When company’s coming over for dinner, it’s nice to be able to offer something warm and comforting for the ever important, after dinner indulgence. Which is why I baked this caramel & apple cream cheese tart last weekend when some family was coming for a visit. We don’t often get visitors, what with living 35 minutes from the nearest city. It is isolating, but at the same time, the freedom that comes with living out in the middle of nowhere is very inspiring. Planning is key. You can’t leave the house with toddler in tow without two days worth of snacks and diapers, sippy cups and toys. Grocery lists are thorough and complete, keeping in mind you won’t be going to pick up that forgotten pint of cream anytime soon. Emergency supplies are well stocked in the garage and we’ve got enough firewood to keep us warm all winter long should anything catastrophic happen.
I stacked it all myself too. I didn’t say I chopped it. No, it came that way, well most of it anyway.
Lots of interesting things can happen when you don’t have the distractions of the city to pull you away. Maybe you have time to practice your cooking and baking skills, your photography skills, and even your rusty writing skills. Maybe you bring yourself a little closer to your childhood roots, embracing nature at every turn, and welcoming the life that comes along with rural living. There’s nothing quite like waking up to the cock-a-doodle-dooing of the neighbour’s rooster or the baaaaing of their purebred sheep. Interesting things can happen too, just take this next picture as an example.
That poor, unfortunate fellow flew right into our living room window the other day. I just so happened to be sitting at the computer, writing a post, when “BANG!” I looked out the door next to me, to the deck outside, and there were feathers billowing around all over the place. I walked out onto the deck and there he was, lying on his back, feet in the air, completely stunned. I took him inside and let him rest in the laundry room, wrapped in a towel for a few hours. I checked on him every now and then, and gave him a little ramekin of water. For some reason though, he wasn’t interested in it. After a while, I figured he must be okay. Maybe it was when he started flying around the room, desperately attempting to peck his way through the windows. So I caught him and my husband snapped this photo. He’s been back a couple of times since then too, I think he must like me.
And then there’s this. This has to be my number one reason for living so far away from my favourite boutique stores, my favourite gourmet restaurants, movie theaters, restaurant supply stores, etc. To walk 30 seconds down my driveway, and another 2 minutes down the lane way to see this. What gorgeous beauty and such inspiration, right in my backyard. If I ever have to leave here, it will be a very sad day. But for now, I revel in it’s wonderful simplicity, it’s serene tranquility and I wonder how I ever managed to make it in the big, noisy city. Then again, some questions are better left unanswered.
Caramel & Apple Cream Cheese Tart
For the crust:
1 cup brown sugar, packed
1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
1 tsp vanilla
1 egg
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp freshly grated nutmeg (or half a nut)
1/4 tsp ginger
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 cup graham cracker crumbs (8 whole crackers)
3/4 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup ground pecans
1/2 cup ground hazelnuts
1 1/2 cups quick cooking oats
3 tbsp buttermilk
For the cream cheese layer:
8 oz cream cheese, room temperature
2/3 cup confectioner’s sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1 egg
1/3 cup sour cream
For the apple topping:
5 large apples, peeled cored and sliced into 1/4″ pieces
1 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1 cup creamy caramel, melted (or make your own)
1/4 cup half & half (or light cream)
1. Cream butter and sugar in large bowl.
2. Add vanilla, egg and spices to butter and sugar. Mix well.
3. In bowl of food processor, pulse nuts and crackers until a fine crumb is formed. If using prepackaged graham cracker crumbs, simply measure out at this point.
4. When nuts are ground, mix together in another bowl with flour, graham cracker crumbs, oats, salt and baking soda.
5. Add dry ingredients to wet and stir to combine.
6. In a 9×13 greased, glass baking dish, add the crust and pat down evenly. Set aside.
7. In a small bowl, mix the cream cheese with the confectioner’s sugar until smooth.
8. Add the egg, vanilla and sour cream.
9. Pour over the crust, spreading it evenly with a spatula and set aside.
10. Toss the sliced apples with the salt, and cinnamon.
11. Lay the apples out over the top of the cream cheese layer like a deck of cards spread out on a table. One layered over the edge of the next.
12. Bake in a 350°F oven for 45 minutes.
13. Melt caramels and combine with half and half.
14. Pour caramel sauce over the cooled apple tart and serve warm.
Lovely post indeed, full of sensibility! And scrumptious pie.
.-= Miriam/The Winter Guest´s last blog ..Middle-class brioche =-.
The apple tart looks delicious. A good cup of coffee and a piece of that tart looking over your lake…Life would be good. I can see why you like living a bit away from the sidewalks.
Glad to know the bird is okay. I would be runing around like a maniac with the bird in the livingroom (laugh).
Very nice blog post!
wow, if I had a view like that, I’d never leave either. very breathtaking. the apple tart looks so deliciously warm and scrumptious, too.
.-= Brie´s last blog ..Eat Cheap For A Week Challenge =-.
