The Perfect Pie Pairing for Your Milagra Hike

This special spring recipe was featured in the 2003 edition of a newsletter produced by Park Stewardship (at the time called the Site Stewardship Program). This recipe was crafted by Ben Petersen, a former intern with a passion for baking. Enjoy!

Milagra Thimbleberry Tart
This is a nice tart to eat after a walk at Milagra Ridge. If, by chance, you have blackberries or raspberries (pictured) and/or yerba buena mint on hand, these will make a fine substitution for the thimbleberries and mint.

Ingredients: 

• 1 8 or 9 inch pie crust (make your own if you can)
• 1 pint thimbleberries (or berries of your choice)
• 6 oz. of softened cream cheese
• ½ cup granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 to 2 tablespoons milk
• 2 tablespoons of fresh mint, very finely chopped (plus extra whole mint 1 leaves for garnish)

1. Bake the pie crust until done. (If you are making your own pie crust you might want to add 1-2 tablespoons of fresh finely chopped mint to the dough.) Allow the crust to cool completely.
2. Use a whisk or electric mixer and combine cream cheese, sugar, vanilla, mint, and 1 tablespoon of milk. Add more milk if needed to make a creamy, fluffy filling. Spread the filling in the cooled pie crust.
3. Carefully arrange the berries on top of the cream cheese filling. Loosely cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
4. Cut, garnish with the extra whole mint leaves, and serve.