Berries And Stars Recipes

STAR-STUDDED BERRY TARTS

Steps:

• Make the crusts: Pulse the flour, pecans, granulated sugar and salt in a food processor until the nuts are finely ground. Add the butter and pulse until the mixture looks like coarse meal. Drizzle in 6 tablespoons ice water and pulse until the dough comes together. Turn out onto a piece of plastic wrap and form into a disk; wrap and refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour.
• Lightly flour a large sheet of parchment paper. Roll out the dough on the parchment into a 9-by-13-inch rectangle. Trim into an 8-by-12-inch rectangle (reserve the scraps). Cut into eight 3-by-4-inch rectangles. Separate the pieces slightly on the parchment, then use your fingers to crimp the edges. Slide the parchment onto a baking sheet. Roll out the scraps until 1/4 inch thick. Cut out 8 stars using a small floured star-shaped cookie cutter; arrange on the baking sheet around the crusts. Refrigerate until firm, about 20 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Poke holes in the crusts with a fork. Brush the stars and the edges of the crusts with the beaten egg. Bake until golden brown, about 25 minutes; remove to a rack to cool completely.
• Make the pastry cream: Combine the milk, 1/3 cup granulated sugar and the vanilla in a saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Whisk 1/2 cup buttermilk, the egg yolks, cornstarch and the remaining 1/3 cup sugar in a bowl. Slowly pour the hot milk mixture into the egg mixture, whisking constantly. Pour the mixture back into the saucepan and cook, whisking, until thick and bubbling, about 3 minutes. Transfer to a bowl; stir in the remaining 3 tablespoons buttermilk. Lay plastic wrap on the surface and refrigerate 45 minutes.
• Carefully transfer the crusts to a platter. Spread the pastry cream on the crusts, then top with the berries. Top each tart with a star. Dust with confectioners' sugar.

STARS AND STRIPES BERRY TRIFLE

Steps:

• FOR THE STARS:.
• Slice each cake lengthwise into 5 equal pieces.
• Spread scant 2 teaspoons jam each on 5 cake slices and top with remaining slices to create jam sandwiches.
• Using 2-inch star cookie cutter, cut out 3 stars from each sandwich.
• Chop remaining sandwich scraps into 1/2-inch pieces and set aside.
• FOR THE BERRIES:.
• Toss blueberries, 1 T. sugar and water in bowl.
• In separate bowl, toss raspberries with remaining sugar.
• Let sit until sugar dissolves and berries are glossy, about 5 minutes.
• TO ASSEMBLE:.
• Arrange 7 star sandwiches upright around bottom of 3-quart trifle dish.
• Place 2 cups sandwich scraps in center of dish.
• Arrange 3 cups blueberries around stars, piling up blueberries so that they surround all edges of stars.
• Spread 2 cups custard in even layer on top of blueberry and cake layer.
• Place 1 cup sandwich scraps on center of custard layer.
• Arrange 2 cups raspberries around perimeter of dish.
• Spread remaining custard in even layer on top of raspberries.
• Arrange 7 star sandwiches upright around perimeter of dish.
• Arrange remaining blueberries around stars and pile remaining raspberries in center of dish.
• Spoon whipped cream on top of raspberries and top with remaining star.