Bittersweet Chocolate And Pear Pie Food

BITTERSWEET CHOCOLATE AND PEAR TART

Steps:

• Whisk together the melted butter, sugar and salt. Add flour and ground almonds and stir until it feels like damp sand. Press dough evenly along bottom and halfway up the sides of an 8-inch round tart pan with a removable bottom. Use waxed paper or buttered fingers to even out and press dough tightly into the corners. Prick crust all over with a fork and chill while you preheat oven to 350 degrees about 30 minutes. Set pan on a baking sheet and bake until crust is golden brown, about 25 minutes.
• While crust bakes, bring milk, agave and salt to a simmer in a medium saucepan over low heat. Remove from heat and pour over chocolate in a medium heatproof bowl. Let it sit for about 2 minutes without stirring. Starting in the middle of bowl, whisk chocolate together until evenly melted and the mixture a smooth and shiny dark brown.
• Fan pear slices around bottom of the tart shell in one even layer. Whisk beaten egg into the chocolate filling and pour filling over pears and crust. Decrease oven temperature to 300 degrees and return tart to oven; bake until filling is set but still a little wiggly in the center third, about 15 minutes. Remove and cool tart completely on a rack at room temperature. Remove tart from pan sides and carefully transfer to a platter. Slice and serve slightly warm or at room temperature.

BITTERSWEET CHOCOLATE AND PEAR PIE

Steps:

• For filling: In a large bowl, toss pears and lemon juice together. In a small bowl, combine 1/2 cup granulated sugar, the tapioca flour, cinnamon and salt. Add sugar mixture to pears; toss with hands to coat evenly.
• Unwrap one disc of pastry and place it on a lightly floured surface. Bang the dough with your rolling pin about 4 times, from left to right. Flip and bang left to right again. Begin rolling the pastry from the center forward, using less pressure on the edge. Every few rolls, rotate the disc a quarter-turn. If pastry starts to stick, lift it gently and sprinkle more flour underneath. If the top gets sticky, flip the disc over. Continue rolling and rotating until the circle is 12 to 13 inches across. Loosely fold the circle in half and transfer to a 9-inch pie plate. Unfold dough and gently but snugly press it into the corners. If any dough hangs over by more than 2 inches, trim it with kitchen scissors. (Use those scraps to patch holes or bolster spots where you don't have much overhang.)
• Roll out the second disc of pastry into a 10-inch circle (or follow the directions for a lattice-top pie, below**). Slide the circle onto a parchment-lined baking sheet. Refrigerate the pastry shell and pastry top for 30 minutes.
• To assemble: Sprinkle 1 teaspoon each turbinado and granulated sugar evenly all over the bottom of pie shell, followed by the chocolate and finally the pear filling. Dot pears with butter cubes. Top with the circle of pastry. Roll the bottom pastry up and inward, enclosing the edge of the top pastry circle, to form a thick rim and crimp to seal. Transfer assembled pie to the freezer for 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, preheat oven to 450°. Place a foil-lined baking sheet on the bottom rack of the oven to catch drips. In a small bowl, beat together the egg and water. Brush pie all over with egg mixture. Use a paring knife to cut steam vents in the top crust. (We pricked the pie all over with dozens of tiny slits.) Bake pie on the middle oven rack until crust is evenly golden brown, about 20 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 325° and continue baking until pie juices are bubbling in the center, 60 to 70 minutes. Transfer pie to a wire rack to cool for 4 to 6 hours before serving.

CHOCOLATE-AND-PEAR PIE

Steps:

• For the Crust: Preheat oven to 350°F. In a large bowl (or in a mixer fitted with the paddle attachment), whisk together butter, egg yolk, sugar, and salt until light and fluffy. Stir in flour to combine, then knead mixture with your hands a few times to form a soft, pliable dough.
• Press dough evenly into bottom and up sides of a standard 9-inch pie dish. Refrigerate until firm, at least 20 minutes or, covered, up to 1 day.
• For the Filling: In a large bowl (or mixer fitted with paddle attachment), whisk together butter, 3/4 cup sugar, eggs and egg white, vanilla, salt, 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon, and cocoa until thick and glossy, 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in flour just to combine, then chocolate and ginger.
• Peel, halve, and core pears, then immediately toss in a bowl with lemon juice (to prevent browning). With flat sides facing down, slice pears lengthwise into 1/4-inch thick slices, and fan out slices slightly (like a hand of playing cards) but do not separate. Arrange slices from one half of the pear in a single layer on the bottom of the chilled crust.
• Pour brownie batter into crust, smoothing top with an offset spatula. Arrange remaining sliced-and-fanned pear halves on top of batter. Drizzle with remaining lemon juice from bowl (you should have about 2 teaspoons).
• Stir together remaining 2 teaspoons sugar and 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon; sprinkle evenly over pears. Bake until pie is puffed and set along edges but still slightly wobbly in center, 50 minutes to 1 hour. Let cool on a wire rack until no longer hot, about 30 minutes. Slice and serve warm or at room temperature, with ice cream.

