
It’s official: I’ve been blogging for five years at Sugar Plum. Five years is a long time!
I’d like to thank my manager, my personal assistant, my accountant… just kidding. I want to thank YOU! Thanks for sticking by and reading for all these years. I really appreciate it! I don’t know why you keep coming back, but you do. Thank you.
I feel like all of you know so much about me, but I barely know anything about you. I wish that could change. I have gotten to know a lot of you through your comments. Thanks for leaving those. I know they’re a pain in the neck.
I’d also like to thank my family, and friends with putting up with me taking pictures of the food (for the blog) every time we go out to eat. I’m sure it’s embarrassing.

I’m going to keep blogging as long as I can. I’m hoping to get better. I want to improve my writing, photography, and recipes. I also want to make some changes to the blog, and make it easier to use. Everything is put on hold right now while I’m in school, though.
Here’s to another five years! Let’s all raise our glasses of chocolate milk!
Here are some posts from my first year of blogging.
October 2007 – Oktober Fest Brownies.

November 2007 – Caramel Pecan Pie.

December 2007 – Peppermint Stick Ice Cream.

January 2008 – Sweet & Salty Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars.

February 2008 – Amore Chocolate Cake.

March 2008 – Sweet Potato Cinnamon Rolls.

April 2008 – Double Delight Peanut Butter-Honey Cookies.

May 2008 – Blackberry-Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins.

June 2008 – Red Velvet Cake.

July 2008 – Rainier Cherry & Plum Crostata.

August 2008 – Midnight Chocolate Whoppers.

September 2008 – Kitchen Sink Bundt Cake.

October 2008 – Honeycrisp Apple Pie.


Here’s a sweet sugar plum tart for you; flaky pastry filled with a plum jam, topped with French meringue.

Sugar Plum Tart
Tart Dough1 1/4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons confectioners' sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
5 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces
1 large egg yolk, beaten
Plum Filling2 cups finely chopped ripe, peeled plums
1 tablespoon honey
French Meringue3 large egg whites
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
1/4 cup confectioners' sugar (sift after measuring)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Heat oven to 350 degrees F.
In a food processor, pulse together flour, confectioners' sugar, and salt until combined. Add in egg yolk, and pulse until a shaggy dough ball forms. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate 30 minutes. When cold, evenly press dough into bottom and up the sides of a 9-inch tart pan. Bake 20-25 minutes, or until golden brown. Cool on a wire rack.
To make the plum filling, in a small saucepan, stir together plums and honey; bring to a simmer. Simmer 10 minutes, stirring frequently, until softened and mixture is thickened and jam-like. Cool.
To make the French meringue, combine egg whites, granulated sugar, and cream of tartar in a large bowl. Using a mixer with a whisk attachment, beat together until stiff peaks form. Fold in confectioners' sugar and vanilla until combined. Spread plum filling into tart. Pipe meringue on top. Bake at 350 degrees F. for 20 minutes, or until meringue is golden brown and crisp. Cool on a wire rack.
Stunning. That meringue is INSANE!!!!
ReplyDeleteLove love your pie!!! and congratulations!
ReplyDeleteHappy Blogiversary! I know I'm not the best at leaving comments but I always read along and look forward to many more years of doing so. Keep up the awesome work, both in school and otherwise. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you! You don't have to leave comments! It's such a pain. Thank you for reading!
DeleteHAPPY 5 YEARS OF BLOGGING! I swear to you that I've been reading since the beginning of your blog and I will continue to be a loyal reader :)
ReplyDeleteAww you are the best! I miss your blog.
DeleteIt has been a fun five years and I'm so happy to have been around for the ride. When I look at your recipes above and saw that I made at least two of them, I wonder how I could have possibly survived without you! I kid you not when I say this blog is the first place I go when I have to make a dessert now.
ReplyDeleteYour commemorative tart looks tasty and I'm looking forward to many more years of your humor and recipes!
Thanks, buddy!
DeleteCongrats on five years of blogging!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jillian!
DeleteHappy Blogaversary!! I always love reading your posts :D
ReplyDeleteThanks for reading! I appreciate it!
DeleteHappy blogging anniversary! Thank you for sharing all of your recipes. You should feature your Banana PB stuffed PB chocolate chip cookie recipe. It's going over really well at work today!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Em! Oooh good idea. I'll have to feature that one soon. :)
DeleteSugar plum tart! I'm definitely going to make this. Thank you for blogging, Emily. I've enjoyed reading your posts and cooking your great cookie recipes.
ReplyDeleteYou're going to be five soon too, aren't you!?
Deleteyayy congrats on the 5 years!!! i've been reading your blog since I was a junior in high school and now i'm a sophomore in college and still stop by here weekly!!
ReplyDeleteMona! That's crazy! Also, I feel old.
DeleteCongrats on 5 years of blogging!! Thats huge! I've been reading for years (even though I don't comment often) and I love your blog :)
ReplyDeleteHey that's okay! Thanks for reading! I read a ton of blogs and don't comment. I'd never make it through all of them if I commented all the time.
DeleteSo much to say...
ReplyDeleteCONGRATULATIONS on five years of blogging!!! It does go fast, doesn't it?
I am SO with TraciB. Orange does not belong with chocolate. Raspberry is a close second, but not quite as bad.
THAT TART should win a prize. AND your pictures are positively professional. The half eaten tart picture is perfect.
Oh, I would be happy to help you celebrate by taking some of that tart off your hands.
So sweet, Sue! Thank you! It did go by awfully fast.
DeleteCongrats, Sugar Plum!! And thanks for that trip back in time, those Double Delight Peanut Butter Cookies are calling my name!
ReplyDeleteHeyy you're welcome! Thanks, Sally!
DeleteCongrats on your blog birthday! 5 years is quite an accomplishment!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Maggie!
DeleteWoohoo! Congrats darlin. Five years is no easy feat!
ReplyDeleteAw thanks!
DeleteHooray! You're blog is growing up so fast!
ReplyDeleteMy blog is getting old! I'm getting old!
DeleteCongrats on your first 5 years! You're going to be around for another 50, not just 5 - didn't you get the memo?
ReplyDeleteSeriously, your blog is very special because you have such an amazing personality and it shines through. You're such a character and have a terrific sense of humour. Plus, one other thing - you have the best recipes ever!!
When you think back to that first blog entry, did you have any idea that you'd end up where you are today? You've worked hard and deserve every bit of your success. Here's to more of the same!!
Thank you, Linda! Haha I don't know about 50! Thank you for all of the sweet compliments. :) Oh no... I had no idea it would go this far. I was just messing around!
DeleteHappy (belated) bloggiversary!
ReplyDeleteThose peanut butter cookies.. those look dangerous! I always love your photos and your recipes.. and your humor!
Hoping things are looking slower for me - shoot me a text if you're available the 18th of November or the 1st/2nd of December!
Yay! We need to finally meet! Let me see if I have anything going on. I know December 2nd is out.
Deletelove your blog--i'll definitely raise a glass of chocolate milk with you! sometime when i'm visiting fam in chicago we'll have to meet up!
ReplyDeleteI would love that!
DeleteHappy Blogiversary Emily! This tart looks awesome... and reminds me that I haven't eaten nearly enough plums this fall :)
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on 5 years, Emily. I remember reading your blog back when pastry school was just a dream, I'm so glad you achieved it now.
ReplyDelete