Cornmeal Pate Brisee Food

CORNMEAL PATE BRISEE

Steps:

• Pulseflour,cornmeal,salt,andsugarinafoodprocessoruntilcombined.Addbutter,andpulseuntilmixtureresemblescoarsecrumbswithsomelargerpiecesremaining,about10seconds.Drizzle1/4cupicewaterevenlyovermixture.Pulseuntilmixturejustbeginstoholdtogetherwhenpressedbetween2fingers(itshouldnotbewetorsticky).Ifdoughistoodry,pulseinwater,1tablespoonatatime.
• Dividedoughinhalf.Wrapinplastic.Shapeintodisks,andrefrigerateuntilfirm,about1hourorovernight.

CORNMEAL PATE BRISEE

Steps:

• Place the flour, cornmeal, salt, and sugar in the bowl of a food processor, and pulse several times to combine. Add the butter, and process, until the mixture resembles coarse meal, about 10 seconds. With the machine running, pour the ice water through the feed tube in a slow, steady stream, until the dough just holds together (do not process for more than 30 seconds).
• Turn out dough onto a clean work surface. Divide in half, and place each half on a piece of plastic wrap. Flatten each to form a disk. Wrap, and refrigerate at least 1 hour or up to 1 day before using.

FRENCH COUNTRY TART VARIATIONS

Steps:

• Whisk the eggs and cream together in a large mixing bowl. Add the salt, pepper and nutmeg and whisk to blend.
• For the Lorraine tart: put the onion into a small skillet with a tablespoon of olive oil. Place the pan over medium heat and cook until the onion is translucent, about 10 to 15 minutes. Brush the bottom of the prepared tart shell with the Dijon and spread the cooked onion, bacon and Gruyere on top. Pour the custard over the filling and place the pan into the bottom half of the preheated oven. Bake the tart until the filling is slightly puffed and golden, about 40 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool 10 minutes before serving.
• For the olives, roasted red pepper and goat cheese tart: Put the olives, roasted red pepper and goat cheese into the prepared tart shell and pour the custard over the filling. Bake as above.
• Prepare the tart pan by spraying it with pan release spray and coating it with the cornmeal. Knock out any excess cornmeal and set the pan aside.
• Blend the flour and salt in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade. Add the butter and pulse until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Transfer the mix to a large mixing bowl and add the water 1 tablespoon at a time, stirring constantly with a fork. Transfer the dough to a floured surface and knead just until it forms a ball. Flatten the dough into a disk and wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate at least one hour.
• On a floured surface, roll the dough out to a 12-inch circle. Carefully lift it into the prepared pan, pressing into the bottom and up the sides. Leave at least a 1-inch overhang, which will be used to crimp the edges. Prick the bottom of the pan all over and place in the freezer for 15 minutes.

PATE BRISEE

Steps:

• Place 1 3/4 cups of the flour in a food processor. Add the butter and salt and process until well mixed. Add the egg and oil. Process for 30 seconds, adding more flour as needed if the mixture is too wet. (The mixture should resemble coarse cornmeal.) Add the ice water and process for another 30 seconds.
• Remove the dough and form into a ball. Wrap in wax paper and refrigerate for 30 minutes. When ready to use, roll out the dough on a lightly floured board.

PâTE BRISéE

Steps:

• Pulse flour, salt, and sugar in a food processor (or whisk together by hand in a bowl). Add butter, and pulse (or quickly cut in with a pastry blender or your fingertips) until mixture resembles coarse meal, with some larger pieces remaining. Drizzle 1/4 cup water over mixture. Pulse (or mix with a fork) until mixture just begins to hold together. If dough is too dry, add 1/4 cup more water, 1 tablespoon at a time, and pulse (or mix with a fork).
• Divide dough in half onto two pieces of plastic wrap. Gather into two balls, wrap loosely in plastic, and press each into a disk using a rolling pin. Refrigerate until firm, well wrapped in plastic, 1 hour or up to 1 day. (Dough can be frozen up to 3 months; thaw in refrigerator before using.)
• Shortening Variation
• Replace 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter with 1/2 cup cold vegetable shortening, cut into small pieces.
• Lard Variation
• Replace 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter with 1/2 cup cold lard. For the best quality, it's worth seeking out leaf lard. You can buy rendered leaf lard from online vendors, or from artisanal butcher shops.
• Cornmeal Variation
• Replace 1/2 cup flour with 1/2 cup coarse cornmeal.
• Cheddar Variation
• Reduce butter to 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) and add 1 1/2 cups shredded sharp cheddar to the flour mixture along with the butter. Increase sugar to 1 tablespoon.