PEAR AND CHOCOLATE TART

Steps:

• Place the water and lemon juice in a saucepan. Peel the pears, cut them in half and core them. As each is peeled and cored, place it in the saucepan, just covered with water.
• Add one-half cup of the sugar, bring to a simmer and cook gently about 10 minutes, until the pears are just tender. Drain the pears and place them on several thicknesses of paper towel to continue draining.
• Melt the chocolate over hot water or in a microwave oven. Beat in the butter a tablespoon at a time, then beat in the eggs.
• Mix one-third cup of the hazelnuts or almonds with the flour and the remaining sugar and stir into the chocolate mixture.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Sprinkle the remaining hazelnuts or almonds over the bottom of the baked tart shell. Cut each pear half into four thick slices and arrange the slices close together in the tart shell. Spread the chocolate mixture over the pears.
• Bake 30 minutes. Serve warm or cooled to room temperature with whipped cream on the side.

BITTERSWEET CHOCOLATE TART WITH CREME ANGLAISE AND VANILLA ICE CREAM

Steps:

• Prepare a large bowl of ice water.
• In a heavy saucepan, add milk, vanilla beans, and cassia sticks tied in a loose knot and bring to a simmer on medium heat. Concurrently, in a mixing bowl, whisk eggs and sugar together. When the milk reaches a simmer, whisk in 1 cup of the hot milk to the egg mixture. Whisk this mix back to the hot milk, reduce heat to low and constantly stir with a wooden spoon.
• When mixture thickens enough to coat the back the wooden spoon and a line drawn with your finger holds it shape (about 12 to 15 minutes), immediately strain through a chinoise (fine sieve) into another bowl (a little smaller than the ice bath bowl) and place in ice bath. Stir occasionally to cool down. If there are any vanilla beans left on the pods, scrape into the anglaise. Stir to incorporate and chill sauce until ready to use.Sift the flour, salt and sugar into a food processor fitted with a blade. Add the butter and pulse until it resembles coarse meal, there should be pieces of butter. Add the ice water, 1 tablespoon at a time, pulsing the processor. Only add enough water until the dough just holds together (about 3 to 4 tablespoons). Wrap in plastic and put in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
• Vanilla Ice Cream: Freeze according to machine?s instructions.
• Bittersweet Chocolate Tart: Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
• On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to about 9-inch diameter. Use an 8-inch false bottom tart pan and carefully place dough into the pan. Work the dough into the corners and prick with a fork. Cover with foil and refrigerate for 30 minutes. Fill pan with pie weights, rice or beans and bake blind for 15 minutes. Remove foil and bake an additional 5 to 7 minutes, until the dough becomes very light tan. Pull pan out of the oven and let cool at room temperature.
• For the filling, bring the cream to a simmer. Pull off of the heat and add the chocolate. When chocolate is completely melted, mix well, and let cool in the refrigerator. When chocolate mixture is cold, pull out of the refrigerator and whisk in the eggs just until incorporated. Pour into the tart shell and bake at 350 degrees for 12 to 15 minutes. It should still tremble in the center when lightly shaken. Let tart cool on a rack before demolding. Garnish with powdered sugar and cocoa powder.
• On a large plate, garnish the rim of the plate with powdered sugar and cocoa powder. Ladle a small pool of creme anglaise. Place a slice of the tart off of the side and place 1 scoop of ice cream next to it. For the ultimate, make individual tarts.

BITTERSWEET CHOCOLATE PECAN PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F with rack in center of oven.
• Melt chocolate in a metal bowl set over barely simmering water, stirring.
• Remove from heat.
• Spread chocolate in bottom of pie shell (fitted in 9 inch pie plate) with back of spoon and let it set, then cover with pecans.
• Whisk together eggs, brown sugar vanilla, and salt in a bowl, then whisk in corn syrup and pour over pecans.
• Bake pie until filling is puffed and crust is golden, 50-60 minutes. (If pie is browning too quickly after 30 minutes, loosely cover with foil).
• Cool pie on a rack to warm or to room temperature.
• Serve with whipped cream.
• Note:** Pie can be baked 1 day ahead and chilled, uncovered, until cool, then cover. Reheat in a 350 degree F oven until warm, about 10 minutes.

