-ALMOND CRUST-
1/4 c Almonds, slivered
1 1/2 c Flour, all purpose
1/4 ts -Salt
3 tb Brown sugar; firmly packed
1/2 c Butter;cold, unsalted
-1 stick, cut into small
-pieces
1 lg Egg; cold
1/2 ts Vanilla extract
1/4 ts Lemon zest; freshly grated
CUSTARD CREAM
4 lg Egg yolks
4 tb Flour, all purpose
3 tb Sugar
2 c Half and half
1/2 ts Vanilla extract-
TOPPING
Strawberries & Raspberries
-hulled to cover surface of
-tart
-GLAZE-
1/2 c Red currant jelly
1 ts Lemon juice
CRUST: Finely grind almonds in a food processor with an on/off mixture with
a rolling pin until as finely ground as possible. Add flour, salt and brown
sugar to processor and blend, or combine ground almonds, flour, salt, and
brown sugar in a bowl and stir to blend. Add butter and process or work
with the fingertips until mixture ressembles coarse crumbs. In a small bowl
beat egg lightly. Stir in the vanilla and lemon zest. With processor on,
add egg mixture to the dough through feed tube and process until dough
forms. Pat dough into a ball, wrap in plastic wrap and chill in
refrigerator for at least 30 minutes. Remove dough from refrigerator. Press
in 10 inch tart pan (with removable bottom), patting in even minutes before
baking. Bake line with foil for 15 minutes, remove foil and bake a further
20 to 30 minutes empty. CUSTARD CREAM: In a medium mixing bowl, beat egg
yolks and sugar until pale yellow and thick. Beat in 4 tbsp all purpose
flour. Heat half-and-half in medium sized non reactive saucepan over low
heat until small bubbles form around edges. Remove from heat and pour a
small amount of hot mixture into egg yolk mixture, whisking constantly. Add
remaining half and half mixture, whisking. Pour mixture back into pan on
heat, lower heat and cook it, stirring for 5-7 minutes. Add vanilla, let
the mixture cool and chill it, covered (use plastic wrap) until needed.
ASSEMBLY: Spread Custard Cream even over fully baked almond crust. Arrange
hulled strawberries or raspberries in concentric circles, stem ends down,
over pastry cream. Melt red currant jelly with 1 tsp lemon juice and brush
the glaze gently over the fruit.
From
Yields
1 Tarts