Strawberry Sandwich Tarts

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Strawberry Sandwich Tarts

March is the best time to pick strawberries and blueberries here in Central Florida. The strawberries and blueberries are planted in the Fall and are ready to be picked in early Spring.  We have many strawberry and blueberry farms that you can visit and pick your own berries.   Here are some recipes for delicious strawberry sandwich tarts, strawberry jam, and blueberry jam.

The sandwich tart recipe is just like the store bought toaster tarts but these homemade tarts taste much better. When it’s homemade, you can use a filling you like and the filling will have a more satisfying delicious taste. The jam is a super easy No-Canning method that you can easily make and just refrigerate it.

Tiny Baby Grasshopper on My Marigold Flower

“I was checking on my Marigold flowers and what a delight! I discovered a visitor. Good thing I had my camera with me and I snapped this picture right away before it hopped away.”

Strawberry

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Strawberry 🍓

Strawberry Sandwich Tarts

Ingredients for Crust

• 2 cups Flour

• 1 Tbs Sugar

• 1 tsp Salt

• 1 cup Butter (2 sticks or 16 tablespoons), cut into slices

• 1 Egg

• 2 Tbs Milk

• 1 Egg, to brush on pastry before filling.

Directions for Crust

To make dough:

1.      Mix the flour, sugar, and salt. Add the egg and milk.  Work in the butter.

2.      Divide dough in half. Shape each into a rough rectangle. Wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

Note:  You can refrigerate the dough up to 2 days; let it rest for 15 to 20 minutes at room temperature.

3.      Prepare your filling. The filling is included below.

To assemble the tarts:

4.      Place one piece of the dough on a floured work surface, and roll into a rectangle about 1/8" thick, trim it to 9" x 12". Gently score it to make nine rectangles.

5.      Roll the second piece of dough the same size 9” x 12”.

6.      Beat the egg and brush the first piece of scored dough. Place about a tablespoon of filling in center of each rectangle.

7.      Place the second sheet of dough on top, press with your fingers around each pocket of filling, sealing the dough on all sides.

8.      Cut dough in between the filling mounds - make nine tarts.  Then press the tines of a fork on the edges.

9.      Place the tarts on a greased or parchment-lined baking sheet. Prick each tart multiple times with fork; for steam to escape.

10.   Optional - Sprinkle tarts with cinnamon-sugar.

11.   Refrigerate, uncovered, for 30 minutes.

12.   Preheat your oven to 350°F.  Bake the tarts for 30 to 35 minutes, until they're a light golden brown. Remove them from the oven and allow them to cool on the pan.

13. Optional - You can drizzle a glaze topping after the tarts are cooled.

Makes nine sandwich tarts.  You can freeze them for up to a month.

Strawberry

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Strawberry 🍓

Pick Your Filling

Easy Fresh Berry Jam – No Canning Method

Ingredients

• 4 cups fresh chopped Strawberries and/or Blueberries

• 1 cup Sugar

• 1 Tbsp fresh Lemon Juice or Lime Juice

• 1 Tbsp Cornstarch

• ¼ cup cold Water

Directions

1.    Crush berries in a wide bowl in batches until you have 4 cups of mashed berries.

2.    Combine mashed berries, sugar, and lemon juice in a heavy-bottomed saucepan; stir over low heat until sugar is dissolved. Increase heat to high and bring the mixture to a full rolling boil.

3.    Continue to boil and stir often.  Don’t let it stick on the bottom.

4.    In a bowl, mix the water with the cornstarch until it’s dissolved and there are no lumps.

5.    After the jam had boiled for about 20 minutes, then stir in and add the cornstarch mixture.  The jam will thicken after about 5 minutes.

6.    Continue to boil, stirring often, until the mixture reaches 220 degrees F (105 degrees C).

7.    Check if the jam is done by dipping a spoon and if the jam coats the spoon and forms a thick coating, it is done.  If the jam is thin, runny, and dripping off the spoon then cook a few minutes longer.

