Cast Iron White Chocolate Tart Food

WHITE CHOCOLATE & CARDAMOM TART WITH RASPBERRY DUST

Steps:

• Crack the cardamom pods open by squashing them gently using a pestle and mortar, or with the end of a rolling pin. Put the cream and cracked cardamom pods in a pan, heat gently, bubbling for 1-2 mins, then set aside to infuse for at least 2 hrs or, if you have time, cool then chill overnight.
• Roll out the pastry to the thickness of a £1 coin, then use to line a 23cm loose-bottom, fluted tart tin. Snip off most of the excess pastry with a pair of scissors, leaving about 2cm overhanging. Chill for 30 mins.
• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6 and place a baking sheet on the middle shelf. Remove the tart case from the fridge, line with baking parchment or foil, and fill with baking beans. Place on the baking sheet and bake for 15 mins, then remove the parchment or foil and beans, and return the case to the oven for a further 10 mins until cooked through and starting to turn golden around the edges. Remove from the oven and, while the pastry is still warm, use a small serrated knife to slice off the excess pastry. Set aside to cool a little while you prepare the filling.
• Reduce oven to 140C/120C fan/gas 1. Chop the chocolate into small pieces and place in a large bowl. Whisk the egg and sugar in another bowl. Measure the cardamom-infused cream and top back up to 300ml with a splash of extra cream. Pour back into the pan and warm through on the hob until just steaming, but not boiling, then strain onto the chopped chocolate, discarding the cardamom pods. Leave to stand for a few mins, then stir until smooth and glossy. Add the warm chocolate cream to the egg, whisking as you go, until combined. Pour into the tart case, then carefully slide into the oven. Bake for 30 mins until just set (the filling should still have a wobble), then remove and chill for at least 2 hrs, or overnight.
• Place the freeze-dried raspberries in a mortar, and crush with a pestle to a dusty texture. To serve, scatter the raspberry dust over the tart. Serve in slices with fresh raspberries on top and a jug of cream on the side.

CAST-IRON WHITE CHOCOLATE TART

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°. Place biscotti, amaretti cookies and sugar in a food processor; pulse until coarsely ground. Add butter; pulse until combined. Press crumb mixture firmly into bottom of a 9-in. cast-iron or other ovenproof skillet. Bake until lightly browned, 12-15 minutes. Cool on a wire rack. In a small heavy saucepan, mix 1/4 cup sugar and flour. Whisk in milk. Cook and stir over medium heat until thickened and bubbly. Reduce heat to low; cook and stir 2 minutes longer. Remove from heat. In a small bowl, whisk a small amount of hot mixture into egg yolks; return all to pan, whisking constantly. Bring to a gentle boil; cook and stir 2 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in white chocolate, butter, orange extract and 1/4 teaspoon salt until chocolate is melted., Preheat oven to 350°. For meringue, in a large bowl, beat egg whites with remaining dash salt on medium speed until foamy. Gradually add remaining 1/4 cup sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating on high after each addition until sugar is dissolved. Continue beating until soft glossy peaks form. , Transfer hot filling to crust. Spread meringue evenly over filling, sealing to edge of crust. Bake until meringue is golden brown, 12-15 minutes. Cool 1 hour on a wire rack. Refrigerate at least 6 hours before serving.

EASY CHOCOLATE TART

Steps:

• For the crust: Add the cookies to a food processor and pulse to fine crumbs. Pour in the melted butter and pulse together. Tip into an 11-inch fluted tart pan with a removable bottom and press the mixture in with a 1/4-cup measure to form an even crust on the bottom and sides. Put it in the freezer for 15 minutes to set.
• For the ganache: Put the cream and butter in a pan and heat until the mixture starts to bubble.
• Put the dark and milk chocolate in a bowl and pour the warmed cream and butter over it. Mix everything together until melted and fully combined, then pour it into the chilled tart base. Refrigerate the tart overnight until set.
• For the chocolate curl garnish: Put the white chocolate and coconut oil in a bowl and set over a pan of simmering water until the chocolate is melted; mix together. Pour the melted mixture onto the underside of a clean baking sheet and spread it in a very thin layer with an offset spatula or knife. Put it in the freezer until set, about 2 minutes. (To check if it is set, press it with your fingertip; it should leave the slightest mark but not a depression.)
• Using a sharp-edged spatula, scrape the chocolate from the bottom of the baking sheet into curls. Remove the tart from the pan and decorate with the curls.

