From the Diary of a Kitchen Goddess: Magical Miniature Fruit Tarts

A Sweet Day's Beginning

Both Esperanza and I were up by 7:30 a.m. this morning. We harvested fresh strawberries to eat with our oatmeal, and put some aside to make a batch of tasty fruit tarts to share with our neighbors. The Summer Solstice will soon shine upon us and the weather has been just warm enough to wear my long, flowing skirts and tops that keep me cool. Inspired to dress like a goddess, I was also inspired to throw a party for my neighbors, just to bring an early splash of cheer into their lives.

Planning the Party

Over breakfast, Esperanza and I planned our day. We printed out invitations for the party, which would begin at 8:00 p.m. In our invitations, we invited the neighbors to send their children to us as soon as they could, so that they could help decorate and make some of the treats that would be served. A couple of items on the party menu were zesty fruit tarts and ambrosia salad. Esperanza delivered the invitations while I filled a giant glass jar with fresh well water and put some green tea bags in the water. Then I placed the jar out on my back patio for the sun to warm.

Children Young and Old at Play

Lily was the first child to arrive at 11 a.m., and Esperanza greeted her with hugs at the front door. It only took 15 minutes for her to walk the five blocks from her house to my cottage. She brought a beeswax candle made by her mother, and a jar of honey. I thanked her as I poured a tall glass of iced sun tea for her to sip as she worked.

Esperanza guided Lily to a table on the back patio, where she had paper soaking in a tub and had formed some round lanterns. There were paints and brushes by the lanterns, and smocks on the edge of a bench. Lily put on a smock, picked up a brush, and began painting the paper màché lantern blue.

While Lily painted and Esperanza sculpted more lanterns, Amanda arrived with a few of her friends: Xavier, Maggie, and Spencer. Xavier brought a jar of mead, Maggie brought a basket of cream puffs, and Spencer brought bread. After I hugged and thanked them, I led them out to the back yard to paint and sculpt with Esperanza until it was time to eat tuna salad sandwiches for lunch. With our sandwiches we sipped more sun tea. After lunch, I hung the colorful lanterns on wire trellises that formed an octagon around the patio, while Esperanza led the children into my kitchen to make some fruit tarts, ambrosia salad, and guacamole.

At 4:00 p.m., the children returned to their homes and everyone dressed in their finest summer party outfits. I brought out my chest of feathery boas and masks, which Esperanza helped me carry to the back yard. As our guests began to arrive, we gave each a boa and a mask. Some of the children brought their instruments and began to play a song. At 7:00 p.m., the children brought out the food that they made that afternoon. I blessed our guests with sage smoke, and our food with a prayer:

"Great Spirit of Love and Light

Thank you for your smiles and tasty bites to eat with friends.

You are welcome here to dance with us.

We offer you our night of revelry.

Blessed be!"

The fruit cups were tartly delicious, and the recipe for them is provided below. The bread was perfect for dipping in the guacamole, which was tangy, and the cream puffs were sweet ~ especially with a drizzle of honey on top. The iced green sun tea garnished with fresh mint, lemon wedges and honey, was refreshing.

At sunset, with a wave of Esperanza's cherry wood wand, the lanterns began to glow with a golden light. Fireflies floated around us like faeries, and our bodies began to move with the music played on flute, mandolin, guitar, harmonica, and concertina. Scarves floated in the gentle evening breeze as the children formed a circle, holding hands, then twirling. They looked like a school of rainbow fish swimming in a shallow stream.