Tagged: Tart

October10

Brandied Plum Tart :: Something Sweet for Fall

Goodness gracious I don't know where my weeks go sometimes.  It's been far too long since I've blogged, so I thought it was only appropriate to begin a bunch of updates with something sweet -- it being the recent Jewish New Year and official turn of season after all.  I got on a dessert fix a few weeks back and was dying to try out some new creations just as the last of late summer/early fall's damson plums hit the farmers market (and after reading a very enticing plum crostata recipe by Melissa Clark in the NY Times.  Fruit-centric desserts are generally my favorites as they balance out something indulgent with something fresh and light.  The crust featured here is my absolute stand-by for tarts, pies and crostatas...an adaptation of Karen DeMasco's almond sable recipe from her award-winning cookbook, The Craft of Baking.  And the best thing is that the recipe makes two full crusts, so you can stick one in the freezer and have it ready to go when needed.  It'll hold up about a month or so.

 

Stayed for more posts this week, including plum desserts part deux (as pictured) and an excerpt from my interview with Joel Salatin, the famed farmer of Polyface Farms talking about his new book, Folks, This Ain't Normal

Brandied Plum Tart :: with a Hint of Rosemary

Serves :: makes 4 tartlets or 1 tart

Ingredients

Crust: 

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 cup whole wheat pastry flour

3/4 cup almond flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 1/4 sticks chilled unsalted butter cut into small pieces

1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon confectioner's sugar

1 large egg

1 large egg yolk

*extra egg yolk and sanding sugar to brush over crust before baking 

 

Plum Filling: 

about 4 cups of pitted and halved damson or Italian plums

1 1/2 tablespoons of cornstarch

1/3 cup sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract 

1 teaspoon fresh rosemary, chopped

 

Brandy Glaze: 

1/2 cup brandy

1/4 cup sugar

 

 

 

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Crust: 

Whisk flours and salt together in a mixing bowl.

Cream butter and sugar together until smooth in a mixer using a paddle attachment.  Mix in the egg and then the egg yolk.  Slowly add the flour mixture, about half the quantity at one time.  Mix on a medium-high speed until dough forms.  

Place dough on a floured surface and shape into two equal balls or discs. Wrap each in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least an hour if not overnight.  Freeze one or both if desired for up to a month.

Take one disc and either divide into 4 mini-tarts or 1 regular tart and use a rolling pin to shape into an even circle, about 1/2 inch thick.

Plum Filling: 

Mix plums, cornstarch, sugar, vanilla and rosemary together.  Place filling onto center of crust(s) leaving an inch or two on the outer edges.  Fold edges over fruit to give a rustic look.  

Brandy Glaze: 

Simmer brandy and sugar over low-medium heat until reduced by nearly half.  Drizzle glaze lightly over plums.

Brush crust with extra egg yolk and sprinkle with sanding sugar.  Bake for about 35-40 minutes or until golden brown (tartlets may take less time).

TAGS: dessert, plums, tart

posted: 10.10.11

February13

True Lovers :: Chocolate + Bourbon

Valentine's Day.  Love it or loathe it, I figure we could all use a little extra decadence today.  I featured this bourbon chocolate tart a few years back (hence the sub-par photo quality), but it's well worth a comeback.  Intensely rich with a touch of booziness, you'll be blissfully content with a few forkfuls...well, maybe a small slice.  Based on past experience, this is definitely one tried and true dessert your sweetie won't be able to resist.  

And if you don't have time to be baking away in your kitchen, check out these rad V-Day cookies hand-crafted by my good friend, Amelia Coulter.  These are some seriously special treats (below).  Snatch them up at Sugar Built or find them at Brooklyn Kitchen and The Chocolate Room.    

Here's to a little love in the air!

Bourbon Chocolate Tart :: with Fleur de Sel and Raspberry Coulis

Serves :: 12

Ingredients

Tart Crust 

1 cup all-purpose flour

3 tablespoons sugar

1/8 teaspoon salt

1 stick unsalted butter, cut into ½ inch pieces

1 egg yolk

 

Tart Filling

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 1/4 cups heavy cream

9 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped (I usually use a chocolate that's 65% or above cocoa content)

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

3 tablespoons bourbon

1/4 teaspoon salt

 

Tart Glaze

2 tablespoons heavy cream

1 3/4 ounces bittersweet or dark chocolate, chopped

1 teaspoon light corn syrup

1 tablespoon warm water

1 tablespoon bourbon

¼ teaspoon fleur de sel 

Raspberry Coulis

2 cups fresh raspberries, plus more for serving

2 to 3 tablespoons sugar

1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice


 

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350°F.

In a food processor, blend the flour, sugar, and salt. Add the butter, egg yolk, and vanilla and pulse until the mixture forms a large moist clump.

Press the dough into a 9-inch round fluted tart pan with a removable bottom. Press the dough up the sides, press the bottom of the dough four or five times with the tines or a fork, and bake for 10 minutes, then cool.

For the filling: Bring the heavy cream to a boil in a medium saucepan, then remove from the heat. Add the chocolate and stir until melted.

Whisk the eggs, vanilla, bourbon, and salt in a small bowl and add to the chocolate. Pour the filling into the tart shell and bake for 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool for about an hour.

For the glaze: Bring the heavy cream to a boil in a medium saucepan, then remove from the heat and stir in the chocolate. Add the corn syrup, warm water, and bourbon. Gently pour evenly over the tart. Sprinkle the fleur de sel over the tart and allow to stand for about an hour.

For the raspberry coulis: Heat the raspberries, sugar, and lemon juice in a small saucepan and simmer for about 10 minutes. Strain the seeds out through a small sieve if desired.

Carefully remove the tart from the outer part of the pan. Serve with 2 to 3 teaspoons of raspberry coulis and fresh raspberries.

Cookie images via :: Amelia Coulter

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TAGS: tart, chocolate, desserts

posted: 02.13.12

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