Pate Brisee For Strawberry Bandanna Tart Food

ALL BUTTER PIE CRUST FOR PIES AND TARTS (PâTE BRISéE)

Steps:

• Remove from refrigerator and let sit for a few minutes: When you are ready to roll out the dough, remove the disk from the refrigerator and let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes to take enough of a chill off of it so that it becomes easier to roll out. While the dough disk is still wrapped in plastic, warm the edges with your hands. If there are any cracks in the dough, massage them to close them.

PATE BRISEE (PIE DOUGH)

Steps:

• In the bowl of a food processor, combine flour, salt, and sugar. Add butter, and process until the mixture resembles coarse meal, 8 to 10 seconds.
• With machine running, add ice water in a slow, steady stream through feed tube. Pulse until dough holds together without being wet or sticky; be careful not to process more than 30 seconds. To test, squeeze a small amount together: If it is crumbly, add more ice water, 1 tablespoon at a time.
• Divide dough into two equal balls. Flatten each ball into a disc and wrap in plastic. Transfer to the refrigerator and chill at least 1 hour. Dough may be stored, frozen, up to 1 month.

PATE BRISEE (FRENCH SHORTCRUST)

Steps:

• Place flour, sugar, and salt in a food processor and pulse 3 or 4 times to mix. Add cubed butter; pulse until crumbly.
• Pour slow stream of ice water through feed tube while the processor is on low speed until dough holds together when pinched, making sure not to add too much.
• Divide dough evenly into 2 pieces. Form dough into discs on a lightly floured work surface. Wrap discs with wax paper or parchment paper before wrapping with plastic wrap. Chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes or until use.
• Roll dough out on a lightly floured work surface using a lightly floured rolling pin between 2 pieces of parchment paper to desired thickness when ready to use.
• Butter two 9-inch tart pans. Roll crusts 1 at a time onto the rolling pin and unroll over tart pans. Gently push dough into the prepared pans, molding to the sides. Trim edges with fingers or a knife. Fill and bake according to filling recipe instructions.

STRAWBERRY "BANDANNA" TART

Steps:

• Combine strawberries and sugar, and let stand 1 hour. Drain, discarding liquid. Add cornstarch to berries, and stir.
• Preheat oven to 450 degrees. On a lightly floured work surface, roll out half the dough into an 11-inch square. Fit into a 9-inch square fluted tart pan with a removable bottom, pressing dough gently into sides. Prick bottom with a fork. Spread strawberry mixture over dough.
• On a lightly floured work surface, roll out remaining dough into an 11-inch square. Cut out shapes as desired (keeping at least a 2-inch border). If dough becomes too soft to work with, refrigerate until firm. Carefully place dough over filling, and trim any overhanging dough. Press edges to seal.
• Whisk together egg and water, and brush egg wash over top crust. Sprinkle with sanding sugar.
• Place tart on a baking sheet, and bake 25 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 400 degrees. Bake until filling is bubbling, 30 to 35 minutes. If crust browns too quickly, cover with parchment paper and then foil. Let cool completely before unmolding. Cut into squares, and serve.

STRAWBERRY SLAB PIE

Steps:

• Make the Double-Crust Pate Brisee and divide it in half. Place one half back in the fridge while you work with the other.
• Generously flick flour over the work surface and roll out the dough into a rectangle about 1/4 inch thick and large enough to line the bottom and sides of a rimmed 9 x 13-inch quarter-sheet pan or baking pan. Line the bottom and sides of the pan with the dough, making sure to press the dough into the corners. You may need to patch it up if the dough tears. Dock it with a pastry docker (see Cook's Note) or by poking it all over with a fork. Refrigerate the pie shell for at least 30 minutes to allow the dough to relax.
• Meanwhile, line a baking sheet or large flat platter with parchment paper and set aside. Remove the other half of the dough from the fridge and roll it into a rectangle about 1/4 inch thick and large enough to cover the whole top of the pie. Place the rolled-out dough on the prepared baking sheet or platter and refrigerate until you are ready to use it.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and place a rack in the center of the oven. Line the pie shell with parchment paper and fill it with pie weights, dried beans, or uncooked rice. Blind bake the pie shell (see Cook's Note) for 20 to 30 minutes, rotating the pan midway through the baking time, until the pie shell is matte and pale golden brown. Remove it from the oven and let cool on a wire rack. When the pie weights have cooled down, remove them carefully from the pie shell and discard the parchment. Set aside the pie shell.
• In a medium bowl, combine the strawberries, superfine sugar, cornstarch, orange zest, and salt and toss to combine well. Let macerate for about 15 minutes. Pour the fruit and any accumulated juices over the pie shell. Remove the rolled-out dough from the fridge and drape it over the pie. Press the dough gently along the rim of the pan to adhere it to the edges of the bottom crust. Trim any excess dough so that there is just a slight overhang (the dough will shrink during baking, so you want there to be a little extra along the edge). Whisk the egg for the egg wash in a small bowl with a fork. Use a pastry brush to lightly brush the top of the dough with the egg wash. Sprinkle the top evenly with the sanding sugar. Slit the dough decoratively in 6 to 8 places to allow steam to escape while baking. Bake for 40 to 50 minutes, rotating the pan midway through the baking time, until the top is dark golden brown through and through--no pale soggy places!
• Remove the pie from the oven and let cool on a wire rack for at least 2 hours, so the fruit has time to set up. Serve warm or at room temperature.
• The pie can be stored well covered, at room temperature for up to 1 day or in the fridge for up to 3 days. If you store it in the fridge, it's best served warmed; reheat the pie in a 300 degrees F oven for 15 to 20 minutes, until the top and bottom crisp up a little bit.
• In a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, paddle together the flour, sugar, and salt for 10 to 15 seconds. Cut the butter into about 12 pieces and add it to the flour mixture. Paddle slowly until the flour is no longer bright white and the mixture holds together when you clump it, and there are still lumps of butter the size of pecans throughout, 60 to 90 seconds.
• Whisk together the egg yolks and milk in a small bowl and add them all at once to the flour-butter mixture. Paddle very briefly, just until it barely comes together, about 30 seconds. It will look really shaggy and more like a mess than a dough.
• Dump the dough out onto a clean work surface and gather it together into a tight mound. Using the heel of your hand, smear the dough, starting at the top of the mound and sliding your hand down the sides of the mound along the work surface, until most of the butter chunks are smeared into the dough and the whole thing comes together.
• Wrap the dough tightly in plastic wrap and press it down to make a disk about 1 inch thick. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour before using.
• The dough can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or in the freezer for up to 4 weeks. Wrap in another layer of plastic if storing for more than 1 day.

PATE BRISEE (FLAKY SWEET PASTRY DOUGH)

Steps:

• Place one cup of flour, the butter, sugar and salt in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a metal blade. Process just until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs, about 10 seconds. Add the water and slowly pulse just until the pastry begins to hold together, about six to eight times. Do not let it form a ball. Turn the pastry out onto waxed paper and flatten the dough into a circle. If the dough is excessively sticky, sprinkle it with several tablespoons of flour. Wrap in waxed paper and refrigerate for at least one hour.

BLUEBERRY "BANDANNA" TART

Steps:

