Betty Tarts Recipes

PASTRY FOR PIES AND TARTS

Steps:

• One-Crust Pastry: In medium bowl, mix flour and salt. Cut in shortening, using pastry blender or fork, until mixture forms coarse crumbs the size of small peas. Sprinkle with water, 1 tablespoon at a time, tossing with fork until all flour is moistened and pastry almost leaves side of bowl (1 to 2 teaspoons more water can be added if necessary). Gather pastry into a ball. Shape into flattened round on lightly floured surface. Wrap flattened round in plastic wrap and refrigerate 45 minutes or until dough is firm and cold, yet pliable. This allows the shortening to become slightly firm, which helps make the baked pastry flaky. If refrigerated longer, let pastry soften slightly at room temperature before rolling. Using floured rolling pin, roll pastry on lightly floured surface (or pastry board with floured pastry cloth) into round 2 inches larger than upside-down 9-inch glass pie plate or 3 inches larger than 10- or 11-inch tart pan. Fold pastry into fourths and place in pie plate or tart pan, or roll pastry loosely around rolling pin and transfer to pie plate or tart pan. Unfold or unroll pastry and ease into plate or pan, pressing firmly against bottom and side and being careful not to stretch pastry, which will cause it to shrink when baked. For pie, trim overhanging edge of pastry 1 inch from rim of pie plate. Fold edge under to form standing rim; flute edges (see Decorative Crust Ideas, page 00). For tart, trim overhanging edge of pastry even with top of tart pan. Fill and bake as directed in pie or tart recipe.
• Two-Crust Pastry: In medium bowl, mix flour and salt. Cut in shortening, using pastry blender or fork, until mixture forms coarse crumbs the size of small peas. Sprinkle with water, 1 tablespoon at a time, tossing with fork until all flour is moistened and pastry almost leaves side of bowl (1 to 2 teaspoons more water can be added if necessary). Gather pastry into a ball. Divide pastry in half and shape into 2 rounds on lightly floured surface. Wrap flattened rounds in plastic wrap and refrigerate 45 minutes or until dough is firm and cold, yet pliable. This allows the shortening to become slightly firm, which helps make the baked pastry flaky. If refrigerated longer, let pastry soften slightly at room temperature before rolling. Using floured rolling pin, roll one round of pastry on lightly floured surface (or pastry board with floured pastry cloth) into round 2 inches larger than upside-down 9-inch glass pie plate. Fold pastry into fourths and place in pie plate, or roll pastry loosely around rolling pin and transfer to pie plate. Unfold or unroll pastry and ease into plate, pressing firmly against bottom and side and being careful not to stretch pastry, which will cause it to shrink when baked. Spoon desired filling into bottom crust. Trim overhanging edge of bottom crust 1/2 inch from rim of plate. Roll out second pastry round. Fold into fourths and place over filling, or roll loosely around rolling pin and place over filling. Unfold or unroll pastry over filling. Cut slits in pastry so steam can escape. Trim overhanging edge of top pastry 1 inch from rim of plate. Fold edge of top crust under bottom crust, forming a stand-up rim of pastry that is even thickness on edge of pie plate, pressing on rim to seal; flute edges (see Decorative Crust Ideas, page 00). Bake as directed in pie recipe.

BETTY TARTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Place the tart shells onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
• In a bowl, mash the brown sugar and butter until thoroughly combined, then mix in corn syrup, eggs, and salt to make a smooth mixture. Spoon into the tart shells, filling each one about 3/4 full.
• Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown and the filling is set, 25 to 30 minutes.

BUTTER TARTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (170 degrees C).
• Cream the butter, sugar and eggs well. Add remaining ingredients and mix thoroughly.
• Pour batter into tart shells, no more than half full. Bake for 20 - 25 minutes. Watch carefully!!--they'll burn quickly. Filling will keep in the refrigerator for 2 weeks or so. Liquid coffee creamer can be used for cream. Use any good pie pastry for shells.

BETTY'S BUTTER TART SQUARES

Steps:

• For base: Cut butter into flour and brown sugar until crumbly. Press into 9x9-inch buttered pan.
• Bake at 350°F for 15 minutes.
• Mix filling ingredients well. Pour over partially baked crumb layer. Return to oven and cook 20 minutes more.
• Cool before cutting into squares to serve.

SHRIMP TARTS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400°F. Spray 24 miniature (1 3/4x1 inch) muffin cups with cooking spray.
• In medium bowl, beat Bisquick mix, milk, sour cream, Worcestershire sauce and eggs with spoon until blended. Stir in remaining ingredients. Spoon about 1 tablespoon mixture into each muffin cup.
• Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until golden. Cool 5 minutes. Loosen sides of tarts from pan; remove from pan.

AWARD-WINNING BUTTER TARTS

Steps:

• Prepare muffin pans by rolling out pie dough and cutting 4-inch (approx) circles; fit dough circles into muffin cups; set aside in fridge until ready to fill.
• In a small bowl, place raisins and cover with hot tap water; let stand on the counter for 30 minutes.
• In a large bowl, using a wooden spoon, mix together the soft butter, brown sugar, salt and corn syrup; stir well until sugar is dissolved and butter is creamed.
• Add egg and vanilla and mix well.
• Drain raisins.
• Retrieve tart shells and divide raisins equally into all shells; then divide butter mixture into all tarts.
• Bake at 400F for 15-20 minutes; filling will be lightly browned but still bubbling.
• Canadians fall into two camps about butter tarts and are quite loyal to their favourite type: runny or firm.
• I like runny-- the type that dribbles when you bite into one; if you like firm, bake them for the full 20 minutes, even adding another minute or two if you wish.
• Let cooked butter tarts cool in pans for 10 minutes after removing from oven; then remove and place on racks until completely cool.

VANILLA BEAN AND RASPBERRY TART

Steps:

• In large bowl, mix flour, 1/2 cup sugar, the salt, lemon peel and vanilla bean seeds. Beat in butter with electric mixer on medium speed until mixture looks like small peas. In small bowl, beat egg yolks and 1/4 cup limoncello with whisk. Slowly beat egg mixture into butter mixture. Turn off mixer as soon as dough comes together. Roll into a ball, and wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate 1 hour.
• Heat oven to 425°F. On lightly floured work surface, roll dough into circle big enough to fit in 9-inch tart pan. Place in ungreased pan. Bake about 20 minutes or until crust is golden brown. Cool completely.
• To make filling, in large bowl, beat mascarpone, cream, limoncello, sugar, lemon peel, and vanilla bean seeds in electric mixer on medium speed until soft peaks form.
• Spread filling in cooled crust. Arrange raspberries on top. Melt jelly in small microwavable bowl uncovered in 20-second intervals, until it melts completely. Brush jelly over raspberries with pastry brush.