by Brian Tobin

Created on: May 21, 2008   Last Updated: June 06, 2008

The Fourth of July is the people's holiday. Our second president. John Adams encouraged Americans to make independence day a time of feasting and loud celebration. Common outdoor fare such as barbecue and potato salad give a distinctive frontier feel to our festival of democracy. No fare is more democratic than hot dogs and beer. In fact, the Fourth of July is the biggest beer-drinking day of the year. Nice times, but a recipe for gastronomical bloat. So, a nice light lemon tart may be the best dessert for topping off this Bacchanalian day.

Some people like to make their own pie crusts. This is fine. For me, however, I find that the pie crusts which come two to a package in the frozen foods section of the supermarket work just fine. The proof is in the filling:

First, heat the oven to 375 degrees. While the oven is heating, squeeze the juice of a half dozen lemons (about 3/4 cup)into a medium mixing bowl
Then, add four tablespoons of heavy cream and a half a cup of sugar to the bowl and whisk the ingredients throughly
Add six whole fresh eggs, one at a time,being sure to whisk each egg throughly into the mix.
Pour the batter into the the two store-bought pie crusts and bake for twenty minutes until the crust is done and the batter is firm
Serve at room temperature or chilled. Top with sliced almonds or whipped cream or both if desired. (serves approximately eight people).

After a day of hard eating and drinking, a satisfying nap in the shade of an old tree makes any reveler right. When she awakens, what better way to titilate her senses than the taste explosion of a fresh lemon tart. Historians note that the Puritan John Adams was a bit of a sourpuss. He had served some time as a minister to France. Maybe the president knew something about lemon tarts. Surely, along with his distant cousin, the brewer Sam Adams, he would approve.

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