PEAR CHOCOLATE PIE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400°F (205°C).
• Combine flour, 5 tbs sugar and salt in large bowl; cut in butter and work until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
• Stir in enough water with fork just until flour is moistened.
• Shape dough into ball; flatten slightly.
• Roll out ball of dough on lightly floured surface into 12-inch circle.
• Fold into quarters.
• Place dough into 9-inch pie pan; unfold, pressing firmly against bottom and sides.
• Trim crust to 1/2 inch from edge of pan.
• Crimp or flute edge.
• Fill unbaked pie crust with dry beans and cook in preheated oven for 15-20 min or until done.
• Bring cream to a boil and mix in chopped chocolate.
• Stir until chocolate melted and the mixture smooth.
• Add vanilla extract.
• Bring water and 5 tbs sugar to a boil and add pears.
• Let simmer for 10 minutes.
• Slice pears.
• Line the bottom of pie with pears, cover with chocolate cream.
• Let cool completely before serving.
• Note: with the remaining pastry dough you could shape leavs or hearts to decorate the finished pie.

BITTERSWEET CHOCOLATE SILK PIE

Steps:

• In medium bowl, combine flour and salt.
• Using medium side of box grater (side used to shred carrots), grate cold butter into flour, tossing frequently.
• Cut shortening into chunks.
• Using a pastry blender, cut shortening into flour until pea-sized clumps form.
• Using fork to toss flour, stir in ice water until dough just starts to form.
• Press dough into smooth, flat disc.
• Wrap disc in plastic and refrigerate at least 1 hour.
• On lightly floured surface, roll dough out to 13-inch circle.
• Transfer dough to 9-inch pie plate.
• Trim overhanging dough to 1 inch; roll and crimp overhang to make decorative edge.
• Refrigerate pie shell for 30 minutes.
• Place rack in center of oven and preheat to 400°.
• Prick chilled pie shell all over with fork.
• Line pie shell with foil; place pie weight or dry beans or rice in shell.
• Bake for 20 minutes; remove foil and weights and bake for 10-15 minutes more, until pie shell is golden.
• Let pie shell cool for 15 minutes before filling with chocolate mixture.
• In small saucepan, heat cream and sugar together over medium high heat, stirring until sugar dissolves.
• Bring mixture to a boil.
• Turn off heat; stir in chocolate until melted and smooth.
• Stir in butter until melted and smooth.
• Scrape chocolate mixture into 4 1/2-quart bowl of heavy-duty electric mixer fitted with paddle attachment.
• Let chocolate mixture stand until just warm, about 20 minutes.
• Beat chocolate mixture at medium speed for 2-3 minutes, until bottom of bowl is no longer warm.
• With mixer running at medium speed, begin pouring egg beaters down side of bowl in slow, steady stream. This will take 2 minutes.
• Continue to beat for a few more minutes, until mixture just begins to thicken around the outside edge of bowl and becomes paler in color.
• Pour mixture into prepared pie shell and refrigerate for at least 4-6 hours.
• Just before serving pie, beat heavy cream with sugar until soft peaks form, about 3 minutes, in heavy-duty mixer and 5 minutes with hand-held mixer.
• Mound whipped cream onto chilled pie.
• Garnish with chocolate curls.

BITTERSWEET CHOCOLATE PUDDING PIE WITH CRèME FRAîCHE TOPPING

Steps:

• Crust:
• Position rack in center of oven; preheat to 350°F. Blend cookie crumbs and sugar in processor. Add melted butter; process until crumbs are evenly moistened. Press crumb mixture onto bottom and up sides (not rim) of 9-inch-diameter glass pie dish. Bake until crust begins to set and no longer looks moist, pressing gently with back of fork if crust puffs, about 12 minutes. Remove crust from oven, then sprinkle chopped chocolate over bottom of crust. Let stand until chocolate softens, 1 to 2 minutes. Using offset spatula or small rubber spatula, spread chocolate over bottom and up sides of crust to cover. Chill crust until chocolate sets, about 30 minutes.
• Filling:
• Whisk sugar, cocoa, cornstarch, and salt to blend in heavy medium saucepan. Gradually add 1/3 cup milk, whisking until smooth paste forms. Whisk in remaining milk, then 1/4 cup cream. Using flat-bottom wooden spoon or heatproof spatula, stir mixture constantly over medium heat, scraping bottom and sides of pan until pudding thickens and begins to bubble at edges, about 5 minutes. Add chocolate; stir until mixture is smooth. Remove from heat; stir in rum and vanilla. Pour hot pudding into crust and spread evenly. Cool 1 hour at room temperature. Cover with plastic wrap; chill overnight. DO AHEAD: Can be made 2 days ahead. Keep refrigerated.
• Topping:
• Using electric mixer, beat crème fraîche, whipping cream, sugar, and vanilla in medium bowl just until stiff peaks form and mixture is thick enough to spread (do not overbeat or mixture may curdle). Spread topping decoratively over top of pie, swirling to create peaks, if desired. DO AHEAD: Pie can be made 6 hours ahead. Cover with cake dome and refrigerate.
• Sprinkle chocolate shavings decoratively atop pie, if desired. Cut pie into wedges and serve.
• * Sold at some supermarkets and at specialty foods stores.