I remember not too long ago when I would have looked at a dessert like this one and would not have had the confidence to try and replicate it myself.

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I am so glad I am over that!  This Tangerine Creme Brulee Tart looked way too good not to try.

I am so much more relaxed now about whether or not my attempts to try new recipes turn out or not.  Maybe it is because I know I can always try again and eventually will get it right.  Or maybe that is the key to getting it right after all…..just relax and go with it! All I know is the more challenging it looks, the more excited I am to try.   I used to read a recipe and if it had any cooking involved other than just the baking part it was a no-go!   Through lots of practice I now don’t give it a second thought.  Such as with this yummy tart.

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It is nice to have pictures to reference each step.  That  way you know what the recipe looks like at each stage.  After all, one persons “heat until thickened” could be completely different than what you might think thickened is!

To make the tart shells:

In the bowl of an electric mixer cream 1 stick of butter and 3/4 cup sifted confectioners sugar

tangerine

Add one large egg and mix until combined.

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Add 1 1/2 cup all purpose flour, 1/2 tsp cinnamon and 1 tablespoon cocoa powder and blend just until ingredients just come together.  Drop the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and flatten into a disk.  Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least one hour.

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While the dough is resting in the fridge it is time to make the Tangerine creme brulee filling.

In a large bowl whisk 6 egg yolks and 3 whole eggs and 2/3 cup sugar until pale.  Add 3 tbsp all purpose flour and one stick of butter which has been melted and cooled.  Whisk until incorporated.

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Add 2/3 cup tangerine juice (it only took 2 tangerines to get this much juice for me!) and the zest of two tangerines and whisk until combined. Pour this mixture into a saucepan and heat over medium heat, stirring constantly, until thickened.  Do not let it boil.  This took me about 10 minutes.  Remove from heat and lay plastic wrap directly on top of mixture to prevent skin from forming.  Allow to cool to room temperature.

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When dough is very cold it is ready to roll and prepare tart shells.  I worked on a very warm day and only kept a portion of the dough out at a time and returned the rest to the fridge until I was ready to use.

Roll dough on lightly floured surface.  I found it rolled best if I covered it with plastic wrap and rolled to about 1/8 inch thickness but it doesn’t have to be exact.  The original recipe calls for either fluted tart pans or tart rings, or a combination of both.  I choose to use disposable tart cups because I was giving some of these away and it made for more sturdy travelling! Line baking dishes with dough and insert a piece of parchment into each.  Fill with pie weights (I use dried beans).  Bake at 350 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes.  Remove from oven and allow to cool.

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To assemble tart fill each baked and cooled shell with tangerine creme.  Refrigerate for 30 minutes.  Just prior to serving sprinkle the top of each tart with a fine layer of granulated sugar.  Using a kitchen torch carefully melt the sugar to create that crisp sugary coating!  If you don’t have a kitchen torch just place the sugar coated tarts on a tray under the broiler set on high, watching carefully to prevent burning, until the sugar has melted and is bubbly.

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Top with fresh tangerine wedges.

The original recipe can be found here at Tartelette!

Enjoy!!

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I discovered two things when I made French Macarons.  One, I was way to conservative with the food coloring, and secondly I really don’t really like them!

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Call me crazy, but I just found them way too sweet.   I made them at the request of my daughter who took them to her office today to share with co-workers.  They all enjoyed them!  So it is all good.

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They are a bit temperamental though, and I was surprised they turned out as well as they did on the first try.  I was excited to see the “feet” develop in the oven.  I wish I had used more food coloring to create a darker teal color instead of a pale robins egg blue!

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I filled them with marshmallow fluff blended with some melted milk chocolate.  I am sure that added to the sweetness just a bit!!

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The shells were crispy and full with no big air pockets.  The trick is to bang the baking pan firmly on the counter a couple of times before baking.

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Packed them up in my egg cartons for easy travel!

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So, while they are not my favorite “cookie” I do agree they make quite an impact on any pastry tray!  Will I make them again?  Heck yeah!  These are far from perfect so I have some work to do to get them  just right!

I would love to know, what do you think of French Macarons??

I used a recipe found here at How To Cook That. Ann Reardon is a master macaron maker in my opinion! Excellent tutorial videos too.

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Yes, you read that right….Maple Bacon Cookies!

bacon cookie 5

Two ingredients that just speak to Canadians are maple syrup and bacon!

