TWD: Tarte Fine & Coffee Break Muffins

I know, I know! I'm two recipes behind on Tuesdays with Dorie. ("Late" seems to be the norm around here these days.)

Anyway, this week, Leslie of Lethally Delicious decided on Tarte Fine. I've really been looking forward to this recipe... it just seems so utterly simple and tasty. And French.

If I have time, I really enjoy making my own puff pastry. I find all of that rolling and folding relaxing. (If not, store-bought is just fine, though.)


I guesstimated how much was enough. After it was all said and done, I think I rolled it too thickly, though. (Oh well, next time...)


I used two apples, one Granny Smith and one Gala. I liked the difference in colors but they seemed to even out after baking.



As I said, I think the dough was too thick, or maybe I didn't bake for long enough (I did about 30 minutes) because the crust under the apples was a little doughy. It still tasted good, though. I think I'd like to try this again... it's a lovely little dessert. Thanks Leslie for a great pick! (Please see Leslie's blog for the recipe.)

Moving on (or backward)...

Rhiani of Chocoholic Anonymous picked Coffee-Break Muffins for last week's Tuesday's with Dorie recipe.


Yea, they don't look like anything coffee, do they? Sorry, I don't do coffee... so that left me scratching my head wondering how to un-coffee-fy muffins that contain both espresso powder and brewed coffee.

I decided to do a whole-sale change-out of the coffee for something, anything, else.

Enter... strawberries! And tea.


I tried to stick with the spirit of the muffins, so I traded brewed tea for brewed coffee. I added small chunks of strawberry hoping to mimic the "Strawberry and Cream" scones from Panera (LOVE those!).

Sadly, fresh strawberries don't really work in muffins (notice the gaping, moist holes) but the muffins still tasted awesome. If I could find dried strawberries, I would definitely try these again. They were moist (I baked for less time than instructed) and light.

Thanks for the pick, Rhiana, I hope you don't take my anti-coffee muffins personally, LOL.

OK, all caught up now. If you'd like to see the muffin recipe, please stop by Rhiana's blog, or find a copy of Dorie Greenspan's book "Baking, From my Home to Yours".