Ingredients

for pastry:

• 260 gr flour
• 1 heaping tsp ground cardamom
• 1 Tbsp freshly ground Meyer lemon zest
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 7 Tbsp butter, cold and cut into pieces
• 1 egg yolk
• 1 Tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 2 Tbsp water, cold

for chocolate ganache filling:

• 10 oz. heavy cream
• 1/4 cup dried lavender buds
• 12 oz. dark chocolate, chopped
• 3 Tbsp honey
• 2 Tbsp butter
• coarse salt
• dried lavender buds

Preparation

Using a food processor or pastry cutter, mix the flour, cardamom, lemon zest, and sugar until combined. Cut the cold butter into the flour mixture until the size of small peas. Add the egg yolk and gradually add the lemon juice and water just until a dough begins to form when you press it between two fingers. Do not overmix. Form the pastry into a ball and refrigerate for at least one hour. (or stick it in the freezer for a shorter amount of time.) Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Remove the pastry dough from the fridge and press the dough into the tart pan. Prick the bottom of the dough all over with a fork, cover with parchment paper, and weigh down using dry beans or pie weights. Return to freezer for a few minutes if the dough has softened. Bake for ~13-15 minutes until the edges just begin to turn golden. Remove the beans and parchment paper and continue to bake for 3-5 minutes more, until the crust has completely turned golden brown. Remove from oven and let cool.

In a saucepan with a tight-fitting lid, heat the cream and lavender buds until just barely a simmer. Cover and remove from heat. Let steep for at least ten minutes. Place the chocolate and honey in a heat-proof bowl, place a fine mesh strainer on top, and set aside. Add the butter to the cream and lavender bud mixture and return to a simmer. Once the cream simmers, remove from heat and pour the hot cream through the sieve onto the prepared chocolate, making sure to press all of the liquid from the lavender buds. Discard the lavender buds. Let the chocolate sit for 2-3 minutes. Whisk until the chocolate is completely melted and evenly distributed. Immediately pour into the prepared tart crust. Using your fingers (or a mortar and pestle), rub together an equal but small amount of coarse salt and dried lavender buds. Sprinkle liberally over the top of the chocolate. Let the tart set at room temperature until completely cool, about 1-2 hours. Serve at room temperature.

Desserts for Breakfast

Ingredients

For crust:

• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 10 tablespoons unsalted butter, chilled and cut into 1/2-inch cubes
• 3 to 5 tablespoons ice water

For filling:

• 1 1/4 cups pure maple syrup
• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• 1 cup (packed) dark brown sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 3 large eggs
• 2 tablespoons brandy
• 3 ounces bittersweet (at least 60% cacao) chocolate, finely chopped
• 1 1/4 cups unsalted roasted cashews

For serving:

• 2 (8-ounce) containers crème fraîche

Preparation

Make crust: In food processor, pulse flour and salt until combined. Add butter and pulse just until mixture resembles coarse meal with some small (roughly pea-size) butter lumps. Drizzle 3 tablespoons ice water evenly over mixture and pulse or gently stir with fork until incorporated.

Squeeze small handful of dough: If it doesn’t hold together, add more ice water 1/2 tablespoon at a time, pulsing or stirring until incorporated. Do not overwork dough, or pastry will be tough.

Turn dough out onto lightly floured work surface, gather into ball, and flatten into disk. Wrap in plastic wrap and chill until firm, about 1 hour. (Dough can be made ahead and frozen up to 1 week. Defrost in refrigerator before proceeding.)

On lightly floured surface, roll out dough to 12-inch round, then transfer to pie pan. Trim edge, leaving 1/2-inch overhang, then fold overhang under and crimp edge decoratively. Prick bottom and side of shell all over with fork, then chill shell 30 minutes. (Shell can be assembled to this point ahead: Wrap entire pan well in plastic wrap and refrigerate up to 2 days, or freeze up to 1 week. Defrost in refrigerator before continuing.)

While shell chills, preheat oven to 425°F.