• Pate Brisee: Pulse flour, granulated sugar, and salt in a food processor to combine. Pulse in butter until mixture resembles coarse meal. With machine running, add water in a slow, steady stream until dough just holds together. Divide dough in half and shape each half into a square; wrap in plastic. Refrigerate at least 1 hour and up to 2 days.
• Filling: Using a potato masher, mash 1 cup blueberries with granulated sugar and cornstarch in a large bowl. Stir in remaining 7 cups blueberries until well combined. Let stand 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 450 degrees. On a lightly floured surface, roll out one dough square to an 11-inch square. Fit into a 9-inch square fluted tart pan with removable bottom, gently pressing dough into sides. Spread blueberry mixture over dough.
• Roll out remaining dough square into an 11-inch square. Using small cutters, cut out shapes as desired, leaving at least a 2-inch border. If dough becomes too soft, refrigerate until firm. Carefully place dough over filling and trim overhang; press edges to seal. Refrigerate 30 minutes.
• Whisk together egg and 1 tablespoon water; brush top crust with egg wash. Liberally sprinkle with sanding sugar. Place tart pan on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
• Bake 25 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 400 degrees. Bake until filling is bubbling, 30 to 35 minutes more (if crust is browning too quickly, cover with parchment-lined foil). Transfer pan to a wire rack; let cool completely. Unmold; cut into squares and serve.

VERSATILE PATE BRISEE

Steps:

• Pulse flour, sugar, and 1 teaspoon salt in a food processor until combined. Add butter, and pulse until mixture resembles coarse meal, about 10 seconds. Drizzle 1/4 cup ice water evenly over mixture. Pulse until mixture holds together when pressed between 2 fingers (dough should not be wet or sticky). If dough is too dry, add more water, 1 tablespoon at a time, and pulse.
• Shape dough into 1 large disk or 2 small disks, and wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate until firm, at least 1 hour. (Dough can be refrigerated overnight or frozen for up to 3 months. Let chilled dough stand for 10 minutes and frozen dough thaw before using.)

BASIC FRENCH TART DOUGH/PATE BRISEE (DORIE GREENSPAN)

Steps:

• FOOD PROCESSOR METHOD: Put the flour, sugar, and salt in the processor and whir a few times, until the butter is coarsely mixed into the flour. Beat the egg with the ice water and pour it into the bowl in 3 small additions, whirring after each one (Don't overdo it - the dough shouldn't form a ball or ride on the blade) You'll have a moist, malleable dough that will hold together when pinched. Turn the dough out onto a work surface, gather it into a ball (if the dough doesn't come together easily, push it, a few spoonfuls at a time, under the heel of your hand or knead it lightly), and flatten it into a disk.
• HAND METHOD: Put the flour, sugar, and salt in a large bowl. Drop in the bits of butter and, using your hands or a pastry blender, work the butter into the flour until it is evenly distributed. You'll have large and small butter bits, and that's fine - uniformity isn't a virtue here. Beat the egg and water together, drizzle over the dough, and, using your fingertips, mix and knead the dough until it comes together. Turn it out onto a work surface, gather it into a ball (if the dough doesn't come together easily, push it, a few spoonfuls at a time, under the heel of your hand or knead it some more), and flatten it into a disk.
• Chill at least 3 hours or up to 5 days.
• When you're ready to bake the tart shell, butter a 9 - 91/2inch fluted tart pan with a removable bottom (butter it even if it's nonstick).
• To roll out the dough: Roll out the dough between sheets of wax paper or plastic wrap or in a lightly floured rolling cover; or you can roll it out on a lightly floured work surface. If you're working between sheets of paper or plastic wrap, lift it often so that it doesn't roll into the dough, and turn the dough over frequently. If you're just rolling on the counter, make sure to lift and turn the dough and reflour the counter often. The rolled-out dough should be about 1/4 inch thick and at least 12 inches in diameter.
• Transfer the dough to the tart pan, easing it into the pan without stretching it. (What you stretch now will shrink in the oven later.) If you'd like to reinforce the sides of the crust, you can fold some of the excess dough over, so that you have a double thickness around the sides. Using the back of a table knife, trim the dough even with the top of the pan. Prick the base of the crust in several places with a fork.
• Chill - freeze - the dough for at least 1 hour before baking.
• Center a rack in the oven and preheat the oven to 400°F Press a piece of buttered foil (or use nonstick foil) against the crust's surface. If you'd like, you can fill the covered crust with rice or dried beans (which will be inedible after this but can be used for baking for months to come) to keep the dough flat, but this isn't really necessary if the crust is well chilled. Line a baking sheet with a silicone baking mat or parchment paper and put the tart pan on the sheet.
• TO PARTIALLY BAKE THE CRUST: Bake for 20 minutes, then very carefully remove the foil (with the rice or beans). Return the crust to the oven and bake for another 3 - 5 minutes, or until it is lightly golden. Transfer the baking sheet to a cooling rack and allow the crust to cool before you fill it.
• TO FULLY BAKE THE CRUST: Bake for an additional 10 minutes, or until it is an even golden brown. Transfer the baking sheet to a cooling rack and allow the crust to cool before you fill it.