Your tart looks delicious! I too live far from city amenities, about 90 minutes, but without your amazing views. If I ever move back to the city, I’ll miss the quiet. Though it’d be nice to grab a dinner to go that wasn’t from Sonic.
.-= Christine´s last blog ..Curry Roasted Cauliflower =-.
I’d totally take the misty lake-side view over the bakeries & cafes. Thanks for sharing that.
Mmm, I’d take some of that tart too!
.-= Aimee´s last blog ..CookiePie’s Gingersnaps =-.
The view is gorgeous and the tart looks scrumptious!
.-= El´s last blog ..Secret Obsession: Chocolate Chip Buttered Pecan Cookies & Milk =-.
As a member of the “family” that had the extreme honour of tasting this amazing apple treat, I have to say that the Guilty Kitchen outdid itself. It was, in simple terms, one of those most delicious desserts I’ve had in a long time. It also helps that I was able to sample the caramel before it was melted down. 😉 It’s the perfect dish for this time of year- warm, sweet and rich.
I never realized how well apples and sweetened cream cheese go together until the most recent Daring Cooks challenge. This tart seems like an amped up version of that, I love that it’s pretty heavy on the apples.
.-= Frenchie´s last blog ..Discovering Spices/Zaatar Pizza =-.
I just joined the Daring Cooks so I’m not familiar with which dish you are referring to? Surely not the Pho which was the latest dish.
I lived in a Pacific Northwest mountain town of 900. Our nearest store was about a half hour drive. It was wonderful and I so prefer it to the big city suburb I’m living in now. My windows there faced no other houses, just national forest and wildlife. I could sit by the window and watch snow fall for hours. It was a very peaceful and introspective way to live, one I hope and pray to return to very soon.
.-= Peggy´s last blog ..It’s Blog Cleanup Month =-.
The tart looks amazing! I love the pecans & hazelnuts in the crust!
.-= Natasha – 5 Star Foodie´s last blog ..5 Star Makeover: Macaroni and Cheese =-.
Oh my, that tart looks absolutely amazing – I need to stop drooling! 🙂
.-= Simply Life´s last blog ..Post-Run Meal! =-.
I lived in the middle of nowhere when I was in elementary/middle school and loved it–we had 48 acres–no view like yours, but some great huge oak and pine trees, plus all the space to run and play. I miss the quiet and the dark, but convenience is nice too. Your tart is gorgeous, thanks for sharing.
.-= Susan´s last blog ..Review: Girl in the Arena =-.
looks decadent and to-die-for. yum!
.-= Rachel J´s last blog ..Caribbean Club with Lime Butter =-.
What a beautiful post and recipe. British Columbia is such a dreamy place. I love it there. Thanks for the photos and the reminder that I need to get back to the Pacific Northwest someday.
And, I hope that cute little birdie comes back to visit often.
Cheers.
.-= Amber´s last blog ..California’s Rhone =-.
Looks fantastic. Congrats on the Foodbuzz Top 9 today!
.-= Jen @ My Kitchen Addiction´s last blog ..Butternut Squash Soup with Parmesan and Sage =-.
That’s a very elegant tart! Great ingredients in the crust, too.
.-= Nate´s last blog ..Microwaved Cabbage and Carrot, a Bachelor’s Tale =-.
What a beautiful place you live in! It seems that the positives far outweigh the negatives. You tart looks absolutely amazing and your photos are inspiring!
Hello from Russia!
Can I quote a post in your blog with the link to you?
As long as there is sufficient credit, then go ahead. Thanks!
This photo is looking awesome as today’s headline! THANKS!
No thank you! I love it!
Wow, I must have missed this post somehow! Amazing pictures Mrs.! Well said about our rural surroundings.. I hope that we can stay here for a long long time!
wow. ive never seen so many ingredients in 1 crust before! lol. but omg it looks so good!
.-= Tia @ ButtercreamBarbie´s last blog ..Papa John’s Chicken Club Pizza and Pizza Crescents =-.
This looks do yummy. I am making this this weekend. Having friends over Saturday for scrapbooking. This is going to be the star of the evening I can bet on it. Thanks for sharing. This is worth getting off my diet for the day!
Oh and it is totally worth it for sure!
That looks nice
This looks so tasty! Thanks for sharing!
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Sound like a delicious food that you share…hope can make it!.. Thanks for sharing that kind of recipe or food to us.. | 😛
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Slurp! that apple tart looks yummy! You photograph it so well that it looks so tempting. If this kind of blog you will open up everyday, I think we all wake up to being hungry LOL
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Hello,
I stumbled upon your photo of the lake while searching for a photo like it and was wondering if I could obtain permission for use but not direct resale in a background image for a product that I am creating. It is just for my small business but would make a great addition. Please reply at my email. Thank you.
Cheese and apple are my favorite. So good to see them both in your tart. Thanks for sharing your recipe!
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