Line shell with foil and fill with pie weights or dried beans, then bake until pastry is set and pale golden on rim, about 15 minutes. Carefully remove foil and weights and bake shell until pale golden all over, 5 to 7 minutes more. Cool on rack.

Make filling and bake pie: In medium saucepan over moderately high heat, simmer maple syrup, uncovered, until reduced to 3/4 cup, about 10 minutes. Carefully whisk in butter (mixture may splatter), then sugar and salt. Remove from heat and let cool to warm room temperature.

In medium bowl, whisk together eggs and brandy. Whisk egg mixture into cooled maple syrup mixture.

Preheat oven to 325°F. Spread chopped chocolate in even layer over bottom of prepared crust. Sprinkle nuts in second even layer, then pour filling over nuts. Bake until filling is puffed and center is just set, 45 to 60 minutes. Cool in pan on rack. (Pie can be made up to 1 day ahead. Let cool, then cover loosely and store at room temperature.)

To serve: Using electric mixer, beat crème fraîche until it holds soft peaks. Serve with pie.

Epicurious, November 2007

Ingredients

• 3 vidalia onions, thinly sliced
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 1/2 c. sour cream
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1/4 c. unsalted butter
• 2 tbsp. grated Parmesan cheese
• pinch paprika
• 1 tbsp. hot sauce
• 9" pie shell, baked
• 1/4 c. grated Parmsean for topping

Preparation

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).

In a medium skillet, cook onions in butter for about 10 minutes, or until clear and soft; stir often. Reserve juices.

In a large bowl, mix onions with eggs and sour cream. Stir in onion juices, butter and cheese. Add salt and pepper and hot sauce to taste. Make sure all ingredients are well blended and then pour into the pie shell.

Sprinkle grated cheese and paprika on top of pie. Bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes. Lower temperature to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) and bake for an additional 30 to 40 minutes, or until lightly browned on top. Let cool for a few minutes to settle before slicing.

Serves 8, one 9" pie

Allrecipes.com

Ingredients

For tart shell:

• 2 tablespoons almonds with skins, toasted and cooled
• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup confectioners sugar
• Pinch of fine sea salt
• 1/2 stick cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
• 1 large egg yolk
• 3 1/2 tablespoons fruity olive oil (preferably French)

For lemon curd:

• 3 large lemons
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 2 teaspoons cornstarch
• 2 whole large eggs plus 2 large yolks
• 1/2 stick unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
• 2 tablespoons fruity olive oil (preferably French)

Preparation

Make tart shell:

Preheat oven to 425°F with rack in middle.

Pulse almonds with flour, sugar, and sea salt to a fine powder in a food processor. Add butter and pulse until mixture resembles coarse meal with some small (roughly pea-size) butter lumps.

Add yolk and oil and pulse until just incorporated and a very soft dough has formed.

Spread dough evenly over bottom and up side of a 9" tart pan with offset spatula. Chill until firm, about 30 minutes.

Bake shell until golden brown all over, about 13 minutes. Transfer to a rack to cool completely, about 30 minutes.

Make curd:

Grate enough zest from lemons to measure 1 tablespoon, then squeeze 3/4 cup juice from lemons.

Whisk together lemon zest and juice, sugar, cornstarch, whole eggs, and yolks in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat, whisking constantly. Boil, whisking, 2 minutes.

Remove from heat and whisk in butter and oil until smooth.

Assemble tart:

Pour lemon curd into cooled shell and chill until set, at least 2 hours.

Gourmet, May 2008

Ingredients

Crust

• 3/4 cup whole-wheat pastry flour
• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons sugar, plus 1 teaspoon for sprinkling
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 4 tablespoons cold butter (1/2 stick), cut into small pieces
• 1 tablespoon canola oil
• 1/4 cup ice water, plus more as needed
• 1 large egg, separated (save the white to glaze the pastry)
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice, or white vinegar

Filling & glaze

• 1/4 cup slivered almonds (1 ounce)
• 1/4 cup whole-wheat flour (regular or pastry flour)
• 1/4 cup plus 3 tablespoons sugar
• 4 cups mixed berries, such as blackberries, raspberries and blueberries
• 2 teaspoons lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon water
• 2 tablespoons raspberry, blueberry or blackberry jam

