Fresh Grape Tarts Food

FRESH GRAPE TARTS

Steps:

• Puree 1 1/2 cups grapes in processor. Strain grape puree, pressing on solids to extract as much juice as possible. Pour 1/2 cup grape juice into large bowl; discard any remaining juice. Cut 4 3/4 cups grapes lengthwise in half; add all grapes to juice in bowl. Add sugar, 6 tablespoons flour, and lemon juice; toss to blend well. Let stand 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Preheat oven to 375°F. Line 2 rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper. Roll out 1 pastry sheet on lightly floured surface to 11-inch square. Cut off just enough pastry from corners to form rough circle. Transfer pastry to 1 prepared baking sheet. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon flour over center of pastry, leaving 2 1/2-inch plain border. Spoon half of grape mixture, including juices, into center of pastry. Fold pastry edges up over grapes, forming 2- to 2 1/2-inch border. Dot grapes with 1 tablespoon butter. Repeat with remaining ingredients for second tart.
• Bake tarts until crusts are golden brown and grape juices are bubbling, about 45 minutes (crust border will unfold slightly). Cool tarts to room temperature. (Can be prepared 6 hours ahead. Let stand at room temperature.)

HOMEMADE FRESH FRUIT TARTS

Steps:

• PASTRY:.
• Combine flour, sugar and salt and place in freezer for 30 minutes.
• Cut butter into 1/4" pieces.
• Put flour mxiture in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade.
• Add butter and pulse about 10 times until butter forms small bits. Add ice water and process until dough comes together. Place on a well-floured board and form into a disc.
• Cover in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 to 45 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 375ºF.
• Remove dough from refrigerator and let sit 5 minutes.
• Roll dough into 1/16" thick circle, large enough to hang slightly over the sides of a 10" tart pan with removable bottom.
• Place dough in pan and cut off excess dough with a sharp knife or your thumb.
• Line tart shell with aluminum foil, then fill with dried beans or rice.
• Bake 10 minutes. Remove beans and foil; prick bottom of a shell with tines of fork to allow steam to eascape.
• Bake another 20 minutes until browned. Cool to room temperature.
• PASTRY CREAM:.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment(or using a hand held mixer), beat egg yolks and sugar on medium-speed about 3 minutes, until mixture is light yellow and falls back into bowl in a ribbon. On low speed, beat in cornstarch.
• In a large saucepan, bring milk to a simmer. Slowly pour milk into egg mxiture, whisking steadily, then pour back into saucepan.
• Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly with a whisk or a wooden spoon until mixture is thick, about 4 minutes.
• Bring to a boil and cook then on low heat 2-3 more minutes. (Taste to be sure cornstach is cooked.).
• Remove from heat; mix in butter, vanilla, cream and cognac. Pour through a strainer into a bowl.
• Place plastic wrap directly onto custard(so it won't form a skin) and refrigerate until cold.
• ASSEMBLY & GARNISHES:.
• Place baked tart shell on serving plate and spread with pastry cream over bottom of shell.
• Slice and group fruit to make casual arrangement. Place larger fruit first, then fill spaces with berries &/or grapes. Use colorful fruit, such as halved strawberries or a grouping of raspberries, near the center for focus and height.
• (other fruit garnishes besides the ones listed above -- fresh orange, sliced or fresh lime, sliced or fresh apricot, sliced or fresh peach, sliced).
• Place sprinkling of almonds over tart, and use oranges &/or limes to garnish.
• GLAZE:.
• In small saucepan(or microwave-safe bowl), melt jelly with 1 tablespoon water.
• Brush glaze over fruit and serve as soon as possible to avoid soggy pastry.
• *TIP: Don't be afraid to be creative, this is the perfect palette!

INDIVIDUAL GRAPE TARTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. On a lightly floured work surface, unfold pastry. Cut into 4 squares (4 3/4 inches each). Transfer to a rimless baking sheet. Using the tip of a paring knife, score a 1/2-inch border around edges of squares, being careful not to cut all the way through pastry. Refrigerate until firm, about 15 minutes.
• Whisk together egg yolk and cream; set egg wash aside. Toss together grapes, granulated sugar, and salt in a medium bowl. Divide grape mixture among tart shells, keeping it inside the borders. Brush edges of tarts with egg wash, and sprinkle with sanding sugar. Bake until pastry is crisp and golden and grapes are just beginning to collapse, 23 to 27 minutes. Let cool on sheet on a wire rack.

