Fresh Summer Berry Tart Food

FRESH FRUIT TART

Steps:

• In a small bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the flour, cornmeal and lemon juice to form a dough. Press onto bottom and up the sides of a greased 9-in. tart pan with removable bottom. Bake at 425° for 9-11 minutes or until golden brown. Cool completely on wire rack., For filling, beat the cream cheese, sugar and milk until smooth. Spread over cooled crust. Arrange berries or fruit over filling. Refrigerate while preparing glaze., For fruit glaze, in a small saucepan, combine the sugar, cornstarch, apricot nectar and lemon juice until smooth. Bring to a boil over medium heat; cook and stir for 1 minute or until thickened. Cool; brush over fruit. Refrigerate for 1 hour. Refrigerate leftovers.

CLASSIC FRENCH FRUIT TART

Steps:

• Make the Crust: Complete the pâte sucrée through baking and cooling.
• Make the Pastry Cream: In a medium pot, heat the milk until just boiling. Remove the pot from heat. While the milk is warming, in a heat-proof mixing bowl, whisk together the sugar, egg, egg yolks, and cornstarch. Whisk until the mixture is very smooth and has lightened in color, about 2 minutes. Whisking constantly, add about a quarter of the hot milk into the egg mixture. (This is called tempering. Tempering the eggs helps raise their temperature without cooking them, and helps emulsify them into the milk.) Pour the milk-tempered egg mixture into the pot of the remaining milk. Whisk to combine. Return the pot to the heat and cook over medium heat, whisking constantly to prevent "scrambled eggs," especially on the sides and bottom, until the magic happens and the pastry cream thickens, about 2 minutes. Stir in the butter and vanilla and cook one minute more, whisking constantly. The pastry cream should make thick, lazy bubbles. (See note below if you see any coagulated bits of egg in your custard.) Pour the thickened pastry cream into a clean, shallow bowl. Cover it with plastic wrap and push it down in the bowl so it sits directly on the surface of the pastry cream. This prevents a skin from forming on top. Chill until cold, a few hours (or up to 2 days before serving).
• Assemble the Tart: Remove the tart ring and transfer the tart shell to a serving platter. Whisk the chilled pastry cream until smooth, then spread it evenly into the tart shell using an offset spatula. Arrange a generous amount of fruit over the pastry cream in your desired design. In a small saucepan, heat the apricot jam with 1 tablespoon of water over medium heat, whisking, until thin. (Alternatively, heat it in a heat-proof bowl in the microwave for about 30 seconds.) If the jam is especially chunky, strain it through a sieve. Use a pastry brush to gently dab the fruit with a thin layer of apricot glaze. Chill until ready to serve.
• Note: Avoid melon and other fruit with high moisture content, like sliced citrus. These will wilt quickly and seep moisture into the pastry cream. Also avoid oxidizing fruit like apples and bananas; these fruits will turn brown. Berries should be fully dried after rinsing (raspberries should not be washed) and strawberries should be sliced.
• Note: If you see any coagulated egg bits in your finished custard, strain the hot pastry cream through a fine mesh strainer.
• Make-Ahead Instructions: The pastry cream can be made up to 2 days before serving. The tart can be assembled and refrigerated up to one day before serving.

FRUIT TART

Steps:

• For the crust: Whisk together the flour, sugar, and salt in a large bowl. With a pastry cutter or your fingers, gradually work the butter into the flour until pea-sized pieces form. Stir together the egg yolk and water, then stir into the flour mixture using a fork in a small bowl. Stir, then knead the dough together until it is no longer crumbly and holds together when pinched with your fingers. Form it into a disc and wrap it tightly with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour or up to 3 days.
• Roll the dough into a 11-inch circle on a lightly floured surface. Transfer the crust to a 9-inch round fluted tart pan with a removable bottom. Press the crust into the pan and trim the edges right at the top of the tart pan sides. (Do not worry ff the crust cracks! Patch it up with the dough pieces that were trimmed from the edges). Prick the bottom of the crust all over with a fork. Place the crust on a dinner plate, then in the freezer for 30 minutes.
• During the last 20 minutes of chilling, preheat the oven to 400˚. Prick the crust all over with a fork. Bake for 12 to 14 minutes, until the crust is golden brown. Transfer to a wire rack and cool to room temperature.
• For the filling: Beat the cream cheese, sour cream, powdered sugar, vanilla bean paste, and salt in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a whisk attachment on medium until smooth and creamy, 2 to 3 minutes. Gradually pour in the heavy cream with the mixer running on medium-low and beat until the mixture is light and fluffy, about 30 seconds. Pour the cream cheese mixture into the crust and spread into an even layer.
• For the topping: Arrange the blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, kiwi, and mango on top of the filling. Microwave the apple jelly in a small microwavable bowl until melted and smooth, about 30 seconds. Brush the apple jelly over the fruit. Chill the tart until cold and the filling is set, at least 2 hours or overnight.

FRESH SUMMER BERRY TART

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375°F Coat a 9-inch tart pan with a removeable bottom, with baking spray.
• In a food processor, pulse together flour, sugar and salt.
• Add butter, then pulse together, adding cold water as needed, until a meal forms that sticks together easily when you squeeze it.
• Press mixture into tart pan, making sure to press dough up sides.
• Prick bottom of the crust with a fork. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until the edges just start to turn golden and the center is slightly firm to the touch. Let cool on a wire rack.
• Once the crust has cooled, make the filling. In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to beat together cream cheese, vanilla, lemon juice and powdered sugar. Spread evenly in shell.
• Top with berries and serve.

FRESH SUMMER FRUIT TART

Steps:

• Crust:.
• Mix together the flour and brown sugar in a food processor (or mix by hand). Add butter and pulse until mixture resembles coarse crumbs (or cut butter in by hand). Add the water slowly while running the processor (or sprinkle and toss while mixing by hand) until moistened. Form into a ball, and press firmly and evenly onto the bottom and up the sides of a 9 inch tart pan or pie plate. Bake in a 400 degree oven for 10 - 15 minutes or until light brown. Cool completely.
• Cream filing:.
• In a medium mixing bowl stir together cream cheese, sour cream, sugar, and vanilla till smooth. Cover and chill for up to 4 hours or till ready to fill tart shell.
• Assemble tart:.
• Sprinkle mint onto pastry. Using a spoon, spread cream filling evenly over the tart shell. Arrange fresh fruit on the filling. In a small saucepan heat jam just till melted. Cool. Drizzle melted jam over the fruit. Cut into wedges and serve immediately. Best if used within a day or two.