Vanilla Bean Pineapple Tart Food

LATTICE-TOPPED VANILLA BEAN PINEAPPLE TART

Steps:

• On a lightly floured surface, roll each disk of crostata dough into a 9-by-12-inch rectangle, 1/8 inch thick. Place 1 rectangle on a parchment-lined baking sheet, and freeze until firm, about 30 minutes. Fit the other rectangle into an 8-by-11-inch fluted rectangular tart pan with a removable bottom. Trim dough flush with top edge of pan. Refrigerate until ready to use.
• Make the lattice: Remove baking sheet from freezer. Using a clean ruler as a guide, cut dough rectangle into eighteen 1/2-inch-wide strips using a sharp knife or a fluted pastry wheel. Lay 9 strips of dough on another baking sheet in pairs of parallel lines that extend slightly past the length of the tart pan. Starting in the center, weave 1 new strip under and over the strips on the baking sheet. Weave a second strip inch away, this time weaving over then under. Repeat, weaving pairs of strips across half of the tart, spacing pairs 1 inch apart. (If dough strips become too soft, return to freezer until firm.) Return to center, and repeat with remaining dough strips to form a lattice pattern. Freeze until ready to use.
• Cut each pineapple quarter crosswise into 1/3-inch-thick slices. Combine sugars, vanilla seeds and pod, and lemon juice in a large saute pan. Add pineapple, and cook over medium heat, stirring until sugars dissolve and mixture becomes saucy, about 3 minutes. Add rum, and simmer until pineapple has softened and almost all of the liquid has evaporated, about 20 minutes. Remove from heat, and let cool in pan. Discard vanilla pod.
• Remove tart pan from refrigerator. Spread pineapple mixture evenly on dough. Combine yolk and cream in a small bowl, and brush some along top edges of tart. Carefully slide frozen lattice onto tart, centering it over filling, and press edges to seal. Trim excess dough. Brush top of lattice with egg wash. Refrigerate, uncovered, until firm, about 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Bake tart for 15 minutes. Reduce heat to 375 degrees, and continue baking until crust is golden and filling is bubbling, 40 to 45 minutes. (If crust browns too quickly, tent edges with foil.) Let cool in tart pan on a wire rack. Unmold, and serve immediately.

ELEGANT VANILLA BEAN BANANA CUSTARD WITH PASTRY

Steps:

• Make the pastry by sifting the flours and salt together in a mixing bowl. Add in the seeds, and husks.
• Cut-in half of the shortening with a fork or pastry blender until you have pea-sized pieces. Cut-in the remaining half.
• Add in the water, just a tablespoon at a time, and gently mix until blended. Don't over mix, but do get it nice and moist.
• Roll the dough out onto a floured surface or floured pastry mat. Cut into strips, place on a baking sheet and bake at 415 / 200 for about 10 minutes or until just starting to turn golden.
• Meanwhile start the pudding.
• In a small bowl, mix the egg yolks up with a fork and set to the side.
• In a medium saucepan mix the cornstarch, salt. Slice the vanilla bean lengthwise, and add it and the milk and begin heating over medium heat, stirring constantly.
• Once the mixture reaches a boil, let it boil for one minute.
• Then slowly add at least half of the mixture to yolks while whisking, being careful not to scramble the eggs. Carefully add it back into the pot and boil for one minute longer. At this point, if you didn't use a vanilla bean add in the vanilla extract.
• Allow pudding to cool for a few minutes, stirring so as not to get pudding skin. Add the bananas in and serve warm or refrigerate if you prefer to serve cold.
• Serve with the strips of pastry crisscrossed at the back and top with whipped cream.

PINEAPPLE TART

Steps:

• Make shell:
• Preheat oven to 375°F. and lightly coat an 11-inch tart pan with a removable fluted rim with vegetable-oil cooking spray.
• In a food processor grind graham crackers with sugar to fine crumbs. Working quickly, line tart pan with 1 phyllo sheet, allowing edges to overhang evenly, and with a pastry brush dot phyllo on bottom of tart pan with butter in 4 or 5 places. Sprinkle phyllo in bottom of tart pan evenly with one third crumb mixture and top with another phyllo sheet, arranging it at right angles to first phyllo sheet so overhang is even all around. Dot phyllo with butter and sprinkle with one third crumb mixture in same manner. Repeat layering procedure with remaining 2 phyllo sheets, remaining one third crumb mixture, and butter in same manner, ending with phyllo. Trim phyllo overhang with scissors to 1 inch beyond rim of tart pan and roll toward center, forming a shallow edge just inside tart pan. Brush shell with remaining butter and bake in middle of oven 12 minutes, or until golden and crisp. Cool shell in tart pan on a rack. Shell may be made 1 day ahead and kept, covered loosely, in tart pan in a cool dry place.
• Make filling:
• In a heavy 12-inch skillet simmer pineapple, sugars, vanilla seeds, and reserved vanilla pod over moderate heat, carefully turning pineapple occasionally (try to keep slices whole), until most liquid is evaporated and pineapple is slightly translucent (reducing heat as liquid is evaporated), about 25 minutes. Cool mixture slightly and discard vanilla pod.
• Arrange pineapple in overlapping concentric circles in shell and top with any remaining syrup in skillet. Tart may be made 1 day ahead and kept, covered loosely, at room temperature.

