Gluten-free baking in Anderson Valley { apple + fig crostata with polenta crust}

I have posted variations of this crostata recipe {a standby dessert favorite!} before ~ upon first discovering it in Umbria {cherry ricotta}, at last fall's orchard harvest in Anderson Valley {plum and fig} and earlier this summer at the Russian River {apricot}. Credit for baking inspiration and for the original crostata recipe goes to Elizabeth Minchilli in Rome, whose blog posts are a constant source of inspiring recipe ideas.

This fool proof crust can be whipped up from just a five pantry staples, takes almost no prep time {no kneading, no rolling, no chilling} ~ and turns out a buttery shortcrust every time! This time it's an adaptation of Elizabeth's recipe ~ with a gluten-free twist ...

An Indian summer dinner with friends in Anderson Valley

Last Sunday marked our friends Grace and Scott's seventh wedding anniversary. Crazy how time goes by - I still remember their beautiful fall ceremony in the garden at the Boonville Hotel, celebrating their union surrounded by extended family and many friends. Exactly seven years later we got to spend a sunny anniversary Sunday with them and six year old Tasman, enjoying a warm Indian Summer day at the ranch in Anderson Valley {a favorite place, tugged into the Mendocino Ridge hills high above Philo} - raising a glass to the occasion and sharing a casual sunset dinner ...

Recipe : fig crostata & plum crostata {straight from the tree}

fig crostata plum recipe

We only spent a few days in Anderson Valley, but an overbearing fig and Santa Rosa plum tree bursting with ripe fruit made for the perfect excuse to bake not one, but two Indian summer fruit tarts. The crust for both tarts was based on Elizabeth Minchilli's infallible shortcrust {no long kneading, no chilling, no rolling pin!}, a recipe that has become a dessert staple around our kitchen since the first cherry crostata earlier this summer - so here's to sharing it again ...

Recipe : Oven Roasted Plum Rosemary Jam

It was the peak of plum season in Anderson Valley last month and I don't think I have ever seen fruit trees laden with more ripe fruit: there were two plum trees in the fruit orchard {a yellow Mirabelle and a purple Santa Rosa variety} and each tree's branches were covered in heavy clusters of sweet plums. While picking a small basket for lunchtime plum crostata, ripe plums literally started raining down from the heavy branches - so, two full baskets later we decided to make jam with the sudden harvest bounty!

Indian summer days in Anderson Valley

A rustic ranch in the hills above the Anderson Valley. Days of homestead living with chickens and roosters, sheep and goats, a wise dog, two barn cats and a hog named Piggy. Amazing sunset views over the coastal range in the distance. And a fruit orchard bursting with ripe fruit - bright yellow mirabelle plums, golden Asian pears, tart red apples, sweet green apples, fragrant Santa Rosa plums, sweet figs and the tiniest of grapes {more on some baking here & canning here} ...