Preparation

To prepare crust: Whisk whole-wheat flour, all-purpose flour, 2 tablespoons sugar and salt in a medium bowl. Cut in butter with a pastry blender or your fingers until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs with a few larger pieces. Add oil and stir with a fork to blend. Mix 1/4 cup water, egg yolk and 1 teaspoon lemon juice (or vinegar) in a measuring cup. Add just enough of the egg yolk mixture to the flour mixture, stirring with a fork, until the dough clumps together. (Add a little water if the dough seems too dry.) Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead several times. Form the dough into a ball, then flatten into a disk. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil and coat with cooking spray.

To prepare filling & assemble tart: Spread almonds in a small baking pan. Bake until light golden and fragrant, about 5 minutes. Let cool. Combine whole-wheat flour, 1/4 cup sugar (or Splenda) and the toasted almonds in a food processor or blender; process until the almonds are ground.

Roll the dough into a rough 13- to 14-inch circle on a lightly floured surface, about 1/4 inch thick. Roll it back over the rolling pin, brush off excess flour, and transfer to the prepared baking sheet. Spread the almond mixture over the pastry, leaving a 2-inch border all around. Toss berries with the remaining 3 tablespoons sugar (or Splenda) and 2 teaspoons lemon juice in a large bowl; spoon over the almond mixture. Fold the border up and over the filling, pleating as necessary. Blend the reserved egg white and 1 tablespoon water with a fork; brush lightly over the tart rim. Sprinkle with the remaining 1 teaspoon sugar.

Bake the tart for 15 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 350°F and bake until the crust is golden and the juices are bubbling, 30 to 40 minutes. Leaving the tart on the parchment (or foil), carefully slide it onto a wire rack. Let cool.

Shortly before serving, melt jam in a small saucepan over low heat; brush over the berries. Cut the tart into wedges.

Eating Well

Ingredients

Raspberry Preserves:

• 2 cups (225 grams) (8 ounces) frozen raspberries, unsweetened
• 1/4 cup (50 grams) granulated white sugar, or to taste
• lemon juice

Linzer Torte:

• 1 cup (150 grams) whole almonds (can use blanched almonds)
• 1/2 cup (60 grams) whole hazelnuts
• 1 1/2 cups (195 grams) all purpose flour
• 2/3 cup (135 grams) granulated white sugar
• Zest of one lemon
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 14 tablespoons (195 grams) cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces
• 2 large (40 grams) egg yolks
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• Confectioners’ (Icing or Powdered) Sugar for dusting

Preparation

Raspberry Preserves: Place the frozen unsweetened raspberries and the sugar in a small saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce the heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, for about 15 to 20 minutes or until most of the liquid has evaporated. Do not let it burn. Remove from heat and pour into a heatproof measuring cup. Add a drop or two of lemon juice. Cover and place in the refrigerator while you make the crust. (The raspberry preserves can be made several days in advance. Cover and store in the refrigerator.)

Linzer Torte: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (177 degrees C) and position rack in the center of the oven. Place the almonds on a baking sheet and bake for about 8-10 minutes or until lightly browned and fragrant. Then place the hazelnuts on a baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes or until fragrant and the outer skins begin to flake and crack. Remove from oven and place on wire rack to cool. Once the almonds and hazelnuts have cooled, place in a food processor and process, along with 1/2 cup (65 grams) of flour, until finely ground. Add the remaining flour, sugar, lemon zest, ground cinnamon, ground cloves, salt, and baking powder and process until evenly combined. Add the butter and pulse until the mixture looks like fine crumbs. Add the 2 egg yolks and vanilla extract and pulse until the dough just begins to come together.

Gather the dough into a ball and then divide it into two pieces, one slightly larger than the other. Wrap the smaller ball of dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for about an hour, or until firm enough to roll. Take the larger ball of dough and press it onto the bottom and up the sides of a buttered 9-10 inch (23-25 cm) tart pan or springform pan. If using a springform pan press the dough about 1 inch (2.5 cm) up the sides of the pan.