STRAWBERRY BANDANNA TART

Steps:

• Combine strawberries and granulated sugar, and let stand 1 hour. Drain, discarding liquid. Add cornstarch to berries, and stir to combine.
• Preheat oven to 450°F. On a lightly floured surface, roll out 1 disk of dough to an 11-inch square. Fit into a 9-inch square fluted tart pan with a removable bottom, pressing dough gently into sides. Trim dough flush with rim. Refrigerate or freeze until firm, about 30 minutes. Roll out remaining disk of dough to an 11-inch square. Using aspic cutters, cut out shapes in a bandanna pattern (keeping at least a 2-inch border). Refrigerate or freeze until firm, about 30 minutes.
• Spread strawberry mixture over shell. Carefully place remaining chilled dough over filling. Trim any overhang.
• Whisk together egg and water, and brush over top dough. Sprinkle with sanding sugar. Refrigerate or freeze tart until firm, about 30 minutes.
• Place on a parchment-lined rimmed baking sheet, and bake 25 minutes. Reduce heat to 400°F. Bake until filling is bubbling, 30 to 35 minutes more. (If crust browns too quickly, tent with foil.) Transfer tart to a wire rack to cool completely before unmolding. Cut into squares, and serve.

FRANGIPANE TART WITH STRAWBERRIES AND RASPBERRIES

Steps:

• Pate Brisee: In a large bowl blend the flour, the butter, the vegetable shortening, and salt until the mixture resembles meal. Add 2 tablespoons ice water, toss the mixture until the water is incorporated, adding more ice water if necessary to form a dough, and form the dough into a ball. Dust the dough with flour and chill it, wrapped in wax paper, for 1 hour.
• Preparation: Roll out the dough 1/8- inch thick on a lightly floured surface, fit it into an 11-by 8-inch rectangular or 10-or 11-inch round tart pan with a removable fluted rim, and chill the shell while making the frangipane.
• In a small bowl cream together the butter and the sugar and beat in the egg, the almonds, the almond extract, the Amaretto, and the flour. Spread the frangipane evenly on the bottom of the shell and bake the tart in the middle of a preheated 375°F oven for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the shell is pale golden. (If the frangipane begins to turn too brown, cover the tart loosely with a piece of foil.) Let the tart cool. Cut the strawberries lengthwise into 1/8-inch-thick slices, arrange the slices, overlapping, decoratively with the raspberries in rows on the frangipane, and brush them gently with the jam.

PERFECT PATE BRISEE

Steps:

• Pulse flour, sugar, and salt in a food processor until combined. Add butter; process until mixture has pieces ranging in size from crumbs to 1/2 inch, about 12 seconds. Add ice water; process until just incorporated but dough is not wet or sticky, no more than 20 seconds. Squeeze a small amount of dough: It should just hold together. If it doesn't, continue to pulse in more ice water, 1/2 tablespoon at a time, and then test again.
• Halve dough; wrap each in plastic. Roll to 1/2 inch thick. Refrigerate 1 hour or up to 2 days, or freeze up to 3 weeks.

PATE BRISEE FOR STRAWBERRY "BANDANNA" TART

Steps:

• Pulse flour, sugar, and salt in a food processor. Add butter, and process until mixture resembles coarse meal. With machine running, add water until dough just holds together. Divide dough in half, and wrap each half in plastic. Refrigerate at least 1 hour (or up to 2 days).