… I’ve managed to sneak back to the cottage for a couple of days. The Viking had to stay in London, something that he particularly dislikes at the weekend but insisted that I go home. Don’t for a moment think, dear reader, that this was some kind of selfless sacrifice. Oh no. I was given precise instructions for dead-heading flowers and recording the motorbikes. I’m not entirely sure which has priority but I’m pretty convinced if he could drag the TV out into the garden he wouldn’t actually need me at all. To be fair, I understand his passion for the garden. He has transformed what was once a lovely but rather plain strip of grass and boarders into a stunning traditional cottage garden. The beds are frothy with bee-loving flowers and he’s planted it with a sort of un-trained, wild abandon which has given in such a natural feel. Last year we even reclaimed back part of the over-wide driveway and extended the beds at the front of the house and so our view over the wolds as we sit and drink our morning coffee is one of utter beauty and tranquility. The Viking started truly working on the garden at the same time that I started my blog 5 years ago. The recession was in full swing and business was quite which meant we both had more time on our hands. Thankfully we both found creative outlets that allowed us to express and I think we’re appreciative of this in our own ways. Even though I occasionally cook in the London flat I itch to get back to my kitchen at the cottage and I know The Viking feels the same way about wearing his gardening gloves. It allows him to breathe and be more than just a cog in the machine… during late May and early June our garden looks its absolute best so I do feel very privileged to be here and witness it in all its glory…
cherry frangipane tart
there’s an abundance of cherries in the shops at the moment and I absolutely love them… I could eat them for days and it’s very rare that i’ll actually be bothered to bake them into a cake but this little frangipane tart is so perfect and pretty easy to make and there’s something about cherries and almonds that work so well together… the addition if the cherry brandy lifts the tart from the ‘rather wonderful’ to the ‘little bit special’ and it’s unlikely that i’d use the cherry brandy for anything else so I’ve got to use it when I can…
for the chocolate pastry
200g plain flour
25ml polenta
100g unsalted butter
1 tbsp caster sugar
1 egg – beaten
140g golden caster sugar
140g ground almonds
140g butter – melted
1 large free-range egg plus 1 large free-range egg yolk
2 tbsp cherry brandy
500g cherries with their stones removed
make the pastry by all the ingredients to a large bowl and beating together with a knife, add a little water to form a dough. flatten it out onto cling film, wrap it and leave to rest in the fridge for 20 mins
Firstly your garden looks gorgeous – it's so special when all your hard work cones together and the garden does it's 'thing' looking full & colourful. Next oh wow this cherry tart looks amazing. We have a cherry tree & I'm hoping the birds leave us some, when they ripen, as I'd love to make this tart. Cherries, frangipane, chocolate crust – perfection thank you. Sammie http://www.feastingisfun.com
The Viking's garden is like my garden and my mum's garden, glorious in its colour and textures, and yet untamed, I LOVE what he has done to it, and I must visit some day, hint hint! LOVELY post Dom, so full of hope and summery flavours and fragrance – and that tart is something to behold, it's STUNNING! Karen
Hi Dom
That tart looks fandabiosy – a proper cherry tart. I am going to have to make this. I make home made cherry brandy every year as well as rumptopf or Batchelors Brandy. I might have a go at this on Friday night – OH is diabetic but I am going to my mum's on Saturday so I may well take this along as a treat for both of us. I also do coconut cheesecakes which are traditionally made with raspberry jam every so often with cherry jam – both go well with the coconut.Thanks for sharing this recipe it really ticks all the boxes and chocolate pastry. Yum!
The garden looks gorgeous no wonder the Viking wants to be there but then I too wouldn't mind being in the Wolds either.
Take care
Pattypan xx
I'd sneak back for that tart too! 🙂 Serious garden envy – I have no outside space at all sadly…
Oh I do like that polenta crust and I'm a sucker for anything frangipane. I can't imagine anything nicer than pootling around in the Viking's garden with a trug, deadheading flowers. Hope he didn't have too miserable a time in London
The Viking has done an amazing job with the garden, love all the whimsy looking flowers. Your tart sounds wonderful, cherry and chocolate is a match made in heaven.
Such a pretty garden, well done to the Viking! I like the sound of the chocolate polenta tart and I love cherries too! Yum!
That tart looks amazing as does the garden. So many of the flowers in your garden are in my boyfriend's Mum's garden. She similar borders around the edge of the garden with varying heights of tall flowers at the back down to smaller flowers at the front.
I'm afraid our garden is lacking on flowers and is full of herbs, runner beans,tomatoes, cucumbers etc at the moment. I'm not hugely green-fingered, but if I'm growing food, I feel more responsibility to look after them.
I really want a piece of that tart though, I'm guessing from your reference to the Wolds you live in the Cotswolds, they're a beautiful part of the world. I love visiting them as I'm in Oxford and they're not too far.
that looks amazing – so moist & sticky!
I'm flicking between pictures here wondering which deserves the most attention, the Viking's fabulous garden or your wonderful cherry tart. Cherries are a wonderful fruit and around for such a short time, so I know what you mean about baking with them, but really this tart MUST be tried. And polenta in the pastry too? Dom you are a genius.
Beautiful garden – and the tart looks wonderful – frangipane is one of my favourite things. And what do you know? I have some cherry brandy in the cupboard…
this looks amazing and impressive garden I also love gardening
Dom your cottage sounds heavenly. The garden is nothing less than gorgeous. You are both talented and obviously very passionate about your country home. Your tart is also gorgeous and sounds heavenly! Have a wonderful week 🙂
I adore your photographs! What a charming, lovely place! The recipe sounds great and I like you used polenta in pastry…I think it gives nice texture to the crust. I bought new variety of cherry (oops, I forgot the name) at Saturday Market and love to use in this recipe.
The flowers are gorgeous, I just gave a little helping teaching someone dead-heading today. And cherry tarts are my fave, and chocolate just sends it over the edge!
That looks seriously good – the sort of fruit tart you get in France. And we don't see enough chocolate pastry, I don't think I've done chocolate pastry since before I started blogging although I remember making it in my old flat.
Cherry Frangipane Tart is one of my favourites…… & Yay!!! The cherries are here! This one looks particularly almondy-gooey-delicious! I hope you saved a piece for the Viking? If he managed to nurture a garden like that, he should have a whole tart to himself….. It is beautiful!
I love cherries and polenta, this is a perfect cake for me. Glorious wild garden too