Chevre Tartlets With Provencal Peppers Recipes

CHEVRE AND WALNUT TARTLETS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• In a saucepan large enough to hold the figs in one layer, heat the port and dissolve the sugar. Set in the figs, cover with a round of parchment, and simmer 10 minutes. Remove the figs, and boil the port down to sauce consistency. Set aside.
• Cut 4 (4-inch) rounds from the pastry. Lay them on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Lay a second baking sheet on top, and bake until lightly golden, 15 to 20 minutes.
• In a mixing bowl, cream the chevre with a spoon, and stir through the cream until smooth. Stir through the rosemary, and season with pepper.
• When the pastry is golden, remove the top baking sheet. Spread the rounds with the cheese mixture. Halve the figs and arrange over the cheese, then scatter over the nuts, if using. Bake until the cheese is hot, about 5 minutes. Serve with rocket green, if using, and with a swirl of port syrup on the side.

CAULIFLOWER-CHEVRE TARTLETS WITH CANDIED BEETS

Steps:

• Wearing thin medical examination gloves, peel and slice the beet on a mandolin very thinly as if for potato chips. Cut out the desired shape with aspic cutters. Line a cookie sheet with parchment. Spray the parchment with cooking spray. Dust lightly with sugar and lay the beet on it. Dust again with sugar. Leave in a pilot-lit oven overnight to dry out. When crisp and dry, lift off the shapes carefully with a metal spatula and store in an airtight container lined with parchment.
• Roll the dough 1/8-inch thin to line miniature tartlet shells. Blind bake the tartlet shells for about 8 minutes, in a preheated 325 degrees oven, with another mold inside it to help the tartlet keep its shape and prevent puffing up. Cool on rack.
• For the filling: Parboil the florets in salted water until just past crunchy. Drain well. Place back in pan over low heat to evaporate excess moisture for 1 to 2 minutes. Lightly mash the cauliflower with a fork.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Over gentle heat, melt the butter and sweat the shallots until translucent--about 4 minutes. The shallots should not brown in order to keep the final mixture white. Off the heat, add the remaining ingredients. Taste and season. Chill. Fill each tartlet with a spoonful of the cauliflower mixture. Place in oven for 3 minutes, until heated through. Garnish with candied beet chips and grin with pleasure.