By popular demand...

For a few years now I've been asked to share my cooking tips and recipes...Since my family and friends live all over the globe this seems to be the only way I can do this. I loved cooking and baking ever since I can remember and always enjoyed being in the kitchen with my mom and grandma. Everyone on both sides of my family cooks and growing up we seldom eaten out and have always made everything from scratch, so naturally this is the way, I've been cooking. I am partial to gourmet and "fussy" food and enjoy spending time cooking the gourmet meals as often as I can...I know, I know,"who has the time??? I suppose that some of us spend their weekends traveling or playing sports, I cook...I know, it's a little retro but I really love it when people enjoy my creations! All the recipes I'll be posting here are either mine or recipes that I've found through the years and adapted to my family's taste. So, my first recipe is made with one of my favorite fruit-PLUMS.

Walnut Plum Tart



2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup finely chopped walnuts
3/4 cup light brown sugar, lightly packed
12 tablespoons cold unsalted butter (1 1/2 sticks), diced
1 egg yolk
2 pounds firm, ripe Italian prune plums, pitted and quartered lengthwise

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Combine the flour, walnuts, and sugar in a large bowl. Add the butter and the egg yolk. Mix, either by hand or with an electric mixer, until crumbly.

Press 1 1/2 cups of the crumb mixture in an even layer into the bottom of a 9 1/2-inch tart pan. Arrange the plums in the pan, skin side down, to form a flower pattern; begin at the outside and work your way in.

Sprinkle the rest of the crumb mixture evenly over the plums. Bake the tart for 40 to 50 minutes, or until it's lightly browned and the plum juices are bubbling. Remove from the oven and cool for 10 minutes. Remove from the pan and transfer the tart to a flat plate. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Enjoy!!!