8.    Pour the jam into clean jars with a large spoon or ladle, filling to within 1/4 inch of the top. Cover with a lid.

9.    Refrigerate the jars and use within about 2 weeks.

Or use store bought Strawberry jam

Strawberry or Any Fruit Filling

• ¾ cup Strawberry Jam or any Fruit Jam or Preserves

• 1 Tbs Cornstarch

• 1 Tbs Water

Directions: Combine 3/4 cup (8 ounces) jam with 1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 1 tablespoon cold water. Bring the mixture to a boil and simmer, stirring, for 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and set aside to cool.

Another sweet filling you can try.

Cinnamon Filling

• 1/2 cup Brown Sugar

• 4 tsp Flour

• 1 1/2 tsp ground Cinnamon

Directions:  Mix together the brown sugar, flour, and cinnamon.

Cinnamon Topping (Optional for topping before baking)

• 2 Tbs Sugar

• 1 tsp Cinnamon

Glaze Topping

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Glaze Topping 🥣

Glaze Toppings

Glaze Toppings

• 2 cups Powdered Sugar (10X Sugar)

• 3 – 4 Tbsp Milk

• 2 Tbsp softened Butter (optional)

• 1 tsp Choice of Extract (Vanilla, Almond, Maple, etc.)

Directions: Combine all ingredients. You can let the batter sit for a few minutes for the small lumps of powdered sugar to dissolve and disappear. Then stir again. Spread or drizzle on tarts.

You can customize this glaze recipe by adding a few ingredients or substitutions. 

• Chocolate Glaze: Add melted 2 oz. Unsweetened Chocolate. 

• Lemon Glaze: Add Lemon Juice and add grated Lemon Peel. 

• Orange Glaze: Add Orange Juice instead of milk and add grated Orange Peel. 

• Spice Glaze: Mix Cinnamon and Nutmeg with the Powdered Sugar.

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Savory Fillings

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Savory Fillings 🥪

Savory Fillings

Here are some examples of savory fillings for breakfast, lunch, or snacking. 

You can use your own desired amount of ingredients however you like. 

Get the creative juices going in your kitchen, have fun, and enjoy!

Breakfast Fillings

• Cooked Sausage, Diced Ham, or Cooked Bacon, Cooked Scrambled Egg, and Shredded Cheese

• Cooked Scrambled Egg, Shredded Potato, Shredded Cheese

• Cooked Sausage, Cooked Scrambled Egg, Extra Thick Country Gravy, Ground Sage Seasoning

Lunch Fillings

• Diced Ham, Ricotta Cheese, Chopped Onion or Leek, Chopped Fresh Parsley

• Cooked Diced Potato, Cooked Green Peppers, Cooked Sliced Onion, Ground Paprika, Chopped Fresh Herb - Thyme

• Hummus, Roasted Red Peppers, Minced Garlic

• Small Diced Pepperoni mixed with a dab of Tomato Sauce, and Italian Herb Seasoning.  Add Ricotta Cheese and/or Shredded Mozzarella Cheese.

• Any Cooked Diced Vegetable – Eggplant, Broccoli, Spinach, Artichoke Hearts, Zucchini, Onion, Garlic, Scallions.

• Any Soft Cheese or Flavored Cream Cheese with Cooked Diced Vegetables

•  Slightly Mashed and Lumpy Cooked Beans – Chickpeas, Navy Beans, or Black Beans with Favorite Sauce or Chutney and Favorite Spices.

Brush with Egg Wash or Oil and then sprinkle choice of Topping before baking in oven.

• Finely Shredded Cheese

• Grated Cheese

• Everything Bagel Topping

• Sesame Seeds

• Poppy Seeds

• Italian Herb

• Favorite Dried Herb

• Minced Fresh Garlic or Ground Dried Garlic Mixed with Olive Oil

A Cute Baby Grasshopper!

Another Picture of the Baby Grasshopper on My Marigold Flower.