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Monday, August 6, 2007

Think You Can Cook Better Than a 5th Grader?


Notice the look of concentration on my kids' faces as they nimbly prepare summer peach and blueberry tarts 100% from scratch. These kids make it look so easy.



I hope my kids will walk away from my cooking class with the idea of what I learned early on in life. There is a simple and astonishing joy to be had from making something out of nothing. From working with your hands to create something beautiful, one of a kind, and irresistably edible.

Blueberry and Peach Tart Recipe


To Make Crust:

Mix 1 .5 cups of flour, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 2 tablespoons sugar in bowl.

Add 10 tablespoons of cold butter.


I prefer to use the hand mixing method. Using your fingers, rub the butter and flour together to create a cornmeal like consistency.


Mix in 2 egg yolks.


Add 2-3 tablespoons of ice water.


Form the dough into a ball with your hands.


Flatten, wrap, and freeze for 15 minutes.

***Pre-heat the oven to 425 degrees.

Make Fruit Filling:


Peel 2-3 fresh peaches. Cut into 1/4 inch slices.


Add 1 pint blueberries and 2 tablespoons sugar


Add 2 tablespoons of lemon juice, and zest of one lemon, chopped. Mix well.


Roll out the dough. If you want to make individual tarts, divide the dough evenly and roll into a ball and roll out. The dough recipe makes 4 small tarts, 2 medium tarts, or 1 large tart.


Arrange fruit mixture on tart.


With a pastry brush , brush melted butter and honey mixture the dough and fruit,


Finish the tart by rolling up the sides and pinching to secure.


Brush some additional butter and honey mixture on top of the finished tart.
This beautiful, one-of-a-kind summer tart is ready to go into the oven for 20-25 minutes, or until brown and crispy.



Voila!

1 comment:

mishka said...

yumm, your students are lucky kids! they probably thought they'd be making lemonade popsicles all summer long.