This past weekend we were able to spend time with our friends Alex and Sonja of A Couple Cooks. They invited us over for dinner and I offered to bring dessert. Then, as often happens, my mind went completely blank of any ideas. I have so, so many dessert recipes saved and others in my own mind that whenever an opportunity to make just about any dessert I want arises, I don’t even know where to start. I mulled over ideas, browsed through bookmarks and cookbooks and came up with nothing. Thankfully inspiration struck in the form of my breakfast – nothing more than a bowl full of beautiful ripe cherries.
I wanted to keep it simple so I started out with my favorite tart dough and made a chocolate version. I briefly roasted some cherries to enhance their sweetness and bring out their juices. A generous layer of freshly whipped cream and a drizzle of chocolate syrup was all I needed to bring the whole thing together for a fresh yet decadent summer dessert.
I thought it was pretty fantastic, and hopefully Alex and Sonja did as well as a sort of repayment for our kids behaving like little terrors the entire time we were there. It’s so nice to have local food blogging friends, particularly friends as wonderful as them. They are amazing cooks, passionate about eating mindfully, talented photographers, and easy-going despite our rambunctious kids. We are looking forward to growing our friendship further, and I have a feeling you’ll see some blogging collaborations from us in the future!