Fig Apple Tart Food

SUNNY'S CRANBERRY, APPLE AND FIG STREUSEL TART

Steps:

• Par-bake the crust: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Use both pie crusts to cover the bottom and sides of a 13-by-9-inch casserole dish. Patchwork works, just cover the holes. Dock by pricking holes in the crust with a fork all over the bottom. Bake until lightly golden, 15 to 20 minutes.
• For the fruit filling: In a large bowl, stir together the granulated sugar, brown sugar, flour, almond extract, pumpkin pie spice, lemon zest and lemon juice. Divide the mixture among the smaller bowls: 3/4 cup in the first, 1/2 cup in the second and 1/4 cup in the third. (Think of the 3 bears: poppa, momma and baby bear bowls.)
• Put the cranberries in the poppa bear bowl; in the momma bear bowl, add the apples; and in the baby bear bowl, add the figs. (Do you need a translation? Add cranberries to the bowl with the most flour mixture, apples to the bowl with 1/2 cup of the flour mixture, and the figs to the bowl with the least amount of the flour mixture.) Stir each bowl independently, unless you¿re an octopus.
• For the streusel topping: In a food processor add the flour, brown sugar, granulated sugar, butter, and a pinch of salt. Blend until crumbly, taste and add more salt if needed. Pour into a small bowl with the almonds and stir.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Pour the fruit filling into the prepared crust, dividing it into thirds with the apples in the middle and the figs and cranberries on either side. Top evenly with the streusel mixture. Cover the pie edges with aluminum foil so they don¿t overcook. Bake until the top is golden brown and the fruit is beginning to bubble around the edges, 40 to 50 minutes. Serve warm with the bourbon whipped cream.
• Whisk the cream in a large bowl until soft peaks form. Add the bourbon and sugar and continue whisking until the cream holds slightly stiff peaks when the whisk is removed from the bowl. Refrigerate and serve cold.

FRENCH FIG TARTS

Steps:

• For the pastry, place the flour, sugar, and salt in the bowl of a food processor fitted with the steel blade. Pulse a few times to combine. Add the butter and pulse 10 to 12 times, until the butter is the size of peas. With the motor running, pour the ice water down the feed tube and pulse just until the dough starts to come together. Dump onto a floured board and knead quickly into a 5-inch-round flat disk. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate for exactly 1 hour.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper.
• On a floured board, roll the dough to a rectangle a little larger than 10-by-14 inches. Wrap the dough around your rolling pin and transfer it to the prepared pan. Using a ruler and a small knife, trim the dough to a 10-by-14-inch rectangle. Refrigerate for 15 minutes.
• Remove the stem of each fig and cut them in quarters through the stem (or in sixths, if the figs are very large.) Place the figs in rows on the dough. Sprinkle with the full 1/2 cup of sugar and dot with the butter.
• Bake for 50 minutes to 1 hour, until the pastry is browned and the fruit starts to brown. Rotate the pan once during baking. If the pastry puffs up in one area, cut a little slit with a knife to let the air out. Don't worry! The juices will burn in the pan but the tart (and the pan!) will be fine! When the tart's done, loosen it from the pan while it's still warm and transfer it to a board or clean piece of parchment paper.
• In a small pan, heat the apricot jelly with 2 tablespoons water and brush the fruit and pastry completely with the mixture. Allow to cool, cut into squares, and serve warm or at room temperature.