FRENCH RASPBERRY TART RECIPES

Steps:

• For the pastry, mix the butter and sugar in a bowl, then add the egg yolks to make a smooth paste. Add the flour and mix to bring the dough together in a ball. Wrap it in cling film and chill for up to 20–30 minutes until firm enough to roll.

  For the crème patissière, bring the milk to the boil with the vanilla pod and seeds, then remove the pan from the heat. Mix the egg yolks, sugar and both flours in a bowl to form a paste.

  Gradually add the warm milk to the egg and flour paste, removing the vanilla pod, and stir well until you have a smooth custard. Rinse out the milk pan and pour in the custard mixture. Bring it to the boil over a medium heat and stir continuously, until the custard is really thick. Remove the pan from the heat. Cover the surface of the crème patissière with cling film or greaseproof paper, then set aside to cool.

  Preheat the oven to 190°C/Fan 170°C. Roll out the pastry and use it to line a loose-bottomed 25cm tart tin or 8 individual 10cm loose-bottomed tart tins. Line the pastry with greaseproof paper and add baking beans, then bake for 10 minutes. Remove the paper and beans and put the pastry back in the oven for another 4–5 minutes to finish cooking. Set aside to cool.

  Carefully remove the pastry from the tin or tins and fill with the chilled crème patissière. Smooth the top with a damp palette knife. Arrange the raspberries on top in concentric circles. Warm the redcurrant jelly in a pan with a tablespoon of water. Using a pastry brush, generously paint the raspberries with the warm jelly, then leave to set. Serve with whipped cream.

Steps:

• In a small bowl combine sugar, flour, cornstarch and egg yolks.
• Beat with an electric mixer until thick and light yellow.
• In a 1 quart heavy non-aluminum saucepan heat the half-and-half over medium high heat.
• Stir constantly.
• When you see a few small bubbles start to rise up from the side of pan, remove from heat.
• Slowly pour 1/3 of the hot half-and-half, whisking fast and constantly as you pour.
• When it is well incorporated stir the warmed egg mixture back into the pan of milk, whisking constantly.
• Over medium low heat heat until the custard is very thick and a few bubbles begin to surface.
• Remove from heat.
• Stir in vanilla and butter.
• Lay a piece of plastic wrap over the surface to prevent a skin from forming.
• Cool completely.
• Spoon the cooled custard into the baked tart shell.
• Top with the raspberries, round ends up, working from the outside in a circular pattern until the surface is covered.
• In a small pan over low heat melt jelly, stirring constantly to prevent scorching.
• Evenly spoon warmed jelly over raspberries.
• Chill Completely.
• Offer whipped cream and serve.