| RECIPES |
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| INGREDIENTS: Pastry Dough 1 3/4 cups flour 1/2 cup solid vegetable shortening, chilled 1/4 cup butter, chilled 1 egg 2 tablespoons ice water 1 teaspoon vanilla extract Filling 2/3 cup water 2/3 cup sugar 4 eggs 1/3 cup evaporated milk 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract PREPARATION: Prepare dough: Place flour in a food processor. Cut shortening and butter into 1/2-inch chunks and distribute over flour. Process with on-off bursts until fat particles are the size of peas. Add egg, ice water, and vanilla. Process until mixture just begins to form a ball. (Do not process completely to the ball stage, and don't worry if dough has shortening streaks in it.) Remove dough, shape into a patty 1 inch thick, and cover with plastic wrap. Chill for at least 1 hour or up to 2 days. Prepare filling: In a small pan, heat water and sugar until sugar dissolves; let cool. In a bowl, beat eggs slightly. Whisk in sugar-water syrup, evaporated milk, and vanilla extract, blending until smooth. Preheat oven to 300oF. On a lightly floured board, roll out pastry to about 1/4 inch thick. Cut into fourteen 4-inch circles (reroll scraps and cut again if necessary). Fit circles into 2 1/2-inch tart pans. Lightly press dough into bottoms and sides of pans; trim edges. Pour filling into pastry-lined pans to within 1/4 inch of top. Place filled pans on a baking sheet; bake in preheated oven until a knife inserted in center comes out clean, about 35 minutes. Place pans on rack; let cool for 10 minutes. Remove tarts from pans. Serve warm or at room temperature. |
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| CRISP-CASED EGG TARTS (Makes: 14 egg tarts) |
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