Stories of Arda - Lord of the Rings Fan-Fiction Archive

Author: Dreamflower
Title: Summer Love
Rating: G
Theme: Picnic
Elements: 333 words
Author's Notes: My element was to write a 333 word fixed-length ficlet, but I could not resist the temptation to make it a recipe!fic. So the recipe is also 333 words. It is a mixture of two different recipes I found online, and I confess, I usually make pie from it and not tarts.
Summary: Bungo Baggins and Belladonna Took and a romantic picnic.
Word Count: 666; 333 words for the ficlet; 333 words for the recipe

Belladonna flittered about the small kitchen in the Thain's quarters, preparing the picnic basket: green tomato tarts, fresh from the oven; cold ham; cheese; yeasty buns; a small jar of her mother's special mustard, and a bowl of summer fruit--strawberries, cherries, plums, even two prized peaches from the Thain's glass house. She tied a square of linen over the bowl, placing it in the basket. It already contained dishes and silverware for two. She added a bottle of elderberry wine, and then on top placed napkins. Oh! the picnic cloth! She went to the sideboard and took out the small cloth that was used for picnics, and tucked it beneath the handle of the basket.

The two sat upon the blanket, the few remains of their meal scattered for the ducks who were floating serenely upon the pond. They were both quite sated, in that pleasant state that claimed most hobbits after a good meal.

"I enjoyed the meal very much, my dear," said Bungo. He was fidgeting nervously in his pocket.

He pulled a small box from his pocket. "Belladonna, love, we've been courting for a while and you are soon to come of age. Are you ready to become officially betrothed?" He held out the box, and she opened it and took out the beautiful necklace on its golden chain.

Filling:

1-1/2 cups sugar
5 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Pinch of salt
3 cups thinly sliced green tomatoes (about 4 to 5 medium)
1 tablespoon cider vinegar
(A nice optional addition is to add about one-third to one-half cup of golden raisins.)

Core and wash the green tomatoes, and then roughly chop them. Do not peel them or seed them.

In a bowl, combine the sugar, flour, cinnamon and salt. Add tomatoes and vinegar; toss to coat.

You can make the filling one or two days in advance and keep covered and refrigerated until you are ready to use it.

Crust:

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon fine salt
8 tablespoons cold unsalted butter (1 stick), cut into small pieces
4 to 5 tablespoons cold water (ice water is best)

Combine the flour, salt, and sugar in a large bowl and stir briefly until the mixture is aerated. Using a pastry cutter, large fork, or your fingers, cut the butter into the dry ingredients until it resembles course meal.

Slowly dribble in the water and mix just until the dough comes together. Make sure it's well-mixed, but don't overwork it or it will become tough. Form it into a ball, and then flatten it slightly into sort of a cake shape. Cover and let rest in the refrigerator for about a half an hour.

Then take out and place on a floured surface and roll it out with a rolling pin into a large rectangle. Cut into eight equal squares.


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