Dried Fruit Star Lattice Tart Food

MIXED BERRY PIE WITH HOMEMADE SHORTCRUST PASTRY

Steps:

• To make the pastry, combine the butter, flour and icing sugar in the bowl of a food processor then pulse until the mixture resembles rough breadcrumbs.
• Add the egg yolks and with the motor running, add the ice water slowly. Mix until the pastry comes together in a soft but firm ball.
• Remove from the food processor then form into a disc before wrapping in cling wrap.
• Place in the fridge and allow to chill for 30-45 minutes.
• Pre-heat the oven to 180°c.
• When the pastry has chilled, remove from the fridge.
• Reserve a third of the pastry and roll out the rest on a floured surface. Place the rolled out pastry into a 22cm loose-bottomed tart case.
• Combine all the filling ingredients in a bowl then transfer to the pastry-lined tart case.
• To make the lattice topping, roll out the remaining pastry and cut into strips of around 1cm wide.
• Weave the pastry strips on top of the filling then brush with the beaten egg before placing in the oven.
• Bake for 30-45 minutes until the pastry is golden brown and crisp and the berries' juices are bubbling.
• Remove from the oven then allow to cool to room temperature before removing the tart from the pastry case
• Slice and serve.

WOVEN DRIED-FRUIT TART

Steps:

• On a lightly floured surface, roll each disk of pate brisee into a 14-inch circle, 1/8 inch thick. Place 1 circle on a parchment-lined baking sheet, and freeze until firm, about 30 minutes. Fit the other circle into an 11-inch fluted round tart pan with a removable bottom. Trim dough flush with top edge of pan. Refrigerate until ready to use.
• Make the lattice: Remove baking sheet from freezer. Using a clean ruler as a guide, cut dough circle into sixteen 1/2-inch-wide strips with a sharp knife or a fluted pastry wheel. Lay 6 strips of dough on another baking sheet in parallel lines that extend slightly past the width of the tart pan. Lay 6 more strips on top, almost perpendicular to the first strips. Starting in the center, weave 1 new strip diagonally through the existing grid, under the bottom layer of strips and over the top layer. Push diagonal strip into corner of each square (where the perpendicular and parallel strips meet) to create a tight fit. Weave a second strip 1 inch away, this time weaving over then under. Repeat weaving strips across 1/2 the tart. (If dough strips become too soft, return to freezer until firm.) Return to center, and repeat with remaining dough strips to form a star lattice pattern. Freeze until ready to use.
• Bring water, Cognac, sugar, vanilla seeds and pod, cinnamon stick, orange zest, and cloves to a boil in a medium saucepan, stirring until sugar dissolves. Add dried fruits, reduce heat, and simmer gently until fruits soften but have not broken down, about 20 minutes. Strain through a sieve into a measuring cup, and reserve fruit and liquid separately. Let both cool. Discard vanilla pod, cinnamon stick, orange zest, and cloves. (If you have more than 2 cups liquid, simmer in a small saucepan over medium-high heat until reduced; it's fine if you have slightly less than 2 cups.)
• Spread cooled fruit mixture evenly on dough in tart pan, and brush with 1/2 cup of the reserved cooking liquid. Combine yolk and cream in a small bowl, and brush some along top edges of tart. Carefully slide frozen lattice on top of tart, centering it on filling, and press edges to seal. Trim excess dough. Brush top of lattice with egg wash. Refrigerate, uncovered, until firm, about 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Bake tart for 15 minutes. Reduce heat to 375 degrees, and continue baking until crust is golden brown and filling is bubbling, about 40 minutes. (If crust browns too quickly, tent edges with foil.) Brush crust and fruit with another 1/2 cup reserved cooking liquid. Let cool in pan on a wire rack. Unmold, and serve immediately with creme fraiche on the side.

APPLE AND DRIED FRUIT LATTICE PIE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Roll out 1 piece of dough into a 12-inch round on a lightly floured surface. Ease into a 9-inch pie plate; chill until ready to use.
• Make the filling: Peel and chop the apples. Pulse the apples, raisins, and dried plums, figs and cherries in a food processor until chunky. Transfer to a large bowl and toss with the sugar, tapioca, orange liqueur, lemon zest, cinnamon, salt and allspice. Spoon into the crust and dot with the butter.
• Roll out the second piece of dough into a 12-inch round on a lightly floured surface. Cut into 1/2-inch-wide strips with a knife. Arrange half of the strips in parallel rows over the filling, about 1/2 inch apart. Working with 1 strip at a time, arrange the remaining strips perpendicular to the first ones, weaving the strips over and under, to form a lattice. Fold the overhanging dough under itself and crimp the edge with your fingers. Brush the lattice crust with the beaten egg.
• Put the pie on a rimmed baking sheet and transfer to the oven; bake until the crust is golden and the filling is bubbly, about 1 hour. (Cover the edge with foil if it is browning too quickly.) Transfer to a rack and let cool until set, about 3 hours.

