Valentine Berry Flan Recipes

MIXED FRUIT TART

Steps:

• For the crust: In a large bowl, beat together the butter and sugar with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the salt, egg and cream; beat until incorporated. Add the flour and beat until a dough comes together. Form the dough into a disc and then press it evenly into the bottom and up the sides of a 10-inch tart pan with a removable bottom; if necessary, use a piece of plastic wrap to help keep the dough from sticking. Refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour, or freeze for 30 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line the tart crust with foil and fill with pie weights. Bake until the edges of the crust look set and just barely golden, about 15 minutes. Carefully remove the foil and pie weights, and continue to bake until the crust is golden brown all over, about 20 minutes more. Cool completely.
• For the filling: In a large bowl, combine the cream cheese, sugar and vanilla, and beat with an electric mixer until soft and very creamy, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the cream and continue beating until the mixture holds stiff peaks, stopping occasionally to scrape the bowl with a rubber spatula, 2 to 3 minutes more.
• Spoon the cream cheese mixture into the cooled tart shell and smooth with an offset spatula. Top with the berries.
• Combine the apricot preserves and a splash of water in a small bowl and microwave until warm, about 45 seconds. Strain through a sieve into another bowl. Gently brush or spoon the apricot glaze over the berries.
• Serve the tart immediately, or refrigerate for up to 3 hours.

FRESH FRUIT FLAN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 10-by-15 inch jelly roll pan.
• For the crust, sift together the flour, cream of tartar, and baking soda into a mixing bowl. In a separate bowl, cream together white and confectioners' sugars, butter, vegetable oil, egg, and vanilla. Add the dry ingredients. Blend well. Spread the dough evenly on the bottom of the greased pan. Bake until golden brown, 10 to 12 minutes. Allow to cool completely.
• For the filling, cream together the cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla. Spread over the cooled crust. Arrange the fruit on the cream cheese filling and refrigerate.
• For the glaze, mix together the sugar and cornstarch in a small saucepan. Whisk in the water, orange juice, and lemon juice. Bring to a boil over medium heat; boil gently for one minute. Remove from heat and allow to cool completely.
• Spoon or brush the glaze evenly over the fruit. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

CHEF JOHN'S FRESH BERRY FOOL

Steps:

• Place raspberries, blackberries, and strawberries in a bowl. Add lemon zest, lemon juice, and 1/4 cup sugar. Stir until sugar is mixed with fruit and juices begin to form. Cover and refrigerate until chilled, about 1 hour.
• Place heavy cream and creme fraiche in a cold bowl. Add 1 tablespoon sugar and vanilla extract. Whisk until mixture has soft peaks and sharp lines, 5 to 8 minutes.
• Place some cookie crumbs in the bottom of each serving dish. Spoon in some of the fruit and a layer of whipped cream. Repeat layers, ending with a sprinkle of cookie crumbs.

VALENTINE BERRIES AND CREAM

Steps:

• Line a 9-in. heart-shaped or square pan with foil; set aside. In a large heavy saucepan over low heat, melt chocolate and shortening; stir until smooth. Pour into prepared pan, swirling to coat the bottom and 1-1/2 in. up the sides. , Refrigerate for 1 minute, then swirl the chocolate to reinforce sides of heart or box. Refrigerate for 30 minutes or until firm. Using foil, lift from pan; remove foil and place chocolate heart on a serving plate., In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese and butter until smooth. Combine confectioners' sugar and cocoa; add to creamed mixture with milk and vanilla. Beat until smooth., Gently fold two-thirds of the whipped cream into cream cheese mixture. Spoon into heart. Insert star tip #32 into a pastry or plastic bag; fill with the remaining whipped cream. Pipe around the edge of heart. Garnish with strawberries.

FLAG BERRY TARTS

Steps:

• Make red and white tarts: In a small bowl in the microwave or a bowl set over a pan of simmering water, heat chocolate until it is just melted, about 1 1/2 minutes; stir until smooth. Using the back of a spoon, spread half the chocolate over bottom of each of 2 tart shells; refrigerate to set, at least 5 minutes. Meanwhile, heat raspberry jam in a small saucepan with about 1 tablespoon water; strain into a small bowl.
• Remove lined shells from refrigerator. Spread a third of the creme fraiche filling over bottom of each. Arrange red raspberries in rows in a single layer in one tart shell; brush berries with strained jam. Arrange another layer of rows on top; brush with jam. Set aside. Arrange golden raspberries in other shell, and dust with confectioners' sugar to completely coat. Set aside.
• Make blue tart: Heat apricot jam in a small saucepan with about 1 tablespoon water; strain into a medium bowl. Using a pastry brush, thinly coat bottom of tart shell; let cool. Spread remaining creme fraiche filling on top.Toss blueberries with remaining jam; tumble into tart shell. Arrange on a serving tray or board.

VANILLA FLAN WITH RASPBERRIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°F.
• In a saucepan over low heat combine 2 cups sugar and 1/2 cup water, stirring until sugar dissolves. Increase heat to high and boil without stirring until sugar caramelizes, swirling pan occasionally. Immediately pour into 2 (9-inch) pie dishes. Turn dishes, so bottom and sides are coated. Set aside.
• In a large bowl whisk together eggs, egg yolks and vanilla.
• Stir in whipping cream, milk and 1 1/2 cups sugar.
• Divide mixture among pie dishes.
• Place pie pans in a heavy baking pan, adding enough hot water to come up halfway up sides of pie dishes.
• Bake for 50-60 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes clean. Remove custards from water and cool. Refrigerate overnight (*can be prepared up to 2 days ahead.).
• Invert custards on platters; sprinkle with raspberries to serve.

VALENTINE BERRY FLAN

Steps:

• CRUST: Preheat oven to 425°F.
• Combine flour and icing sugar. Cream butter and gradually blend in flour mixture. Work with hands to form a smooth dough. Press evenly on bottom and sides of a 9-inch fluted pan with removeable bottom. Prick with a fork and chill 15 minutes.
• Bake for 7-10 minutes or until light golden. Cool thoroughly in pan on rack.
• FILLING:.
• Beat cream cheese, icing sugar and vanillla together until smooth. Whip cream until stiff peaks form and fold into cheese mixture. Spread evenly in a baked crust and cover attractively with fruit, making a heart shape.
• GLAZE:
• In a small saucepan on medium, heat jam and lemon juice to boiling. Remove from heat. Cool slightly. Pour evenly over flan.
• Let cool completely.
• NOTE: Freezing is not recommended. Serve flan immediately at room temperature for a maximum flavor.
• Great throught the year! Try different fruits to match the season - fresh or canned; grapes, apricots, blueberries, mandarins, kiwi, pineapple, blackberries, etc.