Sundried Tomato Pesto Tarts

Jules' housewarming party was this weekend.  After years wandering from one home to another, Jules has finally settled in a gorgeous 1950's home in Richardson, Texas.  The house came with a Viking range -- an irony considering Jules is anti-kitchen.  This is not to say that Jules is anti-food; she most certainly is not:  she appreciate excellent food. She just doesn't enjoy the process of cooking.  "It's like taking a beating," she tells me.  She claims not to be able to boil water and goes into full-fledged Beaker panic mode when confronted with the idea of entertaining.

After it became obvious that Jules was planning to gloss over the big move into her new home, I and several close friends browbeat her into hosting a housewarming party. Jules, notorious for finding such events stressful, consented only when I promised to fly in for the party and to cook.  This was not completely altruistic; there was a Viking range to be enjoyed, after all.

Twenty guests were expected over a three hour period and I decided that it was in our best interests to make relatively stress-free appetizers and dishes that could be rotated out easily.  We settled on a rotini pasta salad tossed with pesto, a baked salmon in a honey-balsamic marinade, and several little appetizers:  rosemary-gorgonzola gougères, baked Brie, crackers, baguettes rounds and cheeses, and these little sundried tomato pesto tarts.  For sweets (because I can't resist any occasion in which we can produce four or five desserts!) we used more mini tarts and piped in chocolate mousse; pastry cream in puff pastry shells topped with raspberries, mini pain au chocolat, and chocolate dipped strawberries.

These tarts were wildly easy - simply cream cheese beaten with a prepared sundried tomato pesto and then piped into blind baked pastry shells (made by cutting store-bought pastry and lining them in a mini-muffin tin) and topped with fresh rosemary from Jules' garden.  Extra shells were used for the chocolate mousse -- making it a versatile appetizer and scrumptious sweet bite.  I'm all about ease and bloodless entertaining.  Plus, Jules could easily replicate this two-in-one combo for other occasions.

Personally I'm convinced that she'll start enjoying the domesticated stuff more now that she has wonderful tools at her disposal -- a Viking gas range, a sunny kitchen, and a home meant for entertaining.  In fact, I've already informed her that she will be hosting a Christmas tea party for her girlfriends -- and this time, no Beaker squealing or waving of the hands.  I take this as a good sign.

Sundried Tomato Pesto Tarts

Makes approximately 24 tarts

1 package of prepared pastry dough (usually comes with two rolls of dough)
1 8 oz package of cream cheese
1/3 cup prepared tomato pesto
Fresh rosemary to sprinkle on top

Unroll the prepared pastry dough and use a fluted biscuit cutter to cut rounds about 1 inch larger in circumference than the size of the muffin tin.  Press the pastry circles into the muffin tin.  Bake according to instructions until golden brown. Let cool on a rack.

Beat together cream chese and sundried tomato pesto until smooth.  Using a start tip, pipe the filling into the shells.  Garnish with rosemary.

Comments

[Becca]

Sounds delicious!

Is the prepared pastry dough puff, or pie crust, or what?

[Alanna]

If your friend's new home fronts a golf course, it's going to be a Twilight Zone moment ... the house where I learned to "really" appreciate food sold not long ago. Maybe?

[s'kat]

Those tarts look just lovely... what a good friend you are!

[Tanya]

Cath,
You are QUITE the wonderful friend! I'm sorry that I missed Julie's fabulous soiree, but it sounded like it was terrific! And I loved the "Beaker squealing" description...fabulous!

[jules]

ok, this is jules, and while the description is TOTALLY accurate, i take issue with comparing me to beaker from the muppets! (ok, not really - actually i think it is hilarious!) As if we didn't already know this, Cath is just an incredible, waaaay too-good-to-be-true friend, and i am beyond blessed by our 13 year friendship!! i can't wait for many more memories, laughs, and crazy beaker moments!! LOVE YOU!

[Cath]

Becca -- super easy! These were prepared pie crust dough.

Alanna --no golf course so no Twilight Zone moments! It's in Richardson, Texas? Drop me a note when you can and tell me more about learning to really appreciate food -- sounds intriguing...

S'kat -- friendship goes both ways and Jules is one of the best; this was just pure pleasure...

Tanya you didn't come! Where were you?! We need to get together soon. Oh and Beaker...well, you've seen her. Ask her to tell you about the hospital experience...

Jules Jules Jules my darling...it was SUCH a great weekend from beginning to end. And you noticed we had the requisite hilarity ensue even when we weren't looking for it? Love you right back!

[Tim]

I really like the idea of the tarts. They sound so easy and look the part too. Perfect for easy entertaining! Thanks for sharing.

[zerrin - misss]

It looks very delicious ..