Dessert Shells With Cream Filling And Berries Food

BERRY TARTLETS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°. On a lightly floured surface, roll dough to 1/8-in. thickness. Using a 4-in. round cookie cutter, cut 12 circles, rerolling scraps as necessary. Press circles onto bottoms and up sides of ungreased muffin cups., Mix sugar and cornstarch; toss with berries and lemon juice. Spoon 2 tablespoons filling into each cup. Bake on a lower oven rack until pastry is golden brown and filling is bubbly, 24-26 minutes. Cool 10 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack; cool completely., For topping, beat cream until soft peaks form. In another bowl, mix lemon curd, sugar, vanilla and 1 tablespoon whipped cream; fold in remaining whipped cream. Spoon over filling. If desired, top with fresh berries. Refrigerate until serving.

MIXED FRUIT TART

Steps:

• For the crust: In a large bowl, beat together the butter and sugar with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the salt, egg and cream; beat until incorporated. Add the flour and beat until a dough comes together. Form the dough into a disc and then press it evenly into the bottom and up the sides of a 10-inch tart pan with a removable bottom; if necessary, use a piece of plastic wrap to help keep the dough from sticking. Refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour, or freeze for 30 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line the tart crust with foil and fill with pie weights. Bake until the edges of the crust look set and just barely golden, about 15 minutes. Carefully remove the foil and pie weights, and continue to bake until the crust is golden brown all over, about 20 minutes more. Cool completely.
• For the filling: In a large bowl, combine the cream cheese, sugar and vanilla, and beat with an electric mixer until soft and very creamy, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the cream and continue beating until the mixture holds stiff peaks, stopping occasionally to scrape the bowl with a rubber spatula, 2 to 3 minutes more.
• Spoon the cream cheese mixture into the cooled tart shell and smooth with an offset spatula. Top with the berries.
• Combine the apricot preserves and a splash of water in a small bowl and microwave until warm, about 45 seconds. Strain through a sieve into another bowl. Gently brush or spoon the apricot glaze over the berries.
• Serve the tart immediately, or refrigerate for up to 3 hours.

MERINGUE SHELLS WITH LEMON CURD

Steps:

• Place egg whites in a large bowl; let stand at room temperature 30 minutes., Preheat oven to 225°. Add vinegar, vanilla, salt and cream of tartar to egg whites; beat on medium speed until foamy. Gradually add sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating on high after each addition until sugar is dissolved. Continue beating until stiff glossy peaks form., Cut a small hole in the tip of a pastry bag or in a corner of a food-safe plastic bag; insert a large star tip. Transfer meringue to bag. On a parchment-lined baking sheet, pipe meringue into twelve 3-in. round disks, building up the sides with meringue to form shells. Bake 45-50 minutes or until set and dry. Turn off oven (do not open door); leave meringues in oven 1 hour. Remove from oven; cool completely on baking sheet. , Meanwhile, in a small heavy saucepan, mix sugar and potato starch. Whisk in water and 1/2 cup lemon juice until smooth. Cook and stir over medium-high heat until thickened and bubbly. Reduce heat to low; cook and stir 2 minutes longer., Remove from heat. Stir a small amount of hot mixture into eggs; return all to pan, stirring constantly. Bring to a gentle boil; cook and stir 2 minutes. Remove from heat. Gently stir in lemon zest and remaining lemon juice. Transfer to a small bowl; cool without stirring. Refrigerate, covered, until cold., Spoon curd into meringue shells. If desired, top with whipped topping and berries.

BLACKBERRY PUFF PASTRY TARTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Lightly grease a cookie sheet.
• Mix the cream cheese, sugar, and cinnamon together in a bowl until thoroughly blended. Set aside.
• Place the puff pastry shells on the prepared cookies sheet. Brush each shell with milk and sprinkle with turbinado sugar.
• Bake in preheated oven until shells expand and turn golden brown, 10 to 15 minutes. Watch closely to make sure shells bake thoroughly, but do not overbake. Remove shells from oven, and use a fork to remove the cap from each shell. Set the caps aside.
• Spoon 2 tablespoons of the cream cheese mixture into each shell. Top with 6 to 8 blackberries. Place a puff pastry cap on top of each shell over the berries.
• Return filled pastry shells to oven, and bake until pastry tops are golden brown and the filling is warm, about 5 minutes more.

SUGARY DESSERT SHELLS

Steps:

• Line a baking sheet with parchment. Draw two 6-in. circles on paper; set aside. In a small bowl, beat egg whites on medium speed until soft peaks form. Gradually beat in sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, on high until stiff peaks form. Beat in the butter and vanilla. Gradually beat in flour until smooth., Spoon 2 tablespoons of batter over each parchment circle; spread with the back of a spoon to cover circle. Bake at 350° for 8-9 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. , Remove from the paper with a metal spatula and immediately place each over an inverted 6-oz. custard cup or small bowl; shape around cup. Repeat with remaining batter to make 6 more shells (parchment can be reused). Fill with pudding and fruit.