Gooseberry Creme Fraiche Tart Food

GOOSEBERRY & VANILLA CUSTARD TART

Steps:

• Roll out the pastry on a lightly floured surface until large enough to line a 23cm loose-bottomed tart tin. Trim the excess pastry from around the edge, then line the pastry case with baking parchment, fill with baking beans and chill for 30 mins.
• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Bake the pastry case for 15 mins, then carefully lift out the parchment and beans, and bake for 5 mins more or until biscuity. Meanwhile, beat the eggs, cream, sugar and vanilla together, then strain into a jug.
• Scatter the gooseberries into the pastry case, then pour in the vanilla custard mixture. Bake for 35-40 mins until the custard is set and the gooseberries are tender. Cool a little before serving, or cool completely and eat cold, dusted with icing sugar, if you like.

GOOSEBERRY CRèME BRûLéE TART

Steps:

• Tip the gooseberries into a saucepan with 100g of the sugar and 100ml water. Simmer for 8-10 mins until the fruit is soft and the juices are syrupy. Tip the fruit into a sieve set over a jug and leave to strain - you will need about 150ml of the syrupy juices. Tip the pulp into a bowl and leave to cool.
• In a separate bowl, beat the eggs with 50g of the sugar, then beat in the cream and gooseberry syrup. Strain through a sieve into another jug and set aside.
• Heat oven to 160C/140C fan/gas 3. Roll out the pastry on a lightly floured surface to the thickness of a £1 coin, then lift into a 23cm tart tin. Press down gently on the bottom and sides, leaving a slight overhang. Line the tart with foil and fill with baking beans. Bake for 10 mins, then discard the foil and beans, and bake for another 20 mins. Remove from the oven and leave to cool.
• Reduce oven to 150C/130C fan/gas 2. Spread the pulp evenly over the base of the tart, then carefully pour the cream mixture over it to create 2 layers. Bake for 35-40 mins until the cream layer has the slightest wobble to it. Remove from the oven and trim the pastry edges. Leave to cool completely, then scatter over the remaining sugar, caramelise with a blowtorch, if you like, and serve straight away.

RASPBERRY CREME FRAICHE TART

Steps:

• Place baking sheet in bottom of oven.
• Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees.
• Wrap outside of 11-inch-diameter tart pan with removable bottom with foil.
• Using electric mixer, beat butter, 1/2 cup sugar and salt in large bowl until blended.
• Add 3 eggs and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla; beat until smooth.
• Add flour, beat just until blended. Spread batter over bottom and 1/2 inch up sides of pan.
• Beat 1/4 cup sugar, 1 egg, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla and creme fraiche in bowl until well blended.
• Spread custard over batter.
• Arrange berries 1/4 inch apart atop custard.
• Sprinkle tart with 2 tablespoons sugar.
• Bake tart until set and brown around edges, about 45 minutes.
• Cool.
• Remove pan sides.
• Place tart on platter. Dust with powdered sugar if desired.
• **Creme Fraiche - heat 1 cup whipping cream to 85 degrees. Remove from heat; mix in 2 tablespoons of buttermilk. Cover; let stand in warm draft-free aea until slighty thickened, 24 - 48 hours depending on temperature of room.

SOUR CREAM GOOSEBERRY PIE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). In a medium bowl, gently stir together the gooseberries and sugar. Let stand for 15 minutes. Press one of the pie crusts into the bottom and up the sides of a 9 inch pie plate.
• In a medium bowl, stir together the flour and salt. Mix in the sour cream, eggs and vanilla. Add the gooseberry and sugar mixture, and stir to coat evenly. Spoon into the pie crust, and place the second crust over the top. Crimp the edges to seal, and cut some decorative slits in the top to vent steam.
• Bake for 55 minutes in the preheated oven. Cool to room temperature, then refrigerate until serving.

GOOSEBERRY FOOL

Steps:

• Put the gooseberries and sugar in a pan with a splash of water. Heat gently, stirring, then bring to a simmer and cook until the fruit starts to burst. Squash the gooseberries with a potato masher or fork until pulpy. Cool then chill until cold in the fridge.
• Put the yoghurt in a bowl and beat with the icing sugar and vanilla until smooth. Gently whisk in the cream (it will thicken as you whisk so don't overdo it). Ripple through the gooseberry pulp then spoon into pretty glasses or bowls to serve.