this is an example of some my warped rationalization thinking.

The least I could do was try to make the birthday dinner both special and memorable. If I have learned anything over the years is that it is not always the 'gifts' received we remember, it is events, the moments that stay with us. So this year, I had to come up with an event or series of events to make a birthday we reminisce about years down the road. One of my thoughts was as part of her birthday celebration she and I would make her birthday dinner and 'cake' together. I wouldn't go so far as to say we are a 'foodie' family but we are family that loves to try new recipes and make memorable meals. So spending time cooking and creating in the kitchen is something we actually enjoy.

While there was much thought that went into planning the menu, our pièce de résistance would be the dessert, the S'Mores Fudge Tart. And I would have to say if there was at least one memorable moment in the making of the tart it would be when the propane torch was used to burn the meringue topping. Was there a moment when she thought I would either set her on fire or burn the house down? Probably yes.

This S'mores Fudge Tart uses two kinds of chocolate: semi-sweet and unsweetened cocoa. The combination of the two chocolates make the fudge-like filling to the tart taste decadent. Pecans were the nuts of choice for this tart, but walnuts or even macadamia nuts would work.

The difference between a graham cracker crust made with freshly crushed graham crackers or boxed graham cracker crumbs is like the difference between diamond and cubic zirconia earrings, like pancakes from scratch and pancakes from a mix, like freshly grilled corn and cooked frozen corn on the cob, like a 'real' mayonnaise and Miracle Whip. In other words, you immediately know the difference when you either see it or taste it.

Two cups of freshly crushed graham cracker crumbs, a stick of melted butter, a quarter cup of sugar and a pinch of Kosher salt are mixed together and pressed into a nine inch springform pan (lined with parchment paper). There is enough of the mixture to line the bottom and bring the crumbs up two inches on the sides of the pan. Unlike most other pies and tarts with a graham cracker crust, this one is not pre-baked.

The batter of the tart begins with melting the butter and semi-sweet chocolate in the microwave oven. The remaining batter ingredients are whisked in until blended and poured into the prepared crust.

In a preheated 350 degree oven the s'mores fudge tart is baked for 60 to 75 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the tart comes out clean. My baking time was 60 minutes and I am pretty certain I would not bake it any longer as the filling was perfectly moist.

Once baked, the tart needs to come to room temperature for two reasons. The first being it is much easier to remove from the springform pan when it has cooled, the second being the meringue topping will not melt or slide off.

Traditionally s'mores are made with toasted or roasted marshmallows. But the meringue topping elevated this version of s'mores to the 'over the top' celebration worthy place.

I used a 1/4 inch (6 mm) round tip to decorate the top of the tart as I wanted the meringue to look pillowy as well as to mimic a marshmallow topping (although one bite of this meringue will make you forget the marshmallows). However, you could also use a star tip to create a 'fancier' s'mores tart topping, similar to the one on the Lemon Meringue Tart. The meringue can either be burnt with a propane torch or in an oven set to broil. My preference is for using the propane torch as you have much better control over how much 'burnt' you want your meringue to be (and it is one of the few things in life I have control over).

There is enough of the fudge frosting to drizzle over the top of the tart as well as to serve warm with it. The amount of fudge drizzle you put on is all about personal preference. The s'mores tart is finished with chopped pecans (or whatever nuts you place on top of the crust).

Seriously this s'mores fudge tart and its' multiple layers is insanely delicious. It is the perfect 'celebration' dessert, particularly if you also have a family with a predisposition to all things chocolate. In the middle of winter when you are craving the taste of s'mores but don't live in a climate conducive to making them, this s'mores fudge tart will transport you back to summer as well as bring out the 'kid' who still remembers the taste of their first s'mores.

Just one word of warning. It may be hard for anyone in my family to remember the homemade guacamole, artichoke dip, fish tacos, and creamy roasted street corn made for the birthday dinner now that the meal ended with this tart. A dinner you put together may have a similar outcome. Secretly my only hope is that years from now my niece will remember not just her birthday 'cake' but the time we spent together celebrating her 19th birthday.

Recipe
S'mores Fudge Tart (adaptation of Southern Living's Mississippi Mud S'mores Fudge Pie)

Ingredients
Crust
2 cups freshly crushed graham crackers
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
1/4 cup granulated sugar
pinch of Kosher salt
3/4 cup chopped pecans (plus 1/2 cup chopped nuts for sprinkling on top of tart) (Other nut options: walnuts or macadamia nuts)

Batter
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
4 ounces semi-sweet chocolate, chopped
2 cups granulated sugar
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa (I used Hershey's Special Dark cocoa, but also suggest using Droste cocoa)
4 large eggs, room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla
3/4 teaspoon Kosher salt

Meringue
5 egg whites, room temperature
1 cup superfine sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 teaspoon Kosher salt

Chocolate Frosting
1/4 cup unsalted butter
3 Tablespoons unsweetened cocoa
4-5 Tablespoons whole milk (plus additional if needed)
1 1/2 cups confectionary sugar, sifted
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees (F). Line a 9 inch springform pan with parchment paper and set aside.

Crust
1. In a medium size bowl, stir graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, sugar and pinch of Kosher salt until well blended.
2. Press mixture on bottom and up 2 inches on sides of prepared springform pan. 
3. Sprinkle 3/4 cup chopped pecans on top of crust.
4. Set crust aside.

Batter
1. In a medium size bowl, melt semi-sweet chocolate and one cup of butter in microwave until melted and smooth.
2. Whisk in flour, unsweetened cocoa, eggs, vanilla, Kosher salt and granulated sugar into chocolate mixture until blended.
3. Pour batter into prepared crust. Note: This is very thick batter.
4. Place tart in the 350 degree (F) pre-heated oven for 60 to 75 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. (NOTE: My baking time was 60 minutes. Cooled tart should be moist.)
5. Allow tart to cool to room temperature.
6. Remove from springform pan and place on platter or cake stand.

Meringue Topping
1. In the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, beat egg whites until frothy. Slowly add sugar, salt and vanilla and continue beating on medium-high until stiff peaks form.
2. Put meringue in a pastry bag fitted with a circular tip and create design of your choice onto meringue filling (or spread using an offset spatula). 
3. Using a kitchen torch, carefully adjust flame over the meringue until it is golden brown and deeply caramelized in spots. Or place tart under the broiler and bake for 20 to 60 seconds until it is golden brown and deeply caramelized in spots.
4. Allow pie to cool completely in the refrigerator before slicing and serving.
Note: Can substitute this meringue with a Swiss Meringue.

Chocolate Frosting
1. In a medium sized saucepan, cook butter, unsweetened cocoa and milk over medium heat, whisking constantly, for 4 minutes or until slightly thickened.
2. Whisk in 1 1/2 cups confectionary sugar and vanilla until smooth. (Note: Frosting should be pourable. Add more milk to thin if necessary.)
3. Drizzle some of the frosting over the top of finished meringue.
4. Sprinkle remaining 1/2 cup of chopped pecans over top.
5. Serve remaining warm frosting on side and/or drizzle on plate before placing a slice of the tart on.