Take the cooled raspberry preserves and spread them over the bottom of the crust. Cover with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator. Once the smaller ball of dough is firm, remove from the fridge and roll it between two sheets of wax paper into a circle that is about 12 inches (30 cm) in diameter. Using a pastry wheel or pizza cutter, cut the pastry into 1 inch (2.5 cm) strips. Place the strips of pastry on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet, cover with plastic wrap, and place in the refrigerator for about 10 minutes. When strips are firm, using an offset spatula, gently transfer the strips to the tart pan. Lay half the strips, evenly spaced, across the torte and then turn the pan a quarter turn and lay the remaining strips across the first strips. If desired, weave the top strips over and under the bottom strips. (Do not worry if the pastry tears, just press it back together as best as you can.) Trim the edges of the strips to fit the tart pan.

If you have any leftover scraps of dough, roll them into a long rope. Don’t worry if the rope breaks. Just take the pieces of rope and place them around the outer edge of the tart where the ends of the lattice strips meets the bottom crust. Using a fork or your fingers, press the rope into the edges of the bottom crust to seal the edges.

Bake the tart in a preheated 350 degree F (177 degree C) oven for about 30 - 35 minutes or until the pastry is golden brown and set. Let the torte cool on a wire rack before unmolding. Although you can serve this torte the same day as it is baked I like to cover and store it overnight before serving. This torte is lovely served warm with a dollop of whipped cream. Dust the top of the torte with confectioners’ sugar.

This torte will keep for a few days at room temperature or in the refrigerator for about a week. It can also be frozen.

Serves 8.

Joy of Baking.com

Ingredients

• Pastry dough / Pie crust
• 2 lbs fresh apricots [or any other fruit-pie fruit]
• 1 stick unsalted butter
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon grated nutmeg

Preparation

Preheat oven to 400ºF with rack in lower third.

Roll out dough on a lightly floured surface with a lightly floured rolling pin into a 13-inch round. Fit into a 9-inch pie plate. Trim excess dough, leaving a 1/2-inch overhang. Fold overhang under and press against rim of pie plate, then crimp decoratively. Chill pie shell in freezer 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, pull apricots (with skins) apart into halves, discarding pits. Melt butter in a small heavy saucepan over medium heat, then stir in sugar, flour, and nutmeg and remove from heat. Cool mixture until firm enough to crumble, 10 to 15 minutes.

Put apricots in pie shell and crumble butter mixture over them. Bake pie, with a foil-lined baking pan on rack below it (to catch drips), 10 minutes.

Reduce oven temperature to 350ºF and continue to bake until top is golden, 50 minutes to 1 hour more.

Cool pie to warm or room temperature on a rack.

Gourmet.com

Ingredients

• 2 c. sugar
• 1/2 c. flour
• 1 stick butter
• 3 eggs
• scant 1/4 tsp. baking soda
• 1 tbsp. vanilla
• 1 c. buttermilk
• Two pie crusts

Preparation

Cream sugar, flour, and butter. Blend in eggs. Add baking soda, vanilla, and buttermilk. Pour into two (yes, two) crusts. Bake at 300–325 degrees, for at least 1 hour or until set.

Ingredients

For crust

• 3 cups all purpose flour
• 2 1/2 teaspoons sugar
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 2/3 cup chilled solid vegetable shortening, cut into pieces
• 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons (1 1/4 sticks) chilled unsalted butter, cut into pieces
• 10 tablespoons (about) ice water

For filling

• 3 1/2 cups 1/2-inch-thick slices trimmed rhubarb (1 1/2 pounds untrimmed)
• 1 16-ounce container strawberries, hulled, halved (about 3 1/2 cups)
• 1/2 cup (packed) golden brown sugar
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup cornstarch
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 large egg yolk beaten to blend with 1 teaspoon water (for glaze)

Preparation

Make crust: Combine flour, sugar and salt in processor. Using on/off turns, cut in shortening and butter until coarse meal forms. Blend in enough ice water 2 tablespoons at a time to form moist clumps. Gather dough into ball; cut in half. Flatten each half into disk. Wrap separately in plastic; refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Keep chilled. Let dough soften slightly at room temperature before rolling.)