FRENCH COUNTRY TART (TWO VARIATIONS) W/ PATE BRISEE CRUST

Steps:

• Special Equipment: 9 by 2 1/2-inch deep foil pan.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Whisk the eggs and cream together in a large mixing bowl. Add the salt, pepper and nutmeg and whisk to blend.
• For the Lorraine tart: put the onion into a small skillet with a tablespoon of olive oil. Place the pan over medium heat and cook until the onion is translucent, about 10 to 15 minutes. Brush the bottom of the prepared tart shell with the Dijon and spread the cooked onion, bacon and Gruyere on top. Pour the custard over the filling and place the pan into the bottom half of the preheated oven. Bake the tart until the filling is slightly puffed and golden, about 40 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool 10 minutes before serving.
• For the olives, roasted red pepper and goat cheese tart: Put the olives, roasted red pepper and goat cheese into the prepared tart shell and pour the custard over the filling. Bake as above.
• Pate Brisee:
• Pan release spray
• 2 tablespoons cornmeal
• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 7 tablespoons butter, chilled and cut into bits
• 3 tablespoons ice water
• Prepare the tart pan by spraying it with pan release spray and coating it with the cornmeal. Knock out any excess cornmeal and set the pan aside.
• Blend the flour and salt in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade. Add the butter and pulse until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Transfer the mix to a large mixing bowl and add the water 1 tablespoon at a time, stirring constantly with a fork. Transfer the dough to a floured surface and knead just until it forms a ball. Flatten the dough into a disk and wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate at least one hour.
• On a floured surface, roll the dough out to a 12-inch circle. Carefully lift it into the prepared pan, pressing into the bottom and up the sides. Leave at least a 1-inch overhang, which will be used to crimp the edges. Prick the bottom of the pan all over and place in the freezer for 15 minutes.

CHEDDAR-SCALLION SCONES

Steps:

• Position an oven rack in the center of the oven; preheat to 350°.
• Using a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, mix together the flour, cornmeal, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cumin, cheese, and scallions on low speed for 10-15 seconds, or until combined.
• Scatter the butter over the top and beat on low speed for about 30 seconds, or until the butter is somewhat broken down and grape-size pieces are still visible.
• In a small bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, creme fraiche, and whole egg until thoroughly mixed.
• On low speed, pour the buttermilk mixture into the flour-butter mixture and beat for 20-30 seconds, or just until the dough comes together.
• There will still be a little loose flour mixture at the bottom of the bowl.
• Remove the bowl from the mixer stand.
• Gather and lift the dough with your hands and turn it over in the bowl, so that is starts to pick up the loose flour at the bottom.
• Turn over the dough several times until all of the loose flour is mixed inches.
• Dump the dough onto a baking sheet and pat it into an 8-inch circle about 1 inch thick.
• Brush the egg yolk evenly over the entire top of the dough circle.
• Cut the circle into 8 wedges, as if cutting a pizza.
• Bake for 40-50 minutes, or until the entire circle is golden brown.
• Transfer to a wire rack to cool for 30 minutes, then cut into the prescored wedges and serve.
• The scones taste best on the day they are baked, but they can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. If you keep them longer than 1 day, refresh them in a 300 degree oven for 4-5 minutes.

CORN AND SHIITAKE TART

Steps:

• On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to a 13-inch round, about 1/4 inch thick. With a dry pastry brush, sweep off excess flour; fit dough into a 10-inch round flan ring or a tart pan with a removable bottom, pressing into the edges. Using a rolling pin or a sharp paring knife, trim the dough flush with the edge of the pan. Chill shell until firm, about 30 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 375°F.
• Line chilled shell with parchment paper, leaving a 1-inch overhang. Fill with pie weights or dried beans. Bake 30 to 40 minutes. Remove weights and parchment; continue baking until tart shell is golden brown all over, 10 to 15 minutes more. Cool completely on a wire rack.
• Heat olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat.Add mushrooms, and cook until they start to give off moisture, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and translucent, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in the corn and the chives and cook, 1 to 2 minutes more. Remove filling from heat and season with salt and pepper; stir to combine. Set filling aside.
• In a bowl, whisk together milk, cream, and eggs; season with salt and pepper. Pour mushroom filling into cooled tart shell. Place tart on a rimmed baking sheet; pour in milk mixture. Bake, rotating the sheet halfway through, until custard is set in the center, 20 to 25 minutes. Cool slightly on a wire rack. Garnish with chives, and serve warm or at room temperature.