Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Quick Pickled Blueberries, Goat Cheese, Honey, Pluot, Sage, Pistachio Tartines


When one wakes up in the middle of the night, it takes awhile for truth to be understood. You hold some beliefs that make incredible sense at the moment upon awakening.

But after a bit of time, one realizes that everything thought to be true, thought to be factual, was wrong.

The puff cat on the pillow is actually the pig cat imitating the puff's favored sleep position. The fluffy soft cat making its way to your hand for cuddles is not a random stray third cat that you keep wishing would magically appear at your doorstep in need of a loving home. And that the lump near your legs isn't a sleeping pig cat. In reality, the fluffy cuddly cat is your very own JiJi. And the lump near your legs is not even a cat. But a mini-sized person who should have been sleeping in his own bed. And by the time all these facts and truths are revealed you are extremely awake.

At which point, even more truths can come out as well.  Like you realize with a flutter of panic that you never said goodbye to blueberries.  They were here  - so small and round and indigo in color and now they are gone - replaced by nonsense like figs.



This month's Creative Cooking Crew Challenge is to "pickle it"  The roundup will be hosted by Joan of Foodalogue, so I will post the link here once the roundup goes live! Here is the link to the roundup - definitely check it out, there are so many amazing, creative dishes!

After I realized my mistake, I figured this - the blueberries - would be the thing to pickle.  I would somehow obtain a box, and have my chance to say goodbye.  I decided to do a quick pickling of the blueberries so that my mom would be able to say her goodbyes to the fruit as well while she was visiting.

From there, we built a tartine with a goat cheese and cream cheese mixture, honey, pluots, sage, and chopped pistachios.  A tartine to truly awaken the taste buds.


Ingredients
2 cups blueberries
1 cup red wine vinegar (I wanted the sour taste to be prominent, so I used only vinegar, but feel free to substitute water for part of the vinegar.  I probably wouldn't go over 1/2 cup of water)
3 tablespoons wild dandelion honey
1 cinnamon stick
2 inch orange peel
1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds
1/4 teaspoon whole cloves
1/4 teaspoon whole tellicherry peppercorns
1/2 teaspoon juniper berries
1 teaspoon kosher salt

4 ounces goat cheese
3 ounces cold cream cheese

chopped salted pistachios
wild dandelion honey
pluot, sliced
torn sage leaves
goat cheese spread
pickled blueberries
slices of good quality bread

Instructions
In a small pot, bring the vinegar (and water, if using), honey, cinnamon, orange peel, fennel, cloves, peppercorns, juniper berries, and salt to boil.  Place the blueberries in a mason jar, then pour the vinegar mixture over the berries.  Refrigerate overnight.

In mixer, beat goat cheese with the cream cheese.

To assemble the tartines: Spread goat cheese mixture on bread.  Brush on a bit of honey.  Add pluot slices, sage leaves, pickled blueberries, and chopped pistachios.


19 comments:

  1. There's a reason I don't let my cat in bed with me; he plops his 15 pounds of fur right on my chest and purrs--loudly-- in my ear. Cute, but not conducive for sleeping.

    These pickled berries look so unique. I didn't get a chance to say goodbye either. *sniffle*

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  2. What a cute post. I've never had pickled blueberries, and I imagine these are pretty tasty looking at your ingredients.

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  3. what a wonderful tartine! love all those flavors, so unique. and i didn't say goodbye to blueberries, either... wish we never had to! alas, until next year ;)

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  4. I love your pig cat. (I have one too, maybe they're related?)

    Even though blueberries and I ran into each other several times this summer, I never grew tired of them. Who knew they could be pickled? This looks delish!!

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  5. I feel the same way about saying goodbye to blueberries...had to LOL at the "replaced by nonsense like figs" haha! Preach it! Amazing tart, I love how you've layered the flavors. Umm hello, wild dandelion honey?!?! Where has this been all my life!

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  6. OH yeah this would definitely awaken my taste buds!!

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  7. These are such tasty tartines! All these delicious ingredients plus cinnamon which is my favorite spice!

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  8. What fantastic tartines! I have never had pickled blueberries..sounds and looks so tempting!

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  9. pickled blueberries? I have never heard of this, but I am super intrigued! This looks SO good!

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  10. Such a beautiful combination of fruit on this tartine. I've never tried pickled blueberries before, so now I'm extremly curious.

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  11. This is my kind of tartine! Great combination of flavors. Love the pickled blueberries.

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  12. Well, I always learn something new from this crowd! I didn't know what a tartine was and was confusing it with the tarte tatin! OY vey! When I first saw the photo, I thought the bottom was a piece of pepperoni and was trying to imagine it with the fruit. Who's asleep now? hahah! Lovely combo, I can imagine how good it tastes. Where did you get the wild dandelion honey, by the way?

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    1. lol, thanks! I got the honey on amazon - http://www.amazon.com/Wedderspoon-Organic-Dandelion-Honey-Ounce/dp/B004IX03MK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1380583959&sr=8-1&keywords=wild+dandelion+honey

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  13. I can think of so many things this would be great with. Love blueberries however you want to deliver them (like over my french toast yesterday). I can imagine these with patés and all sorts of things

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  14. What an adorable post, like a summer ode to blueberries. And the tartine looks delectable. Nicely done.

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  15. Charming contribution to the CCC pickle event Kudos! Love your combination of ingredients.
    LL

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  16. I feel the same sadness at the end of berry season. Pickling blueberries is new to me and a fabulous idea. Love the recipe accompanying the pickle

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  17. What a delicious idea!!! Love the combination of flavors!

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