Foodie Friday - 'Julie & Julia' and the Tarte

For the past several weeks I've been researching the life and times of Julia Child. It all started when I spotted the trailer for the movie Julie and Julia which is due to be released on August 7th. If you haven't seen the clip yet, take a peek and tell me if you're as intrigued as I am. (I adore Meryl Streep, Amy Adams is just too cute, and is it just me, or is Stanley Tucci downright sexy???)

Had I been living under a rock? I didn't know a thing about the Julie/Julia project...not about the blog and definitely not about the book! I scanned the blog, (okay...I was there for hours!), then headed to my library's website. Within a few days, Julie and Julia, (Julie Powell's book), My Life in France, (Julia Child's account of her experiences, co-authored by Alex Prud'Homme), Appetite for Life, (Child's biography by Noel Riley Fitch), and Mastering the Art of French Cooking, (volumes one and two), were sitting on my kitchen counter.

Of course, I immediately became too busy to just sit around and read, so I had to make do with stolen moments to dive into my treasure trove of books. I did get through them all, and was able to return them to the library without paying any fines. The glimpse into the lives of two very fascinating women left me mesmerized, yet I didn't feel fully sated because I hadn't had time to try any of the recipes! I admit that I wouldn't attempt many of the dishes immortalized in the cookbooks, (brains and sweetbreads...I think not), but I like liver, kidneys and a lot of other foods that many people find strange, and I do love desserts.

I was just about to retrieve volume one of MtAoFC, when I remembered a cookbook that had been languishing on my bookshelf since I received it a few years ago.

Unfortunately, I received this book when I was on chemo and never thoroughly explored it. Food held no interest when I was in treatment, and this thoughtful gift from a well meaning friend was set aside. How fortunate to have it now!

I didn't have a free day to bake until Memorial Day weekend, when rain delayed the big plans I had for planting a new garden bed. A quick browse through the book, and an even quicker trip to the store, resulted in Tarte Citron Mama... A light, delicate, almond cake that contains only one tablespoon of flour is topped with peeled, thinly sliced lemons, then crowned with a nut meringue. During the final baking, the lemons transform to create a sort of tangy filling. The combination of flavors and textures is just divine.

If you've suddenly developed a taste for something decidedly French, you can find the recipe here...

To discover more tempting dishes, please visit Designs by Gollum. Michael Lee is our hostess for Foodie Friday, and she has generously provided Mr. Linky to help you on your culinary adventure.