Elderflower Tarte Food

SAMBOCADE - MEDIEVAL ELDERFLOWER CREAM CHEESE TART

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F/Gas 4.
• Line a deep 23cm (9 in) tart tin with the pastry and pre-bake or bake blind for about 10-15 minutes.
• In a bowl, cream together the egg yolks and sugar until almost white and shiny, then gradually add the cream cheese, beating well after each addition until well blended. Stir in the breadcrumbs and set aside.
• Prepare the freshly picked elderflowers by forking the flowers off the stems. Stir the flowers or cordial into the cheese mixture.
• In a separate bowl, whisk the egg whites until shiny and stiff, then fold these into the cheesy mixture. Spoon into the pre-baked pastry case. Bake in the oven for about 45 minutes or until golden brown.
• SERVE warm or at room temperature with cream or creme fraiche.

LEMON AND ELDERFLOWER TART

Steps:

• Butter a 23cm/9-inch loose-bottomed tart tin, make the pastry, then use it to line the tin and blind bake it according to the instructions. Lower the oven temperature to 340°F/170°C/150°C fan/gas 3.
• Lightly whisk together the eggs, sugar and lemon juice, then add the cream and elderflower cordial. Stir in two-thirds of the lemon zest, reserving the rest for the top. Try to pop any bubbles that appear on the surface with a skewer or skim them off with a spoon.
• Pour half the lemon mixture into the tart case then put it in the oven. Once it is safely in, fill it completely to the top with the rest of the mixture (this half and half approach helps to prevent spillage) then bake for 30-35 minutes or until the tart has just set. It should still have a slight wobble in the middle.
• Leave the tart to cool completely before removing it from the tin and chilling it in the fridge. To serve, dust with confectioners' sugar and the remaining lemon zest and if you like you can add a big dollop of mascarpone mixed with whipped cream on the side.

LEMON & ELDERFLOWER TRAYBAKE

Steps:

• First, make the pastry. Tip the flour, butter, sugar and lemon zest into a food processor and blitz until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. Tip in the egg yolk and ½-1 tbsp cold water and blitz again to bring everything together into a dough. If the dough isn't coming together, add more cold water, ½ tsp at a time, and blitz again. Roll the pastry out on a lightly floured surface to a 3mm thickness, then use it to line the base of a loose-bottomed traybake or brownie tin (ours was 20 x 30cm). Transfer to the fridge and chill for 20 mins.
• Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Line the chilled pastry case with baking parchment and baking beans, then bake for 15 mins. Remove the parchment and beans and bake for 5 mins more until the pastry is lightly golden. Leave to cool for a few minutes before spreading over the lemon curd, leaving a 2cm border around the edges (it will spread out when the cake batter is poured over). Turn the oven down to 180C/160C fan/gas 4.
• Beat the butter, sugar and lemon zest together using an electric whisk or in a stand mixer until pale, light and fluffy, about 8 mins. Beat in the eggs, one at a time along with 1 tbsp of the flour, then fold in the remaining flour and the ground almonds. Carefully spoon the batter over the lemon curd and gently spread out using the back of the spoon, then bake for 35-40 mins until a skewer inserted into the middle comes out clean. Leave to cool in the tin completely, then carefully remove to a board.
• To make the icing, combine the icing sugar, lemon juice and elderflower cordial until loose enough to drizzle over the sponge, then swirl over extra lemon curd, if you like. Cut into squares and serve. Will keep in an airtight tin for up to three days.