SALLY DARR'S UPDATED DRIED FRUIT TART

Steps:

• In a saucepan simmer dried fruit and cider, covered, stirring occasionally, until cider is absorbed, about 10-minutes. Cool fruit mixture and chop coarse. In a bowl stir together fruit mixture, walnuts, butter, and 3/4 cup sugar.
• Preheat oven to 375°F.
• Roll out 1 pastry sheet into a 13-inch square and transfer to an 11-inch round tart pan with a removable fluted rim. Trim overhang to 1/2 inch and fold toward center of tart, pressing gently against edge of pan. Spread fruit filling evenly in shell.
• Roll out remaining pastry sheet into a 10-inch square and with a saw-toothed pastry wheel cut into 10-by 1/2 inch strips. Weave pastry strips into a lattice pattern over tart and trim overhanging ends to 1/4 inch, tucking them between pastry edge and filling. Brush lattice with egg wash and sprinkle with remaining tablespoon sugar. Bake tart in middle of oven 40 minutes, or until crust is golden brown, and cool in pan on a rack.
• Serve tart warm or room temperature with whipped cream or ice cream.

MINCEMEAT, APPLE & CRANBERRY LATTICE TART

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6 and put a baking sheet in to heat up. Lightly flour a work surface, roll out the puff pastry to a 30 x 45cm rectangle, then put on a sheet of baking parchment. Mix together the apples and cranberries, then add the cinnamon, mixed spice, sugar, lemon zest and mincemeat, and mix again.
• Arrange the pastry in front of you with a short edge nearest to you. Spread the mincemeat mixture in a line down the centre, about 12cm wide, leaving 2cm of pastry at the top and bottom.
• To create the lattice pattern, start at the top of the pastry and cut a 1.5-2cm-wide horizontal strip of pastry on both sides of the mincemeat filling (so it is still attached next to the filling). About 1.5cm in from the filling, cut out a 0.5cm strip of pastry and remove this, then cut another 1.5-2cm strip (you're creating a pattern like the teeth of a comb). Repeat this method until you get to the bottom of the pastry. You'll need to cut out the final strip and remove this. Fold the top and bottom flaps of pastry up and over the filling. Fold the strips of pastry diagonally over the filling, starting from the top until you reach the bottom, creating a lattice pattern. You can now chill the tart for up to 2 days, or freeze for up to 2 months.
• Brush the tart with the egg and sprinkle with the extra sugar. Using the baking parchment, transfer the tart to the hot baking tray. Bake for 20-25 mins or until golden brown on top (add an extra 10-15 mins if baking from frozen). Leave to cool for 5 mins before serving with whipped cream or brandy cream.

FARMHOUSE BLACKBERRY & APPLE PIE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 190C/170C fan/gas 5. On a floured surface, roll out two-thirds of the pastry and use it to line a 23cm loosebottom fluted tart tin, leaving a slight overhang and keeping any pastry scraps. Chill the tart for 10 mins. Prick the base lightly with a fork, then fill with baking paper and baking beans. Place in the oven on a baking sheet for 20 mins, remove the beans and paper, then bake for 10 mins more until sandy brown and biscuity. Remove from the oven.
• Tip the apples into a large bowl and microwave on High for 3 mins. Toss in the berries, sugar, cinnamon and 2 tbsp flour with a pinch of salt and pile it into the case, saving 14 berries for later.
• Roll the remaining pastry and trimmings together into a square roughly 30 x 30cm. Cut out 8 strips of pastry about 3 x 30cm - if you cut round an average ruler the size will be perfect. Weave the strips of pastry evenly over the fruit to create a lattice pattern and push them into the edge of the tart. Trim the overhang of pastry, brush the lattice heavily with the egg, then scatter generously with more sugar. Plonk the remaining berries into the gaps, then bake for 1 hr until brown and bubbling. Leave the pie to cool for 30 mins until no longer scorching. Scatter with more sugar, slice and serve.

FRESH LIME TART WITH MERINGUE LATTICE AND GLAZED BERRIES

Steps:

