Fresh Fruit Tarts For Summer

The recipe I originally had was actually for a fruit pizza.  I like to tinker around and mix things up...so I now use it for fresh fruit tarts...or in the month of July...Patriotic Pastries!  Delish!  Everywhere I take these, people ask what they are.  I don't know where the original recipe came from, if you know, help me out so I can give credit where due, but I love these things and they are so simple to make!

You'll need the following:

for the dough:
1/2 c. butter
2/3 c. sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
1 1/4-1 1/2 c. flour
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. cream of tart
1/4 tsp. salt
lemon zest (from 1/2 lemon)

for the icing:
1 pkg. cream cheese, softened
2 Tbs. sugar
1-1 1/2 c. powdered sugar
Remaining lemon zest
Lemon juice (from 1 lemon)

Here's what ya do:

1.  Cream butter, sugar & half the lemon zest, add egg, vanilla, soda, cream of tartar & salt.

2.  Add flour until dough starts to form (add enough flour so it's not super sticky)

3.  Using a small cookie scoop (or melon baller), place one scoop into each spot of a muffin tin

4.  Gently press down on each ball to form a slight bowl. 

5.  Bake @ 350 for 7 minutes, let cool a couple minutes in pan before removing (they will look slightly gooey).

6.  Meanwhile, combine cream cheese, sugar, powdered sugar & remaining zest.

7.  Slowly add lemon juice until icing begins to thin (I usually chill mine while bowls are cooling)

8.  Use that same cookie scoop (or melon baller) to scoop icing onto each tart (I usually fill the scoop 2/3 full).

9.  Add patriotic fruit (blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, etc.) or whatever fruit you want.

10. Enjoy!

(Refrigerate any leftovers)

Printable Moving Labels (By Room)

We're in the process of moving and I feel overwhelmed.  My sister came over today and helped me start the process.  I've been working on these labels so I can organize/categorize while I pack and make it easier for when I unpack.  I've given them "headers" if you will with various room and left some room to write down contents.  I like to organize (although, truthfully...I should probably get off the computer and get to work packing).

Anyway, they've helped me a ton...maybe they can help you.  You should be able to print them out on 8 1/2 x 11, cut them and tape them on while you pack!

Happy packing:)

Faux Shiplap Wall DIY Tutorial

 Shiplap.

It's all the rage and I love it. I wanted to put some in my home.  My husband dry walled the shed...then we decided to paint...then we decided to try out the shiplap for fun!  I love how it turned out!  We used this tutorial as a guideline and it worked pretty well.

What you'll need:
1/8" MDF panel boards
Nickels
Paint, paint brushes, rollers, etc.
Level
Nail Gun & nails
Sander & sand paper
Saw

1.  We went to The Home Depot, bought the MDF boards and had them cut it there.  When we told him what size we needed, he said, "you must be doin' shiplap."  They'll probably know what you're too:)

We had ours cut into 8" wide pieces.

2.  We came home and sanded the edges and corners.  I used anywhere between 60 and 120 grit sandpaper.  It took maybe an hour to sand all of them.

3.  We started with the first board, making sure it was level and nailed it in place.

[the freshly painted wall about to get covered up:/]

4.  Then (this step is optional and we stopped doing it about a third of the way through) we painted the tops of the boards as we went.

5.  We placed nickels in between the boards for spacing.  You can also use tile spacers, but we had nickels on hand:)

6.  We kept going.  Sadly, we had originally painted all the walls in the shed so we were covering up our nicely fresh painted wall, but I'm glad we did...

7.  Once all the shiplap was on the wall, we filled the holes in with wood putty and mudded the seams.

[you can see how we stopped painting the tops of the boards as we went on]

8.  Then we painted...a couple coats.

[I used a spackling knife to remove any paint left between the boards]

9.  And there you have it!  I just loved how it turned out.

We added this storage/work table as well.  Originally we were going to just use 2x4s for the legs, but once again the husband decided to splurge and do metal legs (which I again l.o.v.e!).  They cost about $50 and again they cut them at The Home Depot (do y'all love that place as much as I do?!).

Happy Crafting!

Total Time: a weekend
Total Cost: $95 (paint and shiplap), $50 (for legs, including brackets for top & bottom of each leg)