Hi friends! I hope everyone enjoyed their three day weekend – I know I did… Tuesday back at work was especially painful.
Much fun was had over the weekend: sun, fave human, good friends, good food, cold pool, big hats, lots of laughter. Pics included, just because I’m so inordinately pleased with the absolute extra-ness of this hat & how it’s essentially attacking fave human in that first picture. Sorry C, gotta make room for the hat.
There was also tart! Not in the same setting, as there’s no way this tart was going to survive an un-air conditioned car & a picnic. Nope. So, I brought cookies (I had a very nice request from a certain someone who loooves them ;) and we ate the tart the night before and the morning of.
It’s green! Haven’t done matcha in awhile and I was definitely missing it. We both loooove matcha, especially with black sesame. It’s one of my new favorite combinations – very earthy of course, since we’re talking tea here, but in the best way. Grassy and fresh are the words that come to mind – perfect for a Labor Day weekend dessert.
Excellent with ice cream as always (I mean, what isn’t) but totally shines on its own. We had it two ways as usual – with ice cream and a board game in the evening, and keeping the eggs and kale company in the morning.
I picked up a new tiki friend over the weekend as well! Taking name suggestions… drop me a line if you have a particularly good one in mind ;)
Keeping it short today because I’m really ready to curl up with my book for a bit before bed, and I’m happy tomorrow is already Wednesday. Thank goodness for a four day workweek.
Happy not-Monday first day back at work! Let’s make this week fly by, what do you say? I’m already ready for another weekend, that is for SURE.
Matcha and Coconut Panna Cotta on a Black Sesame Crust
A Wait are those Cookies original! Refined sugar free, gluten free and dairy free. Lightly sweet, grassy and fresh – full of tea and sesame flavors. If you’re a matcha fan, this is for you! Excellent with ice cream for dessert or on its own to let the tea flavors shine. Yield: 1 9″ tart.
For the crust:
1/4 c black sesame seeds
1.5 c almond flour
1/3c unsweetened shredded coconut
1/3c cornmeal
heaping 1/4 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 tbsp pure maple syrup
6 tbsp coconut oil, melted
In a small sauté pan over medium-low heat, toast black sesame seeds, shaking the pan occasionally, until you hear the first one pop. Remove from heat. Using a mortar & pestle, grind up the seeds until they’re a gritty, flour-like consistency. You’ll probably have a few larger pieces in there, which is totally fine.
In a large bowl, stir together sesame seeds, almond flour, shredded coconut, cornmeal, sea salt, and baking soda. Add in vanilla, maple, and melted coconut oil, and stir until completely combined. The dough will look crumbly, but you’ll be able to press it together with your fingers.
Preheat the oven to 350, and lightly grease a 9″ tart pan (w/ removable bottom) with coconut oil. Press the crust into the plate and up the sides with a spoon or your fingers, creating a smooth edge (or not, your call!). Poke the bottom with a fork a few times, and bake for 15 minutes. Remove and let cool for a few minutes.
Panna Cotta:
1 package unflavored powdered gelatin
1.75 cup full-fat coconut milk, divided
1.5 tbsp vanilla bean paste
1/2 tsp almond extract
1/4 cup maple
Scant 1/4 tsp sea salt
1.5 tbsp matcha powder
melted coconut butter (just a few tbsp needed – use more for serving if desired)
In a small bowl, sprinkle the gelatin over 1/4 cup of the coconut milk. Let stand without stirring until the gelatin is moistened, about 10 minutes.
Pour the remaining 1.5 cups of coconut milk into a small saucepan. Add vanilla, mint extract, maple, salt, and matcha powder into it. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring consistently. Remove from the heat (blend if necessary with an immersion blender if you have a few matcha blobs). Add the gelatin mixture and stir until completely dissolved, about 3 minutes. Cool until lukewarm, about 5 minutes. Pour the panna cotta mixture into the cooled tart shell. Drop melted coconut butter onto the surface of the tart and swirl with a knife or a toothpick. Place in the refrigerator until set, approximately 4 hours.
Store in the fridge – keeps well overnight for breakfast the next morning :)
Wait...are those...cookies?! 