Happy 4th of July

Yesterday we went to a 4th of July party high up on Onondaga Hill. The house had awesome views of the city which included at least ten different firework shows. As if that weren't enough, they were serving some amazing food. I ate until I felt sick and once the feeling passed, I would eat again. There were burgers, clams, sausage and peppers, pulled pork, chicken riggis, bruschetta, and more. For dessert there were Italian wedding cookies, brownies, and a fruit tart.

I could have sworn the fruit tart was made in some gourmet pastry shop. It looked like a piece of art and was perfectly sweet. Once I found out that someone at the party had made it, I had to have the recipe.

First, allow me to get your taste buds going and make your mouth water. These are just a few pictures that showed up in a Google image search. I don't think it matters what you put on it or how you arrange the fruit, this dessert screams summer.

This first picture is from http://cherrapeno.blogspot.com/ If you love food and great pictures of food, check her out.










Doesn't it look amazing? I think the glaze over the top adds a shine that makes the fruit look even more juicy and appetizing. I am told it also helps keep the fruit in place. Not all of the pictures had the glaze to them and you can see the difference. You could take this to any party and people will "oooohh" and "awwww" over it like I did.

FRUIT TART OR FRUIT PIZZA

1 pkg. refrigerated sugar cookie dough
11 oz. cream cheese, softened
1 c. powdered sugar
4 tbsp. undiluted frozen orange juice concentrate
Fresh fruit, bananas, strawberries, melon, kiwi, pineapple, etc.
1/2 c. apple jelly (honey colored)

Press cookie dough onto greased 14" pizza pan or into 2 (8") tart pans and baking according to package directions. Cool. Beat cheese, sugar and 2 tablespoons of the orange concentrate until fluffy. Spread over cooled crust. Arrange fruit decoratively on crust. Melt jelly with remaining 2 tablespoons orange concentrate and brush over fruit to glaze. Cut in wedges. Makes 12 to 15 servings.

I have seen recipes with and without the orange juice in the cream cheese mixture, but I think it adds another layer of flavor to the tart. Sounds pretty simple. This will be recreated in our house very soon. Enjoy!