Strawberry or Raspberry Custard Tart

Directions

CRUST: Finely grind almonds in a food processor with an on/off mixture or with a rolling pin until as finely ground as possible.

Add flour, salt and brown sugar to processor and blend, or combine ground almonds, flour, salt, and brown sugar in a bowl and stir to blend.

Add butter and process or work with the fingertips until mixture ressembles coarse crumbs.

In a small bowl beat egg lightly. Stir in the vanilla and lemon zest. With processor on, add egg mixture to the dough through feed tube and process until dough forms.

Pat dough into a ball, wrap in plastic wrap and chill in refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.

Remove dough from refrigerator. Press in 10 inch tart pan (with removable bottom), patting in even minutes before baking. Bake line with foil for 15 minutes, remove foil and bake a further 20 to 30 minutes empty.

CUSTARD CREAM: In a medium mixing bowl, beat egg yolks and sugar until pale yellow and thick.

Beat in 4 tbsp all purpose flour. Heat half-and-half in medium sized non reactive saucepan over low heat until small bubbles form around edges.

Remove from heat and pour a small amount of hot mixture into egg yolk mixture, whisking constantly.

Add remaining half and half mixture, whisking. Pour mixture back into pan on heat, lower heat and cook it, stirring for 5 to 7 minutes. Add vanilla, let the mixture cool and chill it, covered (use plastic wrap) until needed.

ASSEMBLY: Spread Custard Cream even over fully baked almond crust. Arrange hulled strawberries or raspberries in concentric circles, stem ends down, over pastry cream. Melt red currant jelly with 1 teaspoon lemon juice and brush the glaze gently over the fruit.