Year of the pie? Make some room for tart.

You may have heard all the discussion out there recently about how 2011 is going to be "the year of the pie."  While I see no reason the cupcake and the pie can't exist harmoniously, I am glad to hear pie is getting some well-deserved time in the spotlight.

But let's not forget pie's delicious cousin, the tart.  Tarts may not be as widespread or accessible as the all American pie slice, but tarts are every bit as artful and delicious.  My 2011 kickoff tart was a fresh cranberry tart with a crumble topping from a recipe found in Sur La Table's The Art and Soul of Baking.  You will want to keep in mind that this particular tart falls into the category of quite tart tarts.  I prefer enjoying the bold bite of the cranberries on their own, but you can also top a slice of this tart with some ice cream.