Belated Birthday and Tarte D'alsace a la Trader Joe's

Wow.  Sorry about that.  It's been crazy busy here, what with looking for houses in France, getting visa info gathered, and trying to live the daily life until we move...
Mr. K's birthday came and we celebrated with a cherry and raspberry tarte that I got at Rolling Pin Bakery (how cute is that name!) here on Long Island. He wasn't feeling the greatest that weekend, so we celebrated a little later in the week.

Happy Birthday, Mr. K!

I've been getting the urge to get creative.  It's always fun when that happens.

We shop at a wonderful store called Trader Joe's and we absolutely love the Tarte d'Alsace that they sell.

Serina Patrick did a small article about it. 

However, one tarte is expensive and does not feed the both of us very well. Plus, I like to know all the ingredients in my dishes.  So, I thought, why not try to make it from scratch at home!  Might give a bigger quantity and be cheaper.

Enter La Cuisine d'une Chimiste:

Tarte d'Alsace a la Trader Joe's

What you'll need for two Tartes:

about 2 cups grated Gruyere cheese, divided (a Swiss cheese that tastes great and melts well)
3/4 cup diced sliced ham (you could use bacon, or ham steak; we had lunch meat available so we used that)
1 large onion, chopped (but not diced, you want large pieces)
3 tbsp butter (salted or unsalted is fine)
3/4 of a container Creme Fraiche (like a very creamy sour cream-if there could be such a thing)
2 Flat Bread (we used Trade Joe's brand)
Salt and Pepper to taste


Steps:
1. Melt the butter in a skillet on medium high heat. Don't let it clarify. You want it just melted.
2. Preheat the oven to 425 F.
3. Saute the ham and onion with the butter in the skillet until onions are transparent and caramelized and ham is browned slightly. Set aside.

4. Place a flat bread on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and spread the Creme Fraiche on the flat bread about 1/8" in thickness.
5. Add about 1 cup of cheese sprinkled over the entire flat bread (or to your liking).
6. Add half of the ham and onion mixture, sprinkled over the entire flat bread.
7. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
8. Put in the oven for 12 minutes, or until cheese is melted.
9. Cut into quarters and serve warm.
10. Enjoy! Pairs well with a salad and a chilled glass of white wine

Sauteing the ham and onion

You can find this at Trader Joe's next to their yogurts.

Trader Joe's Brand Flat Bread

What it will look like before going into the oven.

What it should look like fully cooked.  Yummy, huh?

Serving Suggestion.

 In the wings for next time is an English Muffin Bread or perhaps a serving of Lavender Apricot Drumsticks that I saw....we shall see. Until then, à toute à l'heure!