Bob Ross is a dirty liar.
He was a man who painted pretty pictures with sprawling mountains, lush green plains, and "happy clouds".
Heh.
"Happy Clouds" my a**.
There is no such thing as a happy cloud. There are bitter clouds. Angry clouds. Clouds that have kidnapped my sun. They have taken the sun hostage along the eastern seaboard. The sun has not come out for days. Weeks even. Months, it feels like.
In elementary school, we used to sing a song that went a little something like this:
Oh Mr. Sun, Sun, Mr. Golden Sun
Won't you please shine down on me?
Oh Mr. Sun, Sun, Mr. Golden Sun
Won't you please shine down on
Please shine down on
Please shine down on me.
I have been singing this song as I do my own little "Sun Dance". It is miserable. Depressing. Frustrating.
Gloomy.
Don't be fooled. It may be sunny today, but the next 10 days are predicted to be nothing but rain clouds. RAIN CLOUDS.
The only thing to compliment the bitterness that I feel is Dorie's Tartest Lemon Tart, chosen by Babette of Babette Feasts (click for recipe). This is the type of tart that makes you pucker your lips and contort your face into all different manners. But this tart lemon tart actually has done something amazing for me.
It has brought a little sunlight into my life. It was as if Dorie and knew that around April/May, the rogue clouds would steal my sun and terrorize my life, so they invented/chose this tart to pick up my spirits a bit. Tart. Sweet. Delicious.
Seriously. Amazingly delicious. I know the recipe called for the entire lemon to be pureed into the mixture, but I read too many complaints of a bitter flavor due to the pith, and the only lemons I could find were standard lemons with thick piths. Therefore, I peeled off the zest, and added that, along with the entire lemons after I removed the pith. And WOW. This was AMAZING. Sweet. Tart (but not too much so). A creamy, lemon curd filling nuzzled a crisp, sweet crust. Jack actually has forbidden me from taking this tart to share with my coworkers.
In addition to this, I have decided to take Dorie's Floating Islands and fill them with a delicious lemon curd from leftover filling. These Floating Islands are a metaphor for the evil clouds swallowing my sun. However, in my scenario, I am able to take a delicious bite out of these clouds and let the sun free from its shackles.
This is my weapon against evil, evil clouds. Bob Ross, may you rest in peace, but I know you're in on this. You've tried to change the psyche of people interested in painting everywhere by trying to convince us that clouds are our friends. They are not. But this tart is. My new best friend.
You can have your clouds, Mr. Ross. I'll slice myself a piece of this tart and dream of the day that the sun comes to shine down on me. In the meantime, check out TWD for more of this glorious cloud-fighter.
UPDATE: As I read through the TWD posts, I have noticed that most of these tarts had a filling that was supposed to bubble while cooking, then have a beautiful golden top and a sugary crust and that there were supposed to be almonds in the crust. None of this happened for me - the clouds have won yet again.
CONSPIRACY!
I love Bob Ross's "happy little clouds, trees, birds...." And your tart looks fantastic. I'm basking in the NYC sun right now because I know it won't last for long.
Posted by: Eliana | May 12, 2009 at 08:43 AM
Wow, your filling looks like it's so smooth and silky. Definitely a bit of sunshine on a plate!
Posted by: Jill | May 12, 2009 at 08:54 AM
oh, i know that feeling, when the sun is hidden and all the clouds conspire against you. here in wisconsin, november and february are the biggest culprits. i'm glad your tart provided you some much need sunshine:)
Posted by: dharmagirl | May 12, 2009 at 08:57 AM
Sunny citrus chase the clouds away! A lovely pie. Glad you enjoyed.
Posted by: Clivia | May 12, 2009 at 09:13 AM
I can't believe you had left over filling! But that is the most beautiful tart ever! Great going girl.
Posted by: peggy | May 12, 2009 at 09:22 AM
One of my favorite desserts! I love the tart lemon!
Posted by: Maria | May 12, 2009 at 09:27 AM
wow beautiful lemon tart I'm loving it! You really captured the lemon tart well in your photos :)
Posted by: Jessie | May 12, 2009 at 09:34 AM
I'd happily trade you some sunshine for a little of your rain. My poor little patch of brown grass would love it.
Your tart looks just beautiful! I really loved this one too. The floating islands are also a great idea! Well done!
Posted by: Susan at Sticky,Gooey,Creamy,Chewy | May 12, 2009 at 09:43 AM
I'm with you! This tart (or should I say, filling, in my case) is not for sharing!
Posted by: Madam Chow | May 12, 2009 at 10:48 AM
I remember watching Bob Ross as a child, if I remember right, did he look vaguely like Richard Simmons? (Who my boss saw at the airport recently and he was totally working the short shorts, even in public!)
I'm glad to see you made the floating islands again, I was worried that I was one of the only twd-er's that liked those.
Posted by: Jennifer | May 12, 2009 at 10:49 AM
Your tart looks delicious. I love lemon desserts, and I wish I could have a slice of this right now.
Posted by: lisaiscooking | May 12, 2009 at 10:59 AM
I love your beautiful sunny tart!
Posted by: marguerite | May 12, 2009 at 11:02 AM
YUM! That has to be the creamiest looking one I've seen today, Teanna! Bravo... very, very well done!
Posted by: Vibi | May 12, 2009 at 11:16 AM
floating islands are the best versions of clouds. your tart looks perfect. hope you get some sun soon!
Posted by: Spike | May 12, 2009 at 11:30 AM
I'm envious of how your tart turned out. It looks much more appealing. Keep up your sun dances and hopefully the sun will shine soon. You can borrow some of my California sun if you want. Just let me know where to send it.
Posted by: Kim | May 12, 2009 at 11:37 AM
LOL - I used to come home everyday from school and fall asleep watching Bob Ross!
Your tart looks so creamy and delicious - mine was a little flat because I used an 11" tart pan, but oh well! Nice looking tart!!
Posted by: Amy (Sing for your supper) | May 12, 2009 at 11:43 AM
That tart looks good! The tartier (is that a word?), the better.
Posted by: The Duo Dishes | May 12, 2009 at 12:04 PM
Your tart looks beautiful - I did not really have a browned sugary crust on mine either, so don't worry.
Posted by: Sara | May 12, 2009 at 12:05 PM
Did we go to the same school? I sang that song, too!
Your tarts look amazing...and so do the floating islands...goodness.
Hopefully the sun shines on you soon.:)
Posted by: Jennifer | May 12, 2009 at 12:29 PM
I love your floating island analogy for beating the clouds! Although, here in TX with an air conditioner that just broke, I am happy for a day with clouds. Too many such days, however, and I would be right there with you.
And as for the bubbly top - mine was a little too bubbly, and made quite the mess. So I think that you beat the clouds by this not happening ;)
Posted by: Charli | May 12, 2009 at 12:29 PM