The total solar eclipse is coming next week and where we live, there is lots of buzz about experiencing the eclipse. I’ve been working on ideas for activities at home and a few meals we can have next week to celebrate the occasion and make a dinner fun at home.
Never did I imagine I’d take a traditional French meal, the Tarte au Soleil, and make it my own. But I’m telling you my family and friends better be ready we are going to be serving these all kinds of ways. It makes me feel like I’m serving a fancy treat and its so easy to make.
This Sunbraid Sandwich is at the top of my list. I’ve experimented with several different flavors and learned this is the best combination. Yes, you can do things to lighten up the ingredients, but this is my default, best flavors.
History of the Sunbraid
The French are known for their fancy bread-making and fine dining experiences. The tarte au Soleil is a top appetizer that greets guests with fancy merriment without the fuss.
The traditional French tarte is typically made from hand made puff pastry rolled into a circle shape and spread with pesto.
Those who grew up eating this treat say it was developed in the south of France where sunshine and pesto were plentiful, and this warm treat always welcomed guests and brought a smile to faces as they sat with glasses of local wine and shared a bite to eat with friends.
An Apero, a French cocktail hour, can go on for hours, so having a little “nibble” with your spirits helps take the edge off for dinner.
I will tell you, as I’m sitting at my wooden picnic table on an April afternoon, eating my Sunbraid, I might shift the music to feel like it’s an early happy hour in French countryside…..not exactly my typical surroundings, but a girl can dream, can’t she!
Sunbraid Sandwich
Ingredients
- 1 roll refrigerated puff pastry
- Flour to sprinkle
- ¼ cup French onion dip or chive and onion cream cheese spread
- Sliced ham deli meat
- Sliced provolone or Swiss cheese
- 1 egg
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400.
- Unroll puff pastry onto the counter or a cutting board.
- Sprinkle with a little all-purpose flour and roll out the dough to an even layer, spreading to make a larger rectangle.
- Fold over the pastry dough or cut it in half to make two equally-sized rectangles.
- Set aside one rectangle to place on top later.
- Flip the dough so that the floured side is down and lay it on your cooking surface, such as a baking stone, cookie sheet, or oven-safe pan.
- Evently spread the cream cheese on the rectangle.
- Evenly top with a layer of sliced ham.
- Repeat with sliced cheese.
- Top with the second dough piece.
- Using a drinking glass with about a 4-inch diameter, press it down in the middle of the rectangle.
- Use a knife to cut the “rays” of the sun. First, make four cuts to create quadrants, then cut those in half and each of those in half. You should have 16 equally portioned pieces.
- Lift the “ray” closest to you, all the layers.
- Hold it between your fingers and twist it, making two full turns. Lift it to the middle and twist it to the end, pressing the end down on your cooking surface.
- Repeat this with the other “rays,” making sure to twist them all in the same direction.
- Brush an egg wash over the middle and all the twisted pieces, trying to coat all the pastry dough where possible.
- Place the Sunbraid in the oven on a middle rack, with room for the pastry to rise.
- Bake for 12 minutes and check until fully cooked. May take up to 20 minutes to cook where there is an even cook and golden brown finish to the pastry.
- Remove from oven and serve warm.
- Serve on a spring buffet or with dips, crudites, and crackers on the side.
Notes
Like many recipes here, the possibilities are endless as you think creatively about things your family enjoys.
- Nutella
- Cookie butter
- Pesto – topped with a tomato chutney or roasted cherry tomatoes
- Orange marmalade
- Rose jam
- Herby jams
- Lemon curd
- Strawberry rhubarb spread
- Everything bagel spread
If you are still looking for tips and fun things to prepare for the Great North American Total Solar Eclipse, check out these Survival Kit ideas for your own SOLARbration.
