Black Bottom Tart Food

CHOCOLATE BLACK-BOTTOM PIE

Steps:

• In a medium microwave-safe bowl, microwave 1 1/4 cups cream until hot, about 3 minutes. Add chocolate and let stand until melted, 5 to 10 minutes. Whisk to combine, then whisk in rum. Pour 1 1/2 cups chocolate mixture into crust (reserve remaining chocolate mixture). Sprinkle nuts over top. Refrigerate pie 3 hours (or up to 2 days).
• In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat 2 cups cream with sugar on high until stiff peaks form, 2 minutes. Top pie with whipped cream, then dot with reserved chocolate mixture. With a skewer, gently swirl chocolate through whipped cream.

BLACK BOTTOM TART

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough 1/8 inch thick. Fit dough into 2 rectangular 13 3/4-by-4 1/4-inch tart shells, letting it fall naturally into the corners and being careful not to stretch the dough. With your fingers or a rolling pin, trim dough so that it is flush with top edge of tart shells. Prick the tart shell all over with the tines of a fork. Chill until firm, at least 45 minutes.
• Line dough with parchment paper and fill with dried beans or lentils. Transfer to oven and bake until tart shells begin to color, about 20 minutes. Carefully remove the dried beans and parchment and return to the oven and bake until the tart shells become a deep golden color, about 15 to 20 minutes more. Cool completely on a cooling rack.
• In a heavy saucepan, dissolve 1/2 cup sugar and the cornstarch in the cold milk. Stir in the scalded milk, place the mixture over direct heat, and boil for 3 minutes, stirring constantly. Transfer the mixture to the top of a double boiler.
• Beat the egg yolks in a small bowl and stir in 3 tablespoons of the milk mixture. (This will keep the egg yolks from curdling when added to the remaining hot milk.) Pour this back into the remaining milk mixture, and cook over simmering water for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring constantly, until the mixture becomes quite thick. Remove from the heat and put 1 cup custard in a small bowl. Stir in the melted chocolate and vanilla, and set aside to cool completely. When cooled, spread evenly in the tart shell and chill until set.
• Meanwhile, soften the gelatin in the cold water and add to the remaining hot custard. (The gelatin will not dissolve properly if the custard has cooled.) Stir to combine. Fold in the rum and let the mixture cool at room temperature until it just begins to set.
• Beat the egg whites with the salt and cream of tartar until stiff but not dry. Gradually beat in the remaining 1/4 cup sugar, and then fold the egg whites into the custard mixture. Spoon this evenly over the chocolate mixture. Chill until set.
• Remove the baking sheet from the refrigerator. Using a sharp metal pastry scraper held at a 45-degree angle, scrape off a strip of chocolate from the pan; the chocolate will curl as it is scraped. Chill or freeze until the curls are firm and ready to use.
• The type of curl you get will be determined largely by the temperature of the chocolate when you remove it from the refrigerator. If it is very cold, the chocolate will splinter when scraped and give you small "thatch." If the chocolate is a little less cold, you will produce tight curls. And if the chilled chocolate approaches room temperature (or if a lightly pressed finger leaves a slight print), you will have big, loose curls or sheets of chocolate, which can be used as "bark." The type of curl you produce will also depend on how you scrape the chocolate from the sheet.
• Whip the cream until stiff and spread or pipe over the custard. Garnish as desired with chocolate thatch. Chill until ready to serve.

BLACK BOTTOM PEANUT BUTTER & JELLY TART

Steps:

