Queijadas De Sintra Portuguese Cheese Tarts With Cinnamon Food

QUEIJADAS DE SINTRA (PORTUGUESE CHEESE TARTS WITH CINNAMON)

Steps:

• For the pastry: Combine the flour and salt in a large bowl.
• With a pastry blender, cut in the shortening until the texture of fine meal.
• Forking briskly, drizzle just enough ice water over the mixture to make it hold together.
• Shape into a ball, wrap in wax paper, and refrigerate several hours.
• Meanwhile, prepare the filling: In a food processor fitted with the metal chopping blade (or in a blender or electric mixer set at highest speed), process the mozzarella, butter, sugar, and cinnamon about 60 seconds nonstop until smooth and creamy.
• Scrape down the work bowl sides with a rubber spatula and beat 60 seconds longer.
• Note: It will take longer for the electric mixer to reduce the mixture to creaminess, perhaps 3 to 4 minutes of steady beating.
• Add the egg yolks, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
• Add the flour and pulse the motor on once or twice to blend.
• Transfer the mixture to a small bowl; cover and chill several hours.
• When ready to bake the queijadas, preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Divide the pastry in half and roll, first one half, then the other, as thin as paper, on a lightly floured pastry cloth with a lightly floured, stockinette-covered rolling pin.
• Cut into rounds with a 3 1/2 inch cutter.
• Also re-roll and cut the scraps.
• Fit the pastry into plain or fluted tart tins measuring 2 1/2 inches across the top.
• Set the tins on baking sheets, then half-fill each tart shell with the cheese mixture.
• Bake uncovered for 18 to 20 minutes, just until the filling is puffy and a rich amber brown.
• Remove the tarts from the oven, cool until easy to handle; then using a small pointed knife, gently pry the tarts from the tins.
• Serve at room temperature.

PORTUGUESE QUEIJADAS

Steps:

• Mix the eggs well.
• Add sugar and mix.
• Add cooled butter and mix.
• Add milk and flour, mix well.
• Spray a muffin tin with Pam cooking spray.
• Fill muffin tins 3/4 full with mixture.
• Place in a 325 oven for approximately 3/4 of an hour.
• If you want, you can sprinkle some with cinnamon when they come hot out of the oven.

QUEIJADAS DE FEIJAO (PORTUGUESE BEAN TARTS)

Steps:

• Combine the water and sugar to make a caramel.
• Add the margarine and beans, cook for a few moments.
• Let cool completely and add the 12 yolks.
• Beat 2 egg whites and add to the mix.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.
• When cool, dust with confectioner's sugar.