AN EASY TO MAKE FALL DESSERT YOU WILL LOVE

by Lara Rabinovitch

Tarte tatin, courtesy of Joe Pastry

When it comes to local and seasonal, the Bible was way ahead of the curve. Every fall Jews around the world mark the New Year ,and specifically its "new fruit," by eating seasonal produce such as pomegranates or apples, the latter often dipped in honey to symbolize the wish for further sweetness in the coming months. Jews also thank the tree that bore this fruit with a customary Hebrew blessing -- and then they chow down. 

To reinforce this honoring of the change of seasons and the beginning of the harvest, apple cake is customarily served -- and in Jewish tradition, "customarily" means "for centuries" -- to finish off the holiday meal. But why not change things up a little? This apple tarte tatin, adapted from Epicurious, both celebrates the season and adds a certain, well, je ne sais quoi to your holiday table. The commercial puff pastry dough this recipe calls for removes an extra step from the process without sacrificing taste or glamor. (The Jewish tradition has enough sacrificing, mais non?) 

Apple Tarte Tatin
1 frozen puff pastry sheet (from a 17 1/4 -ounce package)
¼ cup (half a stick) unsalted butter, softened
½ cup sugar

7-9 apples (Gala, Granny Smith, or your local variety), peeled, quartered lengthwise, and cored

Preheat oven to 425°F. 

Roll pastry sheet into a 101/2-inch square on a floured work surface with a floured rolling pin. Brush off excess flour and cut out a 10-inch round with a sharp knife, using a plate as a guide. Transfer round to a baking sheet and chill. 

Spread butter thickly on bottom and side of skillet and pour sugar evenly over bottom. Arrange as many apples as will fit vertically on sugar, packing them tightly in concentric circles. Apples will stick up above rim of skillet. 

Cook apples over moderately high heat, undisturbed, until juices are deep golden and bubbling, 18 to 25 minutes. (Don't worry if juices color unevenly.)

Put skillet in middle of oven over a piece of foil to catch any drips. Bake 20 minutes (apples will settle slightly), then remove from oven and lay pastry round over apples. Bake tart until pastry is browned, 20 to 25 minutes. 

Using baking mitts, transfer skillet to a rack and cool at least 10 minutes. 

Just before serving, invert a platter with lip over skillet and, using potholders to hold skillet and plate tightly together, invert tart onto platter. Replace any apples that stick to skillet. Brush any excess caramel from skillet over apples. Shake skillet gently to loosen tart before inverting to serve within thirty minutes, or let it stand, uncovered in the pan, for up to 5 hours, then reheat over moderately low heat 1 to 2 minutes to loosen caramel.

Serve with vanilla frozen yogurt or ice cream. 

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OCCUPY OAKLAND PRIDE DISRUPTION AVERTED

Occupy Oakland showed up just behind the main stage at the 2012 Oakland Pride celebration on Sunday as the mic was passed from recording artist LaMont Wheat who'd just finished a performance of his hit song SKIN which represents Unity, Acceptance and love; to headliner CeCe Peniston who's know for the iconic singles "You Got to Show Me Love" and "Finally".  Occupiers showed up wearing all black with an amplifier and with music glaring.  It was unclear what their intentions where other than to be a disruption to the Pride celebration.

The main stage area was packed with celebrating attendees, on lookers and fans as the mob made their approach.  Local law enforcement kept them at bay, and their presence was made know when they breach a portion of the security fencing  at the back of the stage and law enforcement and security scramble to the penetration area to secure the breach.  CeCe kept right on singing her new single "Celebration" and within minutes the mob moved along and the show continued without issue.

LaMont Wheat and CeCe Peniston gave great performances and rocked the crowd and there is speculation of possible collaboration.  Wheat's "SKIN Project" shortly after the event posted a video of the Billboard dance music diva showing support for the SKIN project in a viral video campaign where she states "This is my SKIN."  New  music by LaMont Wheat and CeCe Peniston is available for download on iTunes and you can stay updated by following them on twitter.