CONCORD GRAPE TART

Steps:

• Pate Brisee Extra: Pulse flour, granulated sugar, and salt in a food processor to combine. Pulse in butter until mixture resembles coarse meal, about 10 seconds. With machine running, add egg yolk and ice water in a slow, steady stream just until dough holds together. Divide dough in half; shape each half into a flat disk and wrap in plastic. Refrigerate at least 1 hour and up to 2 days.
• Filling: Bring grapes and 1/2 cup water to a simmer in a saucepan, mashing occasionally with a potato masher, until fruit is very soft. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a heatproof bowl.
• In a large, heavy-bottomed pot, combine grape juice, granulated sugar, lemon juice, and salt. In a small bowl, stir together cornstarch and remaining 1 tablespoon water. Add to juice mixture and cook, stirring frequently, until it reads 221 degrees on a candy thermometer. Transfer to same heatproof bowl; let cool completely, stirring occasionally. Filling can be refrigerated in an airtight container up to 1 month.
• On a lightly floured surface, roll out each disk of dough to a 1/8-inch-thick round. Transfer one round to a parchment-lined baking sheet. Fit remaining round into a 9-inch round fluted tart pan with removable bottom; trim flush with rim. Freeze both rounds until firm, about 15 minutes.
• Using the wide base of two pastry tips (3/4 inch and 1 inch), cut clusters of holes in dough round on baking sheet to resemble a bunch of grapes. Using a sharp paring knife, cut a stem at the top. Return to freezer until firm.
• Assembly: Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Spread filling over dough round in tart pan. Whisk together egg and 1 tablespoon water. Brush edges of dough with egg wash. Slide remaining dough round on top, centering the design. Press edges to seal, and trim excess dough. Brush with egg wash and sprinkle with sanding sugar. Place tart pan on a baking sheet.
• Bake 30 minutes, then remove from oven and gently tap sheet on counter to release any air bubbles. Continue baking until golden brown and bubbling, 15 to 20 minutes more. Transfer sheet to a wire rack; let cool completely. Unmold tart; serve with creme fraiche.

GRAPE TART

Steps:

• Make pastry cream:
• Whisk together yolks and 1/2 of sugar, then whisk in flour and a pinch salt. Stir together milk and remaining sugar in a heavy saucepan and bring just to a boil over moderate heat. Whisk 1/2 of hot milk into yolks to temper and whisk yolks into milk remaining in pan. Bring custard to a boil over moderate heat and boil, whisking constantly, until very thick. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla and butter until incorporated. Chill hot pastry cream in a bowl, its surface covered with a buttered round of wax paper, until cold, about 1 hour.
• Make tart:
• Preheat oven to 425°F while pastry cream chills.
• Open puff pastry sheet on a lightly floured surface and roll out to a 14- by 12-inch rectangle. Quarter pastry to form 4 rectangles. Brush 1/3 inch of edges lightly with water and fold in borders. Brush off excess flour and press borders with back of a fork to seal. Brush borders lightly with water and sprinkle with sugar. Prick insides of shells all over with fork. Bake on a large baking sheet in middle of oven until crust is golden brown, 10 to 15 minutes, and transfer to a rack. Gently flatten puff pastry inside border to deflate, and cool completely.
• Halve and seed grapes if necessary. Melt jelly, stirring, and toss with grapes in a bowl.
• Spread pastry cream in shells with a spatula and top with grapes.

FRESH FRUIT TART WITH GINGERSNAP CRUST

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• For Crust:.
• In a medium bowl, combine ground cookies and sugar. With a pastry blender or two knives, add butter-flavored shortening and mix until moist clumps form. Press mixture into bottom and up sides of 10" removable bottom tart pan. Bake until golden, about 8 minutes. Watch carefully as it can easily burn at the end of the cooking time. Let cool.
• For Filling:.
• Combine cream cheese, sugar and lemon juice with electric mixer until well blended. Add whipping cream and beat at high speed until light and fluffy. Spread in tart shell and chill several hours.
• Arrange fruit on top of chilled filling. Combine preserves with water and brush over top. Garnish and serve.