Pansy Tartlets Recipes

PANSY TARTLETS

Steps:

• Place apricot jam and 1 1/2 tablespoons water in a small saucepan; set over medium heat. Bring to a simmer while stirring. Remove from heat; pour hot liquid through a fine strainer set over a heat-proof bowl. Discard solids. Return liquid to saucepan; set aside.
• Heat oven to 350 degrees. On a lightly floured surface, roll out one disk of Pate Brisee into a 10 1/2-by-14-inch rectangle. Cut into twelve 3 1/2-inch squares. Press one square of dough into one of twelve 2 1/4- or 2 3/4-inch tartlet pans. Trim edges with a knife. Repeat with remaining dough. Refrigerate 30 minutes.
• Prick shells all over with a fork. Place a 3-inch square of aluminum foil into each shell. Fill shells with dried beans, rice, or pie weights; place on a baking sheet. Transfer to oven. Bake 13 minutes. Remove foil and weights. Bake until golden, about 5 minutes more. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.
• Combine eggs yolks, sugar, lemon juice, and lemon zest in a heavy saucepan. Combine with a whisk. Set over medium heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon and scraping bottom and sides of saucepan. Cook until mixture is thick enough to coat back of the wooden spoon, about 20 minutes.
• Remove saucepan from heat. Add butter, one piece at a time, stirring with wooden spoon until smooth. Pour lemon curd into the shells until three-quarters full. Transfer tartlets to refrigerator for 30 minutes.
• Using your fingers, rub the pansy petals with water. Place a moistened pansy in the center of each tartlet. Reheat the reserved jam until melted; generously and gently brush the tops with jam. Refrigerate in an airtight container until serving.

PUMPKIN TARTLETS

Steps:

• Spray 2 (24 count) mini muffin trays with nonstick cooking spray.
• Soften the gelatin in a small bowl by combining it with the cold water, stirring with a fork.
• Set aside.
• Heat the cream in a small pot over low heat until hot but not simmering. Remove it from the heat and whisk in the softened gelatin. Set aside and let cool to room temperature.
• In the bowl of a standing mixer, add the cream cheese and beat until smooth. Add the brown sugar, 2 teaspoons of the pumpkin pie spice, salt, and vanilla. Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula. Add the sour cream, maple syrup and pumpkin pie filling. Mix until well blended. Slowly drizzle in the heavy cream and gelatin mixture.
• Evenly divide the pumpkin filling among the 2 muffin tins, about 1 1/2 tablespoons per muffin. Once all of the cups are filled put a ginger snap cookie onto the pumpkin filling in each tin. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until set, about 2 hours.
• To remove, put some hot water in a sheet tray. Put the muffin tins in the hot water for 30 seconds. Arrange a clean sheet pan on top of the muffin tin and invert. Carefully lift the muffin tray up to release the tarts. Arrange them on a serving platter.
• In a chilled bowl add the cream, powdered sugar, and remaining 1/2 teaspoon of the pumpkin pie spice. Beat with a hand mixer until stiff peaks form. Put a teaspoon dollop of whipped cream on top of each tart before serving.

CHOCOLATE TARTLETS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray 5 (4 1/2-inch) tartlet pans with nonstick spray.
• Divide the cookie dough into 5 equal-sized balls. Press each dough ball into the tartlet pans; making sure it covers the sides and bottoms. Put the pans on a cookie sheet and bake until golden, about 15 to 18 minutes. Remove the pans from the oven and let cool completely. Turn the oven down to 325 degrees F.
• Put the chopped chocolate into a bowl. Add the heavy cream to a small saucepan over low heat. Bring the cream up to a low simmer. Pour the hot cream over the chocolate. Stir or whisk the chocolate and cream until smooth and melted. Stir in the corn syrup, sugar, and salt. Whisk in the beaten egg. Ladle the filling into the cooled tart shells and bake until the filling is set and the surface is glossy, about 15 to18 minutes. Remove the tartlets from the oven and let cool. Garnish with whipped cream and chocolate shavings and serve.

SAVOURY PARMESAN TARTLETS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Roll out pastry sheet on a lightly floured work surface to a large oblong measuring 30 x 40cm. Stamp out 24 rounds with a 6.5cm round cutter, then carefully place them in fairy cake or muffin tins to form tiny tarts. Prick the bases with a fork.
• Brush the pastry with the beaten egg, scatter with the parmesan and bake for 10-12 mins until golden. Scrunch the pastry trimmings together, then re-roll and stamp out 4 more rounds. Glaze and bake as before. When all the pastry cases come out of the oven, roast the cherry tomato halves on a baking tray for 8 mins. The cases will keep in a tin for up to 3 days or freeze for 3 months. The tomatoes will keep in the fridge for 24 hrs.
• To serve, fill some cases with a teaspoon of hummus, a cherry tomato and a few snipped chives. Fill others with soft cheese, a twirl of salmon, dill and black pepper and capers, if you like.