After hearing about so many sweet goodies made with bacon, and being a lover of that sweet and salty combination I decided to try adding bacon to a simple maple cookie recipe.  I was so lucky to be gifted two bottles of pure maple syrup recently and was happy to put it to good use!

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The crispy bacon adds a nice texture and bit of a crunch to this otherwise soft, chewy cookie

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This recipe makes a huge batch.  I had enough to send to work with Tim, and some left over to take to our Bible study group.

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Even put a few aside for my sister…..who always stops by after all the baking has left the house!

bacon cookie

This will make a nice addition to our Canada Day barbecue, not to mention a summer picnic or potluck.  This is sturdy cookie that pack well without crumbling or falling apart if packed with a bit of care.

What is your favorite recipe to bake with bacon?!

Enjoy.

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Maple Bacon Cookies
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 

Serves: 50
 

Ingredients
  • 6 to 8 slices bacon
  • 1 cup butter, softened
  • 1 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 cup pure maple syrup
  • 1 tsp maple extract
  • 2 tsp baking soda
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 4 cups flour
  • 1 cup confectioners sugar
  • ⅓ cup pure maple syrup
  • 1 to 2 tbsp. milk

Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees
  2. Line baking sheet with parchment paper and arrange bacon in single layer
  3. Bake for approximately 20 minutes or until very crisp
  4. Allow to cool. (This step can be done ahead of time)
  5. Heat oven to 350 degrees.
  6. In the bowl of an electric mixer cream the butter and brown sugar. Add the egg, maple syrup and maple extract and beat until well blended.
  7. Sift flour, bacon soda and salt into a large bowl.
  8. Reduce mixer speed to low and slowly add flour mixture.
  9. Beat just until incorporated
  10. Crumble bacon into fine pieces and add to batter, mixing just until combined.
  11. Line baking sheets with parchment and scoop by tablespoon (I have a tbsp. sized scoop that works perfect) leaving space between each cookie
  12. Bake for 9 minutes and remove from oven and allow to cool before glazing
  13. For Glaze combine sifted confectioners sugar, maple syrup and just enough milk to make it smooth and fluid. Taste test and add more maple syrup if necessary to achieve a nice maple flavor. Dip the top of each cookie into glaze and allow to set overnight.

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I know, here I go again, lemon!

strawberry lemon tart

I choose this recipe at the request of my daughter Marlie!  She has been following Weight Watchers on-line program and as lost 75 pounds!  I thought it was about time I “baked” something she could indulge in that didn’t come in a little red box in the freezer section!! But then it also occurred to me it is also perfect for my daughter Samantha.  While she often indulges in my baked treats, being a vegetarian, eating healthy is important to her too!

strawberry lemon tart

I am so lucky to have been blessed with two amazing daughters who are as different as night and day.

Marlie has a sense of humor that is infectious.  She finds the humor in the most mundane things.  She is quick with one liners and tells it like it is.  I love that about her.  I know it has to take an incredible amount of discipline to follow a healthy eating plan when I am constantly baking in the kitchen, but she has made it seem effortless.  We have been told time and time again that the two of us look like sisters.  This makes me very happy…….her, not so much!!  She hates to be photographed :(    She has an incredible knack for the art of make-up application and all things cosmetics and beauty!

lemon strawberry tart

Samantha is my creative double!  She has a real knack for seeing the beauty in all things and what they could be with a little TLC.  She has an eye for color and style when it comes to interior design and I often count on her to validate my design choices.  She hates getting or receiving gift cards for any occasion and always want to take the time to pick the perfect gift from the heart.  She dreams of owning her own home and I know it will be a stunner!  She has an incredible love for animals…….hence being vegetarian!

My girls have made my job as a mom both very rewarding and challenging and I am thankful every day that I am their Mom!

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This easy Strawberry Lemon Tart is low fat, 4 Weight Watchers Points Plus for those who are counting!

lemon strawberry tart

(easy way to keep eggs from rolling off the counter, nest them in a rolled kitchen towel!)

meringue shell

 The shell of this tart is crispy meringue

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Top with low fat lemon Greek yogurt

strawberry lemon tartTop with strawberries.

lemon strawberry tart

Enjoy!

The recipe can be found here

Just like my daughters, different and unique,  you could easily customize this dessert to suit all the different tastes in your family!

I am thinking chocolate pudding and raspberries for me!

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!

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