• 1. For the crust, chop peanuts in food processor and reserve 1/4 cup for garnish. Add brown sugar and flour to food processor and process in long bursts.
• 2. Place mixture in a large bowl. Stir in graham cracker crumbs, cinnamon, and salt. Add melted butter and incorporate well. Mix first with a fork, then with hands, rubbing everything together completely to form evenly dampened crumbs (if necessary, add 1 tsp. water to the mixture to assist in pressing the crust into place).
• 3. Spread the crumb mixture evenly and loosely into a lightly buttered 9-1/2-inch tart pan with a removable bottom. Press the crust into the bottom and up the sides. Refrigerate crust for 10 to 15 minutes.
• 4. Place crust on center oven rack in a preheated 350-degree oven and bake for 7 to 10 minutes, until lightly browned. Let cool on wire rack.
• 5. For the ganache, in a small saucepan, bring heavy cream, butter, corn syrup and salt to a simmer, making sure butter is completely melted.
• 6. Place chocolate in a heat-proof mixing bowl and pour hot cream mixture over chocolate. Allow it to sit, untouched, for about 5 minutes. Add vanilla, and whisk until ganache is smooth.
• 7. Immediately pour ganache into cooled graham cracker crust, carefully tilting crust to coat the bottom and sides evenly.
• 8. Cool to room temperature; refrigerate crust for at least an hour.
• 9. For the peanut butter filling, combine cream cheese, peanut butter, sugar, milk, honey and salt with an electric mixer until well mixed.
• 10. Spoon peanut butter filling over the ganache layer and smooth with an offset spatula; chill in refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.
• 11. Spoon the jelly onto peanut butter layer and spread evenly (jelly may need to be warmed slightly in order to spread easily).
• 12. Sprinkle tart with reserved chopped peanuts. If desired, garnish with fruit matching jelly used, such as raspberries or strawberries.
• 13. Chill at least 1 hour. Carefully remove tart from pan before serving.

BLACK-BOTTOM KEY LIME TART

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. In food processor, place flour, butter, powdered sugar and salt. Cover; process, using quick on-and-off motions, until dough forms a ball. Press dough firmly and evenly in bottom and up side of ungreased 10-inch tart pan with removable bottom. Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool completely, about 20 minutes.
• Place chocolate chips in small bowl. In small saucepan, heat 1/2 cup whipping cream over medium heat just until hot. Pour over chocolate chips; let stand 2 minutes. Gently stir until smooth. Pour into partially baked crust, spreading to edge. Refrigerate 30 minutes or until firm.
• In medium bowl, mix condensed milk, egg yolks, lime juice, lime peel and food color with whisk until blended. Pour filling over chocolate layer.
• Bake 20 to 22 minutes or until center is set. Cool completely in pan on cooling rack, about 2 hours. Cover; refrigerate until chilled, at least 2 hours but no longer than 2 days. Garnish with whipped cream and lime slices. Store covered in refrigerator.

BLACK BOTTOM PIE

Steps:

• To make the crust: Lightly butter a 10-inch pie plate. On a lightly floured board, roll out the half of the pate brisee to a 1/8-inch thickness (unused dough can be wrapped and plastic and stored in the refrigerator or freezer). Place the dough in the pie plate, and press it into the bottom edges and along the sides. Trim the dough using scissors or a sharp paring knife. Crimp or decorate the edges of the crust if desired. Chill crust for 30 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Carefully line the pie plate with parchment paper, gently pressing the parchment into the edges of the crust; weigh down parchment with dried beans or pie weights. Bake until edges of pastry begin to turn golden, about 15 minutes. Carefully remove pie weights and parchment paper. Continue to bake until crust is golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes more. Transfer the crust to a wire rack to cool completely.
• To make the filling: Prepare an ice-water bath. In the top of a double boiler or in a heat-proof bowl set over simmering water, melt chocolate; set aside. Place 1/4 cup cold water in a small bowl, and sprinkle gelatin over it; set aside to soften.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together 4 egg yolks, 1/4 cup sugar, and the cornstarch; set aside. In a medium saucepan, combine milk and 1/4 cup sugar. Bring just to a boil. Add about one-quarter of the hot-milk mixture to the egg mixture, whisking constantly, until combined. Return egg-milk mixture to saucepan, and bring to a boil. Remove from heat when mixture has boiled and thickened, 3 to 4 minutes.
• Measure out 1 cup of custard, and transfer to a medium bowl. Add the melted chocolate and vanilla to it, stirring until the chocolate is melted. Transfer the bowl to the ice-water bath to cool completely. When cool, spread evenly in the bottom of the pie crust. Transfer pie crust to refrigerator until set, about 5 minutes. Add softened gelatin to remaining custard. Transfer pan to the ice-water bath to cool until just beginning to set.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat egg whites with salt and cream of tartar until soft peaks form. With machine running, gradually add remaining 1/2 cup sugar, and beat until stiff glossy peaks form. Stir 1/3 of whipped egg whites into custard to lighten. Gently but thoroughly fold in remaining whites and rum. Spread over chocolate layer. Refrigerate pie for at least 3 hours and up to overnight.
• Whip cream until stiff peaks form. Spread over custard or pipe on top with a pastry bag fitted with a star tip. Sprinkle chocolate shavings on top. Chill until ready to serve.

