Johns Pear And Almond Cream Tart Food

JOHN'S PEAR AND ALMOND-CREAM TART

Steps:

• Make dough: In a food processor, combine flour, salt, and granulated sugar; pulse to combine. Add butter; pulse until mixture resembles coarse meal, with just a few pea-size pieces of butter remaining. Sprinkle with 2 tablespoons ice water. Pulse until dough is crumbly but holds together when squeezed (if necessary, gradually add up to 2 tablespoons more ice water).
• Transfer dough (still crumbly) onto a piece of plastic wrap. Form into a 3/4-inch-thick disk; wrap tightly in plastic. Refrigerate until firm, 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. On a lightly floured work surface, roll dough to a 12-inch round. Fit into a 9-inch removable-bottom tart pan, pressing up sides. Run a rolling pin across the top of pan to trim the edge; refrigerate.
• Make filling: In a food processor, pulse almonds with confectioners' sugar until finely ground. Add butter, egg, flour, salt, and almond extract; process almond cream until well combined.
• Spread 1/4 cup jam on bottom of tart shell, then spread almond cream on top; chill for 15 minutes. Arrange pear slices in a fan pattern over almond cream; place tart on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake 40 to 45 minutes, or until crust is golden brown and almond cream is puffed and set. Transfer tart to a wire rack; let cool in pan. Remove tart from pan. Melt remaining 1/4 cup jam; brush over tart.

ALMOND-PEAR TART

Steps:

• Unfold piecrusts; stack on a lightly floured surface. Roll into a 12 inch circle. Fit into a 10 inch pan with removable bottome, trim excess pastry.
• Beat 4 tablespoons butter, almond paste, 1 tablespoon sugar, 2 tablespoons brandy, 1/3 cup flour and next 3 ingredients at medium speed with a mixer until blended, spread in crust.
• Toss together 2 tablespoons sugar and pears, arrange in cicles, overlapping slices, on top of filling.
• Cook preserves in a saucepan over low heat until melted. Pour through a fine wire mesh strainer, discarding solids. Stir in 1 tablespoon butter, remaining 2 tablespoons brandy, and cream, drizzle over pears.
• Combine remaining 2 tablespoons sugar, and remaining 2 tablespoons flour, cut in remaining 1 1/2 tablespoons butter with a fork until blended. Sprinkle over pears.
• Bake at 400 on bottom rack for about 40 minutes. Cool in pan on wire rack for 15 minutes. Garnish if desired.

PEAR AND ALMOND TART

Steps:

• For the sweet pastry, pulse the flour, salt an butter in a food processor until the mixture resembles coarse breadcrumbs.
• Add the sugar then the egg yolks and pulse.
• The mixture will immediately combine and leave the sides of the bowl.
• Remove, wrap in cling film and chill for at least an hour.
• Preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F.
• Coarsely grate the pastry into a 12 inch loose bottomed fluted flan tin, then press it evenly on to the sides and base.
• Bake blind for 20 minutes until very light brown.
• Cool, then place the pears in, face down.
• Reduce the oven temperature to 150°C/300°F.
• For the filling, cream the butter and sugar until the mixture is pale and light.
• Put the almonds in a food processor and chop until fine.
• Add the butter and sugar and blend, then beat in the eggs one by one.
• Pour over the pears and bake for 40 minutes.
• Delicious!