Make filling: Preheat oven to 400°F. Combine first 7 ingredients in large bowl. Toss gently to blend.

Roll out 1 dough disk on floured work surface to 13-inch round. Transfer to 9-inch-diameter flass pie dish. Trim excess dough, leaving 3/4-inch overhang.

Roll out second dough disk on lightly floured surface to 13-inch round. Cut into fourteen 1/2-inch-wide strips. Spoon filling into crust. Arrange 7 dough strips atop filling, spacing evenly. Form lattice by placing remaining dough strips in opposite direction atop filling. Trim ends of dough strips even with overhang of bottom crust. Fold strip ends and overhang under, pressing to seal. Crimp edges decoratively.

Brush glaze over crust. transfer pie to baking sheet. Bake 20 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 350°F. Bake pie until golden and filling thickens, about 1 hour 25 minutes. Transfer pie to rack and cool completely.

Bon Appetit, April 1997

Ingredients

CRUST

• 1 1/4 cups whole-wheat pastry flour
• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 4 tablespoons cold unsalted butter
• 1/4 cup reduced-fat sour cream
• 3 tablespoons canola oil
• 4 tablespoons ice water

FILLING

• 6 cups sliced peeled peaches (6-8 medium, ripe but firm)
• 1 cup fresh or frozen raspberries
• 2/3 cup sugar, plus 1 teaspoon for sprinkling
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 3 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1 large egg white, lightly beaten, for brushing

Preparation

To prepare crust: Whisk whole-wheat flour, all-purpose flour, 2 tablespoons sugar and salt in a large bowl. Cut butter into small pieces and, with your fingers, quickly rub them into the dry ingredients until the pieces are smaller but still visible. Add sour cream and oil; toss with a fork to combine with the dry ingredients. Sprinkle water over the mixture. Toss with a fork until evenly moist. Knead the dough with your hands in the bowl a few times; the mixture will still be a little crumbly. Turn out onto a clean surface and knead a few more times, until the dough just holds together. Divide the dough in half and shape into 5-inch-wide disks. Wrap each in plastic and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.

Meanwhile, prepare filling: Combine peaches, raspberries, 2/3 cup sugar and lemon juice in a large bowl; toss well to coat. Let stand for 5 minutes. Transfer the fruit mixture to a colander set over a medium bowl and let drain for 30 minutes. Pour the collected juice into a small saucepan. Return the fruit to the large bowl. Bring the juice to a boil over high heat and cook, gently swirling the pan, until reduced, syrupy and slightly darkened in color, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the syrup to the fruit along with cornstarch; gently toss until the cornstarch is completely dissolved.

To assemble & bake pie: Position a rack in the center of the oven and place a foil-lined baking sheet on the rack below; preheat to 375°F.

Remove the dough from the refrigerator; let stand for 5 minutes to warm slightly. Roll one portion between sheets of parchment or wax paper into a 12-inch circle. Peel off the top sheet and invert the dough into a 9-inch pie pan. Peel off the remaining paper. Trim the crust with kitchen shears or a butter knife so it overhangs the edge of the pan by 1 inch. Scrape the filling into the crust. Roll the remaining portion of dough between sheets of parchment or wax paper into another 12-inch circle. Peel off the top sheet of paper and invert the dough onto the fruit. Trim the top crust so it overhangs evenly. Tuck the top crust under the bottom crust, sealing the two together and making a plump edge. Flute the edge with your fingers. Brush the top and edge with egg white and sprinkle with the remaining 1 teaspoon sugar. Cut 6 steam vents in the top crust.

Bake the pie on the center rack until the crust is golden brown and the fruit is bubbling, 50 to 60 minutes. Let cool on a wire rack for at least 1 1/2 hours.

EatingWell.com