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Italian New Year's - Pear and Almond Crostata
Author/Submitted by: Alan Tardi and Karen Bussen, Follonico, NYC.
Servings: 12
Categories:
Chocolate
/
Desserts
Ingredients:
pastry: 1/2
cup
butter,
softened
1/4
cup
granulated sugar 1
large
egg yolk 2 1/2
cups
all-purpose flour,
unsifted
1/8
teaspoon
salt
filling: 4
large
ripe pears,
peeled and cored
2
tablespoons
pear brandy 3
large
eggs 1/4
cup
almond paste 2
tablespoons
granulated sugar 1/2
cup
all-purpose flour,
unsifted
1/2
cup
heavy cream
chocolate sauce: 4
ounces
bittersweet chocolate,
chopped
1
tablespoon
butter 1
tablespoon
heavy cream
optional ingredient: 2
tablespoons
confectioners' sugar
Directions:
Several hours or the day before serving prepare Pastry: In medium-size
bowl, with electric mixer on medium speed, beat butter and granulated sugar
until light and fluffy. Beat in yolk until well mixed. Reduce mixer speed
to low. Gradually beat in flour and salt. Gather dough into a ball, flatten
to a 5" round and wrap in plastic. Refrigerate pastry at least one hour or
overnight. When pastry has chilled, between 2 sheets of floured waxed
paper, roll out to a 13" round. Remove top paper and invert pastry into 11"
tart pan with removable bottom, allowing excess to extend over edge. Remove
remaining sheet of waxed paper. Fold excess pastry inside so that it is
even around top edge with rim of pan; press pastry against the side to make
an even thickness. Wrap and refrigerate pastry crust until ready to bake
(no longer than 24 hours). Heat oven to 350F. Prepare Filling: Cut pears
lengthwise into 1" thick slices. In medium size bowl, combine pears and
brandy. In another medium bowl, with electric mixer on medium speed, beat
eggs, almond paste and granulated sugar until well mixed. Beat in flour and
cream until smooth. Arrange pear slices spoke fashion in chilled pastry
crust. Place several slices in center. Add any brandy remaining in bowl to
egg mixture and pour over pears. Bake tart 35-40 minutes or until a
toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool completely on wire
rack. Up to 30 minutes before serving prepare Chocolate Sauce: In top of
double boiler over hot not boiling water, heat chocolate and butter until
melted. Remove from heat and stir in cream until smooth mixture forms. Keep
warm in double boiler over hot water. Just before serving pour sauce into
pitcher. To serve, remove rim from tart pan and place tart on serving
plate. Sift confectioners' sugar around edge of tart, if desired. Cut tart
into 12 wedges and serve with chocolate sauce. Store any leftovers in
refrigerator. Country Living January 1998, page 108.
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