BLACK BOTTOM TARTS

Steps:

• Unfold each pastry and roll to 1/8" thickness on a lightly floured surface. Using a 2-1/2" round cutter, cut out 24 circles from each pastry. Place circles in ungreased miniature (1-3/4") muffin pans. Prick pastry with a fork.
• Bake at 425° for 4-5 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool in pans on wire racks.
• Combine pudding mix and milk and cook pudding according to package directions for PIE FILLING.
• Remove 1/2 cup hot pudding to a separate bowl. Add chocolate morsels, stirring until smooth. Spoon 1 teaspoon chocolate mixture into bottom of each pastry.
• Stir rum or rum extract into remaining pudding. Spoon evenly over chocolate mixture in each pastry.
• Chill 2 hours.
• Pipe or dollop each tart with pre-whipped whipping cream.
• Garnish with chocoate shavings, if desired.
• Note: To make this into a 9-inch pie, spoon chocolate mixture into the bottom of a pre-baked 9-inch pastry shell. Cover chocolate mixture with rum-flavored pudding. Dollop with pre-whipped cream and garnish, if desired.
• Cooking Time is Chill Time.

BLACK-BOTTOM PIE

Steps:

• Make the crust: Stir together graham cracker crumbs, butter, sugar, and salt in a bowl. Press into bottom and up sides of a 9-inch pie plate. Refrigerate until firm, about 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bake until crust is set and begins to turn golden brown, about 12 minutes. Let cool completely on a wire rack.
• Make the filling: Sift together sugar, cocoa powder, cornstarch, and salt into a medium saucepan. Gradually whisk in milk. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring constantly, until almost boiling. Reduce heat to medium; add chocolate. Cook, stirring constantly, until chocolate has melted and mixture is thick, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat; whisk in butter and vanilla until smooth. Spread chocolate mixture over crust. Refrigerate until cold and firm, about 1 hour.
• Make the topping: Prepare an ice-water bath; set aside. Sprinkle gelatin over 2 tablespoons cold water in a small bowl. Let stand until soft, about 3 minutes. Whisk 1/4 cup sugar, the cornstarch, and salt in a medium saucepan. Gradually whisk in the milk. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is thick and boiling, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in gelatin mixture, and let cool completely. Stir in vanilla and rum. Briefly place pan in an ice-water bath to thicken slightly, if needed. Do not let it set completely. Set aside.
• Put egg whites in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Beat on medium-low speed until soft peaks form. Reduce speed to low; continue beating while you make syrup.
• Bring remaining 1/2 cup sugar and 3 tablespoons water to a boil in a saucepan, stirring to dissolve sugar. Brush down sides of pan with a wet pastry brush to prevent crystals from forming. Cook, without stirring, until syrup registers 240 degrees on a candy thermometer.
• Raise mixer speed to high, and beat egg whites just until stiff peaks begin to form. Immediately pour syrup into egg whites in a slow, steady stream near side of bowl, avoiding whisk. Beat until glossy and cooled, about 7 minutes.
• Fold meringue mixture into reserved gelatin mixture in 3 batches until just combined. Mound the mixture into the chocolate-filled crust. Refrigerate pie for 2 1/2 hours or overnight before serving.

CLASSIC LEMON TART

Steps:

• Make the crust: In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. (If you like, you can let the butter cook until it browns and smells nutty, 2 to 4 minutes longer.)
• Whisk together flour, confectioners' sugar and salt in a medium bowl. Drizzle in melted butter and, using a spatula, mix until well combined. Press this into the bottom and up the sides of a 9-inch tart pan, using a measuring cup if you like to flatten the tart shell and make sure it's even. Place in the freezer for at least 30 minutes and up to 2 months (wrap in plastic if storing for more than 4 hours).
• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Line tart dough with a piece of foil or parchment paper and fill with pie weights, dry beans or rice. Bake for 15 minutes, then remove the foil and weights and continue to bake until the crust is very lightly golden at the edges and baked through on the bottom, 10 to 15 minutes longer. Transfer to a rack to cool. (Tart shell can be made up to 1 day ahead and kept at room temperature.)
• Make the curd: Put butter, lemon zest, lemon juice and sugar in a heavy saucepan over medium heat. Cook until butter is melted and mixture is hot, 4 to 5 minutes.
• In a medium bowl, beat together eggs, yolks and salt. Whisk the hot mixture gradually into the eggs to temper them. Then pour everything back into the saucepan and return to medium-low heat. Cook, whisking constantly, until mixture thickens enough to coat the back of a wooden spoon (170 degrees; do not overcook, or it will curdle), about 5 minutes. Pour through a fine-meshed sieve into a bowl. Taste and add a bit more sugar if you like. It should taste tart but balanced.
• Spread the curd (it's OK if it's still warm) into the tart shell, spreading it evenly with a small offset spatula or butter knife. Return to the oven to bake until the curd is just set along the edges but still jiggly in the center, about 7 to 15 minutes. (It will continue to firm up as it cools.) Transfer back to the wire rack to cool completely, at least 2 hours, before serving. If the curd still looks a little loose after cooling, you can chill the tart for an hour or two before serving. Note that it's a soft curd but shouldn't be runny.

