Checkerboard Pastry Tart

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Any fruit combined with cream cheese and lemon curd base will make a tasty and pretty tart!


http://www.puffpastry.com/videos-and-tips
 Check out these clever videos from Pepperidge Farms. This will give you great tips on how to use the puff pastry dough. My one hint is that you let it sit for 40 minutes then work with it. If it gets too soft it becomes unmanagable.

Checkerboard Pastry Tart

1 Box Pepperidge Farm Puff Pastry (2 sheets)
1 Large Egg (beaten)
8 Ounces Regular Cream Cheese
¼ Cup Powdered Sugar
¼ Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
1 Jar Lemon Curd (or homemade about 1 cup)
2-3 Cups Berries

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Line baking sheet with parchment paper. Decide what serving platter you will use prior to rolling out pastry dough.

Lightly flour a cutting board and gently unfold one pastry and roll it into desired size rectangle to fit serving platter.  The less you handle it, the better. Watch the Pepperidge Farm video for tips. Put dough on parchment lined baking sheet.

Beat egg. Roll out second piece into the same size as first.  Cut according to the chart.

Using the egg as glue, brush egg on the bottom crust where you will place the top piece. Place the pieces on top according to the chart. Pierce generously with fork.

 

Bake about 15 minutes until golden brown. It may puff up but will fall when cooled. Cool on rack.

 

Place on serving platter.

 

Mix softened cream cheese, powdered sugar and vanilla until smooth. Put heaping teaspoons of mixture in alternating squares.  Use a knife or spatula to shape into the square. Repeat the same process with the lemon curd in remaining squares. Top with berries.

Chill for at least 2 hours before serving. Using a pizza cutter cut into squares on platter. I use a plastic cutter so I do not damage my platter.

Have a yummy day!

JudeTheFoodie.com

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APPLE SHOOTERS

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 An original recipe by Jude Russo Caserta

1 Package Frozen Puff Pastry (defrost per package instructions)
1 Cup Raisins
2 Medium Apples (peeled and cored)
½ Cup Granulated Sugar
¼ Cup Flour
1 Tablespoon Ground Cinnamon
1 Teaspoon Freshly Grated Nutmeg
1 Teaspoon Allspice
2/3 Cup Vanilla Rum
1 Package Caramel Sauce

 

  1. Defrost Puff Pastry
  2. Preheat oven to 425o
  3. Put raisins in large microwavable bowl and cover with water.  Microwave for five minutes or until water is rapidly boiling. Drain and put back in microwavable bowl.
  4. Quarter Apples equally.  Add to bowl with raisins.
  5. Add Sugar, Flour, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Allspice and Rum. Stir well and microwave on high five minutes stirring once.
  6. Lightly spray cupcake pans with cooking spray.
  7. Meanwhile, gently unfold one sheet of Puff Pastry onto a lightly floured cutting board.  Use pizza cutter to cut in even quarters.
  8. Gently place one Puff Pastry square in cupcake tin using only three cups (two on one side, one on other).
  9. Spoon one apple piece with some raisins and juice in each cup. Bring the four points of pastry together and pinch to close at top leaving the opening on the sides.
  10. Bake for 15 minutes until golden brown. Remove from oven and let cool about 5 minutes. Gently remove and cool on rack.
  11. Serve warm with hot Caramel Sauce or whipped cream.

 

Makes 8 Apple Shooters