This second celebratory week for the French Fridays with Dorie group asks the question “what recipe(s) were surprises for you?”. OK, that wasn’t the real question, but when I think about the title – I think about those recipes where I was very quite skeptical, but learned that Dorie knew what she was doing when she wrote about it – and I was happy to have tried it.
There are three recipes that immediately came to mind. The very first recipe I ever tasted in the book was gérard’s mustard tart. My friend Teri, who got me started with this whole blogging adventure, served it at a book club meeting that she hosted. She did indeed make the selfsame tart as in the book. She’s a very skilled baker, and hers looked just like Dorie’s. She also introduced me to the group, since she planned on joining, and thought it would be fun for me too. I had been following her baking/blogging adventures and thought that it would be fun. Her blog certainly informed my concept, including documenting the steps in the process, etc.
To be honest, I didn’t really love, love the original version. It was good. So when it was time to make the tart in October of 2010, I decided that I would take advantage of a different version in the book. The tomato-mustard tart. This is something that I really must make again. I often forget because I think it would be amazing with summer tomatoes. But the mustard, the crème fraîche, the fabulous pastry – all combine with the tomatoes and rosemary combine for an amazing affect! Not in a million years would I have expected to like this so much (of course another benefit was making her tart dough…)
The photos don’t do it justice, but certainly, this is one of those haunting – “wow that was good” recipes. Thank goodness it will be tomato season soon!
tourteau de chèvre was another surprise. This is a cheesecake of sorts – but one as unlike any American cheesecake as can be imagined. It really is the simplest thing to make – A crust of Dorie’s sweet tart dough, and then just eggs, goat cheese, a bit of sugar, vanilla or orange-flower water, touch of cognac and a bit of cornstarch. I am fairly certain that was my first use of the orange-flower water as well. Another item introduced by our author.
I really was taken aback by just how good this was. Not too sweet, a bit of tang from the goat cheese. I actually made mine with the regular pastry crust, not the sweet version. Either would be terrific. 
It was fun too, to have a recipe end up looking so much like the photo in the book. So satisfying.
And finally, another recipe that I adored, but didn’t expect to. goat cheese and strawberry tartine. It would never have occurred to me to put together this simple combination – but with such amazing results! We had this with a bit of wine on the patio, but the same idea could be used at any time of day. The sweetness of the strawberries and the tang of the goat cheese are accented with a good-sized grind of black pepper and some Balsamic vinegar.
It will be fun to see what others thought about this little assignment. There were other surprises for sure, some of them not so pleasant even, but these were at the top of my list. To see what other Doristas thought about their never-doubt-Dorie moments, you can find their links on the French Friday with Dorie website.
dulceshome 
3 fabulous examples! I need to try the tart using tomatoes—yours looks divine! And I just made a variation on those tartines—so yummy!
The torteau de chèvre looks like a winner. Before Dorie I had never combined tomatoes with rosemary. I was missing out on that and other great flavor combinations.
I love that tart with tomatoes! And any excuse to make her tart crust is a good excuse. Great list!
Many of the cakes had such different textures than what we usually eat in America. You got me thinking that I need to try a few of the cakes again, or get my daughter to make them!
I wasn’t sure about the mustard tart, either, but I loved it. I’ve yet to try the tomato version, though. The tourteau de chevre is one of my favourite things (though it didn’t make any of my lists, strangely. I will be having the strawberry and goat cheese tartine tomorrow, in fact. It’s become an early summer ritual. Great choices!
A tomato mustard tart sounds fabulous!
Great examples.
The mustard tart took me by surprise. I never expected that would be so tasty (and pretty).
The tomato tart alternative is getting a lot of mentions. Now I definitely want to try it once tomatoes are in season. The goat cheese cheesecake was another great choice. I love that we call recipes that start with making a tart crust easy 🙂
Candy, all your three choices sound summery and delicious – love your write-up of all three of them. I was so unsure how to go about this week´s post and the remaining two posts – I think I was a bit clueless…The Mustard Tart and the Cheesecake are on top of my “make-up list” – I did not get to make them but I so want to try them. I found a fabulous local goat cheese manufacturer – I will get fresh cheese there and bake the cake for my family (I will let you know how it turns out) – the Mustard Tart with the Tomatoes looks just like my kind of tart, I cannot wait to make it with all those summer tomatoes that have hit the market here. I make a Martha Stewart Tomato Tart on a regular basis and I love it but this will be different and your looks wonderful. And who did you know that my first choice for yesterday´s post was the Tartine – I often make it with raspberries and that´s nice too – on your picture I can glimpse your wonderful basil on your terrace – I would love to come over for a visit and enjoy some of your Tartines…
Looking forward to a delicious foodie month!
Have a nice weekend and thank you for all your wonderful comments,
Andrea
All recipes that could have landed on my list as well. That strawberries and goat cheese one is so simple and brilliant and I do it all the time to rave reviews.
I love that beautiful herb garden in your backyard! I love goat cheese and think it goes with everything so I do need to try that tartine and cheesecake. This has been a wonderful journey and I will miss it terribly.
What fantastic choices! We actually really liked all three of these. The tart was a good surprise for us!
well the tomato mustard tart has been on my to-do list for awhile and I think you are right on Candy with the summer tomatoes! 🙂 Totally going to try my hand at it real soon. I actually preferred the mustard tart after a good overnight rest!
Another great list! It’s fun to see what surprised different people. We all made the same recipes, but everyone has a unique take on them. I love the mustard tart. If you like mustard, here’s another mustard-tomato tart to try this summer. It’s quite different from Dorie’s but is also amazing.
http://www.davidlebovitz.com/2010/05/french-tomato-tart-recipe/