Voting and the American Dream - Chai Masala Apple Tart

My parents were immigrants. Yours may have been too. My mother and father came here in the '70s in search of something better. I'm pretty sure they didn't know exactly what that would be. My father came from a family of farmers and, along with my uncle, the family's first to go to college. He tells stories of studying by candlelight and walking to school with no shoes.

They emigrated with a battered burgundy Samsonite suitcase with my Mom's saris, her jewelry and their clothing. They went on to build a life, owning their own home and owning a car, though my mom hated driving. And their kids went to college. This was their American dream, and it is different for all of us. Indeed, the opportunities I have now and what Poet and Flower have are beyond my parents' wildest imagination.

So as the days get chillier and there are more leaves on the ground outside, you know it's fall. And with fall comes the leaves turning colors, pumpkin spice lattes (maybe not as many this year), and voting. We can say there's a pandemic, or my vote doesn't count. But it sure does.

My mother loved to bake, and it was a passion that was part of her American dream. My mom loved to make apple pie, and I was thinking how could I do something with all the apples we picked recently at the apple orchard. So this week I made a Chai masala apple tart. It came together really nicely. I tossed apples with sugar, lemon juice and chai masala. A graham cracker crust with butter and sugar offers a nice contrast to the apples. Slowly bake the apples until it all comes together to make a warm delicious dessert.

I love chai masala, and it's not just for making a delicious cup of tea. Chai is Indian tea. A delicious cup of strong black tea is brewed with milk and water. Masala chai is brewed tea with spices. Mom's chai masala was made of cinnamon, cardamon, and cloves. Other variations include adding black pepper, nutmeg, or star anise. Adrak chai is made with ginger. I added a good tablespoon of freshly grated ginger to give the apples a little more of a spicy twist.

Enjoy the beautiful weather, a hot cup of chai, and a slice of apple tart. And of course, vote!

Chai Masala Apple Tart

A tart with slowly baked apples, chai masala and ginger makes a lovely fall dessert. The graham cracker crust is crunchy and not too sweet. I love a simple chai masala with cardamom, clove and cinnamon. But you can play around with a hint of black pepper or star anise.

Serves 8

• 5-6 apples (peeled and sliced into 1/4 inch slices)
• 1 tablespoon fresh ginger (grated)
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1/8 teaspoon cinnamon (ground)
• 1/8 teaspoon cardamon (ground)
• 1/8 teaspoon clove (ground)
• 2 tablespoons butter (melted)

For the graham cracker crust

• 1 1/2 cups graham crackers
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 6 tablespoons butter (melted)

For the glaze

• 2 tablespoons apricot jam (melted)
• 1 tablespoon butter (melted.)

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

2. For the graham cracker crust: In a food processor, add the graham crackers and pulse until they are fine crumbs.

3. In a medium bowl, mix together the butter and sugar. Add in the graham cracker crumbs and stir until the mixture just comes together.

4. Genly press the graham cracker mixture evenly into a 9 inch tart pan with a removable bottom. Add a little to the edges and gently push it into the corners so there is a little rim.

5. Bake the graham cracker crust for 10 minutes until golden. Let cool completely.

6. Toss the sliced apples with the sugar, lemon juice, cardamom, clove, cinnamon, ginger and butter. You may need a little more or less sugar depending on how tart your apples are.

7. Gently arrange them in a circular pattern on the graham cracker crust.

8. Bake in the oven for 45 minutes to 1 hour until the apples are soft.

9. Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, melt the apricot jam and butter. Gently brush over the apples.
10. Serve warm with ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream.