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Blueberry & Raspberry Tarts

Before I list the ingredients, I’m going to make a confession. I used pie crust mix… from a box. Now before you gasp at my cooking faux paux, let me tell you that the first thing someone said after taking a bite from one of these tarts was, “Mmmmm… the crust is so light and flaky!” So there.

Ingredients:

1 box Betty Crocker pie crust mix
1/2 cup water
1 pint blueberries
1 6 oz. container raspberries
2 tbsp. sugar
1 tsp. corn starch
1 tsp. flour

First, make the dough. Mix one box of pie crust mixture with 1/3 cup of water and stir with a fork until it forms a ball. Divide into six equal parts and roll each into a small ball.

Roll out each little ball with a rolling pin, adding flour as needed. These don’t have to be perfect. Set the rolled out dough onto a cookie sheet. They may overlap, but won’t touch once filled.

Meanwhile, mix together 1 pint of raspberries and 1 6 oz. container of raspberries in a large bowl. Add sugar, corn starch, and flour and gently mix to coat the berries.

Spoon the berry mixture on to each circle of dough, pulling the sides of the dough up around the berries.

Bake at 375 for 25-30 minutes.

Serve with vanilla ice cream (duh).

And then there were two…

Making fresh berry tarts to bring to the boyfriend’s family’s house for dinner.

Happy 4th of July, y’all!

So our seats were pretty good…

We attempted to meet NKOTB and hung out in the parking lot of the arena with the hardcores.

They made me feel surprisingly sane.

Just playing some tunes in preparation for the concert tonight.

I’m in denial that it’s 2009, not 1989.

Holy shit, I’m old.

So Max wanted me to thank all of you for spreading the word about him. We found out today that he has a new mom (!!!) who will be picking him up tomorrow and giving him a forever home.

I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t totally crying at my desk right now. I’m so happy for the little guy after all he’s been through (and, like, crazy sad because I’m going to miss him).

Thanks again to everyone who reblogged, commented, twittered and emailed about Max.

I really do love a happy ending…

The July issue of Naked City is out! Check out my Sex & the Naked City column on pg. 39. I even made my way into a story about moving to/from Wichita on pg. 27.

Someday, there will be real links to provide y’all instead of a flip book. But, while you’re flipping, you should check out the photo spread starting on pg. 22. It’s gorgeous.

Thank you, Wichita Public Library

Libraries are awesome, especially when you live right across the street from one (and a lovely public park). My latest book bounty:

• Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain
• The Apprentice: My Life in the Kitchen by Jacques Pepin
• How to be a Domestic Goddess: Baking and the Art of Comfort Cooking by Nigella Lawson

Notice a theme here? Then things take a turn toward commercial poolside reads:

• The King of Torts by John Grisham (possibly the only one of his books that I have yet to read… they’re my own summertime tradition)
• Straight Talking by Jane Green

Books are basically the best things ever.

The Beach Boys - Kokomo