BLACK BOTTOM PIE (GINGERSNAP CRUST)

Steps:

• MAKE CRUST:.
• Thoroughly blend the gingersnap crumbs and melted butter. Press on bottom and sides of 9-in pie pan with back of tablespoon. Bake at 350° about 10 minutes. Do not over brown. Cool before filling.
• MAKE FILLING:.
• Soften gelatin in 1/4 cup of the milk. Scald remaining milk in top of double boiler over boiling water.
• Beat egg yolks. Blend in 1/2 cup of the sugar, salt and cornstarch. Add remaining milk slowly, stirring constantly.
• Return to double boiler and cook over simmering water, stirring constantly, until custard coats spoon. Remove from heat. Set aside 1/2 cup custard.
• Add gelatin to remainder and stir until dissolved. Chill.
• Melt 1 1/2 squares of the chocolate. Blend in reserved 1/2 cup custard and vanilla. Pour into crust. Spread evenly. Chill.
• When remaining custard begins to set, blend in rum. Beat egg whites until stiff. Gradually beat in remaining sugar. Fold in custard. Spread over chocolate mixture in pie plate.
• Combine whipped cream and powdered sugar. Spread some over custard. Use a pastry tube with star tip and pipe rest around edges. Shave remaining chocolate over top.
• Chill 4-6 hours.

BLACK-BOTTOM PIE

Steps:

• Make the crust: Stir together the graham cracker crumbs, butter, sugar, and salt in a bowl. Press into the bottom and up the sides of a 9-inch pie plate. Refrigerate until firm, about 30 minutes. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Bake until the crust is set and begins to turn golden brown, about 12 minutes. Let cool completely on a wire rack.
• Make the filling: Sift together the sugar, cocoa powder, cornstarch, and salt into a medium saucepan. Gradually whisk in the milk. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring constantly, until almost boiling. Reduce heat to medium; add the chocolate. Cook, stirring constantly, until the chocolate has melted and the mixture is thick, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat; whisk in the butter and vanilla until smooth. Spread the chocolate mixture over the crust. Refrigerate until cold and firm, about 1 hour.
• Make the topping: Prepare an ice-water bath; set aside. Sprinkle the gelatin over 2 tablespoons cold water in a small bowl. Let stand until soft, about 3 minutes. Whisk 1/4 cup sugar, the cornstarch, and the salt in a medium saucepan. Gradually whisk in the milk. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture is thick and boiling, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in the gelatin mixture, and let cool completely. Stir in the vanilla and rum. Briefly place the pan in the ice-water bath to thicken slightly, if needed. Do not let it set completely. Set aside.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat egg whites on medium-low speed until soft peaks form. Reduce speed to low; continue beating while you make the syrup.
• Bring the remaining 1/2 cup sugar and 3 tablespoons water to a boil in a saucepan, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Brush down the sides of the pan with a wet pastry brush to prevent crystals from forming. Cook, without stirring, until the syrup registers 240°F on a candy thermometer.
• Raise the mixer speed to high, and beat the egg whites just until stiff peaks begin to form. Immediately pour the syrup into the egg whites in a slow, steady stream near the side of the bowl, avoiding the whisk (it might splatter). Beat until glossy and cooled, about 7 minutes.
• Fold the meringue mixture into the reserved gelatin mixture in 3 batches until just combined. Mound the mixture into the chocolate-filled crust. Refrigerate the pie for 2 1/2 hours or overnight before serving.