• For Crust:
• Combine 1 1/4 cups all purpose flour, 2 tablespoons sugar, 1/2 teaspoon grated lime peel and 1/4 teaspoon salt in large bowl. Add 1/2 cup chilled unsalted butter and cut in, using fingers or pastry cutter, until mixture resembles coarse meal. Beat 1 large egg yolk with 1 tablespoon water in small bowl until blended. Pour over flour mixture. Stir with fork until mixture forms moist clumps. Gather dough into ball; flatten into disk. Wrap dough in plastic and refrigerate until firm, about 30 minutes.
• Roll dough out on lightly floured surface to 13-inch round. Roll up dough on rolling pin and transfer to 11-inch-diameter tart pan with removable bottom. Press dough into pan; trim edges. Freeze until very firm, about 1 hour. (Can be prepared 3 days ahead. Cover with plastic wrap and keep frozen.)
• Preheat oven to 400°F. Line frozen crust with aluminum foil. Fill crust with dried beans or pie weights. Bake until crust is set on edges, about 12 minutes. Remove beans and foil from crust. Continue baking until crust is golden in center, about 14 minutes. Transfer crust to rack and cool completely. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover with plastic wrap and let stand at room temperature.)
• For Filling:
• Combine 1 1/4 cups plus 2 tablespoons sugar, 1 cup whipping cream and 1/2 cup dry white wine in heavy medium saucepan. Whisk in 3 eggs, 2 large egg yolks and 1 tablespoon grated lime peel. Place 1 tablespoon cornstarch in small bowl. Gradually whisk in 3/4 cup fresh lime juice. Add to mixture in saucepan. Stir over medium-high until mixture comes to boil. Continue to boil 1 minute, stirring constantly. Transfer mixture to medium bowl. Cool mixture completely. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.)
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Beat remaining egg into filling. Pour filling into crust. Bake until filling is set and begins to bubble around edge, about 40 minutes. Cool completely. Refrigerate until well chilled, about 6 hours. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover with plastic wrap and keep refrigerated.)
• For Meringue:
• Preheat oven to 400°F. Combine 1/4 cup water and vanilla bean in heavy small saucepan. Gently simmer until vanilla bean is tender, about 1 minute. Remove vanilla bean from water and split lengthwise. Scrape seeds from bean into water; return bean to water. Add 1/4 cup sugar to water and stir over medium heat until sugar dissolves. Increase heat and boil until mixture is thick and syrupy, about 3 minutes. Remove vanilla bean from saucepan.
• Meanwhile, using electric mixer, beat 3 large egg whites, in large bowl until soft peaks form. Gradually add remaining 1/4 cup sugar and beat mixture until medium peaks form.
• Gradually beat boiling syrup into egg whites. Continue beating until stiff peaks form. Using rubber spatula, transfer meringue to pastry bag fitted with large plain or star tip. Pipe meringue atop tart in diagonal lattice design, spacing lines of meringue about 2 inches apart. Bake until meringue is golden brown, about 7 minutes. Cool completely. (Can be prepared up to 4 hours ahead; refrigerate uncovered.)
• For Berry Topping:
• Combine 2 tablespoons crème de cassis, 2 tablespoons sugar and 1/2 teaspoon grated lime peel in small saucepan. Boil mixture until sugar dissolves and mixture is syrupy, stirring constantly, about 1 minute. Cool slightly. Place berries in bowl. Pour crème de cassis mixture over. Toss to coat berries. Spoon coated berries decoratively among lattice openings. Garnish tart with mint leaves if desired.

APPLE AND DRIED-CHERRY LATTICE PIE

Steps:

• Make filling:
• Peel, halve, and core apples and cut into 1/4-inch slices. In a large bowl toss apples with granulated sugar, dried cherries, dried cranberries, or raisins, lemon juice, cinnamon, and 2 tablespoons flour. In a small bowl mix together with fingertips brown sugar, butter, and remaining 2 tablespoons flour.
• Make pastry dough:
• In a large bowl stir together flour and salt. With a pastry blender or fingertips blend in shortening, blending until mixture resembles coarse meal. Add cold water, 1 tablespoon at a time, tossing to incorporate until mixture forms a dough. On a work surface smear dough in several forward motions with heel of hand to develop the gluten in flour and make dough easier to work with. Scrape dough together to form a ball and halve, flattening halves to 1-inch-thick disks. Wrap 1 disk in plastic wrap and reserve. Roll other disk into an 11-inch round and fit into a 9-inch pie plate (1-quart capacity), leaving 3/4-inch overhang. Spoon apple mixture into pastry and top with brown sugar mixture. Cover filling loosely with plastic wrap.
• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Halve reserved dough. On a lightly floured surface roll 1 half into a very thin 11-inch round and with a fluted pastry wheel cut round into 1 3/4-inch-wide strips. Repeat procedure with remaining dough.
• Weave dough strips in a closed lattice pattern over pie and trim lattice edges flush with rim of pie plate. Roll overhanging dough from bottom pastry up over edge of lattice top and crimp decoratively. Brush lattice top with milk and sprinkle with sugar.
• Put sheet of foil on lower rack of oven. Bake pie in middle of oven 1 hour and 15 minutes, or until top is golden and filling is bubbling. Cool pie on rack and serve warm or at room temperature.

DRIED FRUIT AND ALMOND TART

Steps:

• For the fruit, combine the prunes, apricots and figs in a mixing bowl and cover with the Armagnac. Let stand for 3 hours, turning the fruit from time to time.
• Meanwhile for the crust, place the flour, sugar, salt and cinnamon in a food processor and pulse just to combine. Add the butter and pulse until the mixture resembles coarse meal. With the machine running, pour in the egg mixture. Process just until dough begins to come together. Gently press the dough together with your hands, flatten into a disk and cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Drain the fruit; set aside. Roll out the dough between 2 large sheets of plastic wrap and fit it into a 10-inch tart pan with a removable bottom, or a 10-inch quiche dish. For the filling, cream the butter and the confectioners' sugar with an electric mixer. Beat in the eggs one at a time. Add the vanilla. Mix in the flour and the salt. Stir in the ground almonds.
• Spread the fruit evenly over the bottom of the tart shell. Spoon the filling over the fruit. Bake until the filling is set and the crust is browned, about 40 minutes. Place on a rack to cool. Cut into wedges and serve.