"The baby goats were born this morning" Robert texted me last Monday. We had just been to the farm with the kids a few days prior and we could see that the baby goat mamma Daisy was due any minute.
"We will stop by this weekend. I can't wait to see them" I texted back.
We had lots of plans for the weekend. It was C's 40th birthday after all and although he wanted to keep it quiet, we invited some friends over for dinner. We spent Sunday morning cooking and getting the house ready for our guests. C. even woke up at insane hours of the night to get his smoked brisket going. This man is obsessed with barbecue.
We planned a very relaxed summer menu. Just the way I like to eat. A little bit of this, a little bit of that. Very similar to the summer parties we throw back home.
Our menus are always eclectic, but that seems to be what friends like about them. The unexpected, I suppose.
On my side I had planned to make a tortilla de patatas (a must have every time my friend Deena comes over). Also a fennel, zucchini and Rainier cherry salad, a roasted tomato and watercress tart, cherry and hazelnut gratin and chocolate chip cookie ice cream sandwiches. Not bad, I thought.
"I have to run to Robert and Paula's to get eggs for the tart and the tortilla before it's too late" I told C.
Jon was too busy playing with water balloons with the neighborhood kids, so I put Miren in the car and drove to the farm. I was excited for her to see the new babies, Peanut and Peabody.
It was early afternoon. The rain that had fallen the day before combined with the high temperatures made for a very humid day. The babies were hiding inside their crate while the rest of the animals found shelter under the trees. Not even the chickens wanted to come out. I didn't blame them.
Miren was mesmerized by the babies. Even at a week old they were playful around each other. What a beautiful sight.
We picked some tomatoes and purple peppers for the party. "They smell like they have already been roasted!" I told Robert.
Have you ever smelled purple pepper? So intense and smoky. I made the best salad with them the following day.
We came back home to finish cooking. Luckily the kids got to nap and rest before friends arrived, which always helps.
I managed to take a photo of the table with my phone.
A feast, no?
Roasted Tomato and Watercress Tart
Roasted Tomatoes
3 medium tomatoes (about 1 lb 4 oz or 560 g), sliced into 1/4" rounds
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
2 Tbs olive oil
bunch of fresh thyme
Pre-heat oven to 300F.
Drizzle the bottom of a sheet pan with 1 Tbs of olive oil. Sprinkle 1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp pepper on top. Lay the tomato slices on the pan. Drizzle the remaining olive oil, salt, pepper and thyme.
Bake the tomatoes for 1 1/2 hours or until soft but still hold their shape. Reserve.
Tart Crust
2/3 cup (90 g) superfine brown rice flour
1/3 cup (45 g) quinoa flour
1/4 cup (40 g) potato starch
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
2 tsp thyme leaves
8 Tbs (110 g) cold unsalted butter, diced (I used non hydrogenated shortening)
5-6 Tbs ice water
Combine the first six ingredients in the food processor. Pulse to combine. Add the diced and cold butter and pulse until the butter is cut into the flour into pea size pieces. Add the ice water and pulse until the dough comes together. It will not form a ball, just press it to see if it holds together. Add 1 Tbs of ice water if needed.
Transfer the dough t your work surface and press it together into a disk. Wrap in plastic wrap and chill for 1 hour.
Dust your surface with superfine brown rice flour. Roll the dough to 1/8" thickness. Fill a 9" tart mold with the dough. Cut off excess dough. Chill the tart for another 30 minutes while preparing the filling.
Roasted Tomato and Watercress Filling
Bunch of fresh watercress, stems removed
Roasted tomatoes
2 eggs
1 Tbs plus 2 tsp cornstarch (12 g)
1 cup unsweetened coconut milk
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
Pinch of freshly ground nutmeg
2 oz mozzarella (I used the cheese substitute Daiya)
Pre-heat oven to 400F.
Fill the bottom of the chilled tart with the roasted tomatoes. Add the watercress on top.
In a bowl, whisk together the rest of the ingredients. Pour over the tomatoes.
Bake for 30 minutes or until tope is golden brown. Cool for 20 minutes before slicing.
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