CROSTATA DOUGH

Steps:

• Pulse flour, sugar, and salt in a food processor until combined. Add butter, and process until mixture resembles coarse meal, about 10 seconds. With the machine running, add ice water in a slow, steady stream until mixture just begins to hold together.
• Shape dough into 2 disks. Wrap each in plastic, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or up to 3 days (or freeze for up to 1 month; thaw in refrigerator before using).

VANILLA BEAN PANNA COTTA

Steps:

• .Pour the cream into a medium saucepan. Using the sharp tip of a paring knife, cut the vanilla bean in half lengthwise. Open up the bean and flatten out the halves. Scrape out the seeds with the back of the knife blade and add the seeds and vanilla bean to the saucepan. Stir in the sugar. Bring the cream mixture to a simmer over medium-low heat, whisking occasionally. Remove the vanilla bean from the cream and discard.
• Meanwhile, pour the milk into a bowl and sprinkle the gelatin over the top. Let stand about 5 minutes and then mix the milk into the hot cream. Add in the yogurt and stir until smooth. Pour mixture into ramekins, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 6 hours or overnight.
• NOTE: This recipe serves six to eight people depending on the size of your ramekins. I usually fill mine generously and end up with six servings.
• TIP: You can make this recipe for Vanilla Bean Panna Cotta up to three days in advance - perfect for parties!

VANILLA BEAN-PINEAPPLE TART

Steps:

• Make the crust: Pulse flour, sugar, and salt in a food processor until combined. Add butter, and process just until mixture resembles coarse meal. Drizzle with the ice water, and pulse until mixture just begins to hold together. Shape dough into 2 disks. Wrap each in plastic, and refrigerate 1 hour or up to 3 days.
• On a lightly floured surface, roll out each disk of dough to a 12-by-9-inch rectangle, 1/8 inch thick. Place 1 rectangle on a parchment-lined rimmed baking sheet, and refrigerate or freeze until firm, 30 minutes. Fit other rectangle into an 11-by-8-inch rectangular tart pan with a removable bottom. Trim dough flush with rim. Refrigerate until ready to use.
• Make the lattice: Using a clean ruler as a guide, cut chilled rectangle into eighteen 1/2-inch-wide strips with a sharp knife or pastry wheel. Lay 9 strips of dough on another parchment-lined baking sheet in pairs of parallel lines slightly longer than tart pan. Starting in center, weave 1 new strip under and over strips on baking sheet. Weave a second strip 1/4 inch away, this time over, then under. Repeat, weaving pairs of strips across half of tart, spacing pairs 1 inch apart. (If strips become too soft, return to freezer until firm.) Return to center, and repeat with remaining strips to form lattice pattern. Freeze until ready to use.
• Make the filling: Cut each pineapple quarter crosswise into 1/3-inch-thick slices. Combine sugars, vanilla seeds and pod, and lemon juice in a large sauté pan. Add pineapple, and cook over medium heat, stirring until sugars dissolve and mixture becomes saucy, about 3 minutes. Add rum, and simmer until pineapple has softened and almost all liquid has evaporated, about 20 minutes. Let cool in pan. Discard vanilla pod.
• Spread pineapple mixture evenly in shell. Combine yolk and cream, and brush along top edges of tart. Carefully slide frozen lattice onto tart, centering it; press edges to seal. Trim excess dough. Brush top of lattice with egg wash. Refrigerate or freeze, uncovered, until firm, about 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 400°F. Transfer tart to a rimmed baking sheet. Bake 15 minutes. Reduce heat to 375°F, and bake until crust is golden and filling is bubbling, 40 to 45 minutes more. (If crust browns too quickly, tent with foil.) Let cool completely in pan on a wire rack.