STRAWBERRY ALMOND TART RECIPES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°.
• To prepare crust, place crackers in a food processor; process until crumbly. Add 2 tablespoons sugar, butter, and water; pulse just until moist. Place mixture in a 9-inch round removable-bottom tart pan coated with cooking spray, pressing into bottom and up sides of pan to 3/4 inch. Bake at 350° for 10 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool completely on a wire rack.
• To prepare filling, combine cream cheese, 1/4 cup sugar, and extracts in a medium bowl; stir until smooth. Spread mixture evenly over bottom of tart shell.
• To prepare topping, place 2 cups strawberries in food processor; process until pureed. Combine strawberry puree, 2/3 cup sugar, and cornstarch in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring with a whisk. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Reduce heat to low; cook 1 minute. Remove glaze from heat, and cool to room temperature, stirring occasionally.
• Combine 4 cups strawberries and juice; toss to coat. Arrange berries, bottoms up, in a circular pattern over filling. Spoon half of glaze evenly over berries (reserve remaining glaze for another use). Sprinkle nuts around edge. Cover and chill 3 hours.
• Note: You can use either an 8 x 12-inch rectangular pan or a 9-inch round tart pan. The recipe also works with a 9-inch springform pan and a 10-inch pie plate.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees. In the bowl of a food processor, combine flour and salt. Cut 1/2 cup (1 stick) plus 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, chilled, into cubes, and add to bowl. Process until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar and egg yolks. Pulse until the mixture begins to form clumps. Transfer to plastic wrap, and flatten into a disk. Chill until very firm (about 1 hour).
• Coarsely grate the pastry into a 12-inch loose-bottomed, fluted tart pan. Using the palm of your hand, gently press the pastry evenly into the pan, making sure to cover the bottom and sides of the tart pan completely. Line the pastry with foil, and fill with pie weights or dried beans. Transfer to oven, and bake 10 minutes. Remove from oven, and carefully remove the foil and weights. Return to oven, and bake until very light brown, about 10 minutes. Remove from oven. Transfer to a wire rack, and let cool. Reduce oven temperature to 300 degrees.
• Place almonds in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse the almonds until fine. Remove from processor, and place in a mixing bowl.
• Let remaining 1 cup (2 sticks) of butter come to room temperature. Place the butter and sugar in the bowl of a food processor. Process until the mixture is light and creamy. Add almonds and eggs, one at a time.
• Spread mixture into the cooled pastry, and bake until top is golden brown, about 45 to 50 minutes. Remove from oven. Transfer to a wire rack, and let cool.
• Place the strawberries standing upright on tart, in a circular pattern. Dust the tart with confectioners' sugar.