1 1/2 c All-purpose Flour
6 tb Unsalted Butter; chilled and
-cut into small pieces
3 tb And 2 tsp. Granulated Sugar
1/4 c Cold Water
3 lg Tart Apples; peeled, cored,
-and thinly sliced
1 tb Unsalted Butter; melted
Today’s recipe calls for thinly sliced apples, but we’ve also prepared it
with pears and nectarines. This means you’ll want to keep this recipe handy
and try it with your favorite fresh fruit filling. It’s a relatively simple
recipe to prepare; and it makes an elegant dessert, which will be served at
our birthday bash this weekend.
But you don’t have to wait for a reason to celebrate. Prepare this lovely
little tart for dessert tonight and impress your friends, family, or guests
with your French pastry skills. You probably have all the ingredients in
your pantry right now!
Pre-heat oven to 450-F degrees and assemble your mise-en-place, now.
(Mise-en-place defined: French cooking method whereby you arrange each
ingredient in the portion and sequence you’ll require to prepare your
recipe.)
In a large mixing bowl, sift the flour and two tablespoons sugar together.
Using either your fingertips, a fork, or a pastry blender, quickly work the
chilled butter pieces into the dry ingredients until the mixture appears
crumbly. Stir in the cold water and mix quickly to form a soft dough. Do
not over mix, or your pastry will be tough and chewy. Shape the pastry into
a ball and flatten it slightly. Wrap it in plastic and chill for at least
one hour.
Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface and roll it into a circle
about 13 inches across and 1/2 inch deep. Press the dough into a 12-inch
shallow baking or pizza pan and trim off any excess dough. Pierce the dough
with a fork, all over the surface, for even baking.
Sprinkle the dough with one tablespoon of sugar and arrange the apple
slices neatly, in an overlapping circular pattern on the dough. Start from
the outside and work your way to the center. Even if the center is a bit
higher than the outside layer of apples, it will flatten a bit during
baking. If you have a little space in the center, fill it with some finely
chopped apple slices. Sprinkle the apples with the remaining two teaspoons
of sugar.
Bake the tart for about 20 minutes, or until the apples are lightly browned
from the sugar, and soft. Remove the tart from the oven and increase the
oven setting to broil. When hot, place the tart under the heat from the
broiler for a couple of minutes. The rims of the apple slices should be
well browned, but watch carefully so they don’t burn.
Remove the tart from the oven and brush the top with melted butter. Cut
into pie-shaped wedges and serve warm.
Yields
6 To 8