It seems that my sis in law and I have a similar pattern when it comes to having babies; they're always close together! Jean just gave birth to bébé #2, Oscar, and also celebrated her own birthday a few days later. To celebrate her "birthing-day" and her birthday, we had Jean and her better half, Jake, over for a casual dinner. My one promise for the evening was that I would prepare a decadent dessert. Sure - I can cook, but when it comes to baking or pastries, pardon my language, I suck ass! So, in an attempt to impress the birthday girl while keeping it dead easy for me, I concocted a tart of fresh valley peaches and blueberries with a lemon pastry cream. How easy was this dessert you ask? So simple that even brand new baby Oscar could have made it. Store bought puff pastry and my simple pastry cream recipe were all that was needed. I topped it off with seasonal fruit, some fresh mint from the backyard and I was done. Take it from me, the lady who can't bake; if I can make it look and taste pretty, then so can you!

Pastry Cream

1 C. milk
1/2 C. sugar
2 Tbsp. cornstarch
2 egg yolks
1/2 vanilla bean

Mix all the ingredients together in a saucepan and cook over low heat while stirring. Cook for 3-5 minutes until mixture thickens and can cover the back of a spoon. Set aside and let cool. You can flavour your pastry cream in any number of ways. Try adding fresh fruit, lemon zest or event a few shots of rum.