Showing posts with label dessert. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dessert. Show all posts

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Little Tart........





 Little Round Tarts.....


So Cute ....And so Yummy!!!!!
It's a little round version of a pop tart....but from scratch. And, like, a million times yummier!!!

We made 3 flavors.
Blackberry, Peach and Brown Sugar Cinnamon.

The cinnamon is my favorite!!!
The kids prefer the peach.
Dad likes the Blackberry

Nutella would be awesome......but we were out. Sad but true.


I started with my favorite pastry recipe. It is the one that came with my food processor.
It is the flakiest crust ever.
If you don't want to make your own. The pillsbury role out crusts are pretty fantastic. Always flakey ...zero hassle.

Pastry Recipe from Cuisenart


3 cups all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon baking powder
16 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut in ½-inch pieces, well chilled
2 tablespoons shortening (Crisco), cut in ½-inch pieces, well chilled
5 to 8 tablespoons ice water

How to do  the pastry.....

Insert the metal blade. Process the flour, salt and baking powder to sift, 10 seconds. Add the well chilled butter and shortening. Use short rapid pulses until the mixture resembles coarse corn meal and no pieces of butter larger than a “pea” remain visible, 15 to 20 pulses. Sprinkle half the maximum ice water on the flour and butter mixture, then pulse 5 or 6 times. The dough will be crumbly, but should begin to hold together when a small amount is picked up and pressed together. Sprinkle on more water, a teaspoon (two for the two-crust recipe) at a time, with 2 to 3 quick pulses after each addition, adding just enough water for the dough to hold together easily when pressed into a ball. Add the liquid sparingly so that the dough is not sticky. Do not over process or the pastry will be tough, not tender and flaky.

Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Press together into a ball, then flatten into a disk about 6 –inches in diameter (two disks for the two-crust recipe). Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour before continuing to allow the glutens in the flour to rest. The dough will keep refrigerated for up to 3 days, or may be frozen (double wrapped) for up to a month, thaw at room temperature for an hour before using. 
Now for the tarts.
You will need some fillings. I used spreadable fruit. If you use jam... I would add a  tablespoon of cornstarch mixed with a tablespoon of water....Stir into a 1/2 cup jam.I also made a paste of brown sugar cinnamon and softened butter like for cinnamon rolls. A 1/2 cup of filling does 10 to 12 tarts.
1 egg whipped smooth. And a pastry brush.
Some icing. And sprinkles if you like......

How to assemble the tarts


Roll the chilled disk out into a big circle (or take out of box and unroll if using store bought). It needs rolled out to be about an 1/8th inch thick. I always roll my crusts out on a floured dish towel. It is how my Granny did it. It always worked well for her...... She made amazing pie.




Using a 3 inch round cutter ( If you don't have one, you could use a clean soup/veggie can with the top and bottom removed). 
Cut out your little crusts. 

Put your little circle on a baking sheet and brush with a egg wash. Put a spoonful of filling in the middle. Then top with another circle. Press edges together and seal with the prongs of a fork. Poke a few holes in the little tart to let steam escape 
(Heart shape is nice)....




   Bake until golden and flaky.......




  Remove from the pan and let cool on a rack......

The are perfectly good to eat just like this !!!!!

But if you want to get fancy.....


  These are the peach .......



   Very Pink Blackberry.....



 Cinnamon Brown Sugar..........




We made about 30.





After school snack rocked today!

Happy Baking .... XO!!

















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Thursday, August 16, 2012

Sugar Cookie Heaven.........





I had not intended to post about these cookies. But they turned out........ just that good.

My sweet girl BrieElly wanted to learn to bake cookies.
So, I found my old recipe for soft sugar cookies and away we went. 
I shot a few instagrams to remember the day. 
I believe this girl has the magic. Because they turned out amazing!!!! Just perfect. It had been years since I made this recipe.....I had forgotten just how good there are.
Brie said, "I bet this is how cookies taste in Heaven." I believe she is correct.
They are crisp on the outside and super chewy in the middle.
And they are pretty.
Pretty heavenly !!!

I have a couple secret ingredients that make them extra wonderful........Lemon and lemon.



Ingredients


  • 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup softened butter
  • 1 1/2 cups white sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 4 Tablespoons sour cream
  • 1 or 2 teaspoons of fresh lemon zest
  • 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice.
  • Sugar sprinkles for the tops.

How to Make


Preheat oven to 375 
In a small bowl, combine flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. 
In a mixing bowl, cream together butter and sugar until fluffy. Beat in the egg and vanilla. Gradually blend in dry ingredients. Add the sour cream,lemon juice and zest. Give it a good mix.
Roll rounded teaspoons of dough into balls and place on a ungreased cookie sheet. They puff up like mad. So leave lots of room. Flatten slightly with a glass dipped in sugar. Sprinkle with pretty sugar sprinkles.
Bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until slightly golden Let sit for a minute .... then lift onto a cooling rack.
Cool then store in a air tight container.
If you want to keep them crisp and chewy. Store in a tin.

Tips.......

These tips are things I have taught the girls to make sure their cookies always come out fabulous.
Use your whipping attachment for your mixer to cream sugar, butter and eggs. Switch to paddle for dry ingredients.
Always make sure butter is at room temp. before using.
Good quality vanilla is worth every penny.
Cooling racks are a girls best friend.
Always try to make cookies all the same size for even baking.
And last but not least......... Boys don't like bimbos. 
They like strong good girls........So be smart, confident and bake them cookies.

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Linked here.......

Whipperberry


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Tuesday, November 10, 2009

How to Eat an Apple!!




How yummy do these look? They taste even better!!
I had never made home made caramel before. Very easy!!




I used this recipe. From Chow.com.




Ooooey Gooooey!!
Stuffed with chocolate ganache.
I only ate one....o.k.... two...oh who's counting

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