WHITE CHOCOLATE TARTS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, whisk the milk, water and pudding mix for 2 minutes. Let set for 2 minutes or until soft-set. Cover and refrigerate for 10 minutes. , Fold in whipped topping. Spoon about 1/3 cup into each tart shell. Refrigerate until serving.

FIVE STAR WHITE CHOCOLATE FRUIT TART

Steps:

• Heat oven to 300°F.
• Beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
• Blend in flour.
• Press the mixture onto the bottom and up the side of a 12 inch round pizza pan.
• Bake for 20-25 minutes or until just lightly brown.
• Cool completely.
• Carefully melt the vanilla or white chocolate chips and the cream either carefully on the stove on very low, stirring constantly, or in the microwave.
• Beat in the cream cheese.
• When crust is cool, pour on the melted chocolate/cheese mixture, spreading evenly.
• Cover with plastic wrap and chill until ready to serve--at least 3 hours.
• Slice the fruit of your choice and place on the tart in an attractive manner.
• This is best eaten the same day it's made.
• But there won't be any leftovers anyway.

CLASSIC TARTE TATIN IN A CAST-IRON SKILLET

Steps:

• To make the dough in a food processor, combine the flour, sugar and salt in a bowl. Add the butter and shortening and pulse until reduced to ½ inch pieces. Add the water a little at a time and pulse until the dough just begins to come together in a rough mass.
• To make the dough by hand, combine the flour, sugar and salt in a bowl. Add the butter and shortening and toss to coat with the flour mixture. Using a pastry blender or 2 knives, cut the pieces of fat into the flour mixture until they are no larger than small peas. Distribute the water over the mixture and toss with a fork until the dough is evenly moist and begins to come together in a rough mass.
• Transfer the dough to a work surface and shape into a 5-inch disk. Wrap with plastic wrap and refrigerate until well chilled, at least 2 hours.
• Lightly dust a work surface and rolling pin with flour. Roll out the chilled dough into a 12-inch round a scant ¼ inch think. Lift and turn the dough several times as you roll to prevent s sticking, and dust the surface and rolling pin with additional flour as needed. Use a dough scraper or icing spatula to loosen the pastry if it sticks. Trim this dough into an 11-inch round. Slide a rimless baking sheet under the dough, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until needed.
• Preheat an oven to 375 degrees.
• To make the filling, set a 10-inch straight-sided, ovenproof fry pan, preferably cast iron, over medium heat and melt the butter. When it melts, sprinkle the sugar evenly over the butter and continue cooking until the sugar melts and turns amber colored, 3 to 4 minutes. Shake and swirl the pan frequently to redistribute the sugar for even melting and caramelization.
• Arrange the apples, side up, in the caramel in a snug, even layer. Increase the heat to medium-high and cook until the apples are just tender about 15 minutes. The caramel will bubble up around the apples. Remove the pan from the heat.
• Uncover the pastry round. When the bubbling has subsided, slide both hands under the pastry round and carefully place it on top of the apples, tucking in the edges and being careful not to burn your fingers. Bake until the crust is golden brown. About 30 minutes.
• Transfer the pan to a wire rack and let cool for 6 minutes. Place a large flat serving plate upside down on top of the pan and invert the pan and plate together. Lift off the pan. Slice and serve warm with vanilla ice cream.
• ***It's really not essential to take this apple creation from your skillet - serve it from your cast iron and you'll feel authentic. Kinda romantic to be so casual about something so yummy.