Posted on Tuesday, 15th June 2010 by Grace
What a great weekend! V’s Bridal Shower was a success. V looked absolutely beautiful and she was very happy. The bridal party hosted the games, and I must say their choices were spot on.
The goal for one of the games was to design and fashion a wedding gown using toilet paper. Each table had to choose one of the ladies to model the gown as well. They were able to accessorize (headpieces, trains, earrings, ring, bouquets) with anything they found at their tables. Once their bride was completely outfitted she had to model and strut her stuff down the runway to music and V had to choose the best bride out of the bunch. It was absolutely hilarious, the ladies really got into the game and we all couldn’t stop laughing.
Our dessert table looked magnificent, it was brimming with so many varieties of cookies and baked goods and Italian pastries. Some of our extended family and close friends also joined us in the baking. I can’t wait to try some of the recipes. My freezer is full of special treats. I promise to share some of the recipes over the next little while. The Orange Cupcakes and Deep-Chocolate Brownie Cupcakes were enjoyed by all. The contrast in colours was striking on the tiered serving rack. Everyone mentioned how much they enjoyed the Cannoli Siciliani.
The white hydrangeas we choose for the centrepieces were stunning and coincidentally enough it’s one of the flowers V has chosen for her Wedding day. I was so hoping to share some photos with you but unfortunately the lighting just wasn’t right.
I can’t believe the day has come and gone. I am so looking forward to V’s wedding day. She’s fallen in love with a good man and I know they are going to have a life full of love and happiness and I can’t wait to share their first day as husband and wife.
It’s been so hectic the last few weeks so I chose a simple recipe to share with you today, Gordon Ramsay’s Baked Lemon Tart. I was able to use the left over egg yolks from the financiers I baked for the shower and I had some chocolate shortcrust pastry in the freezer. I’ve never tried a chocolate pastry crust when making a lemon tart but I must say it is a great combination. I egg washed the pastry case in the last five minutes of blind baking (a tip I’d forgotten about), this produces a crispier crust.
I was hoping the chocolate pastry would entice the kids in trying a piece but unfortunately that was not the case. I wonder if they’ll ever enjoy a citrus dessert. They do not know what they are missing, the filling is so creamy, positively scrumptious!
Would anyone like a slice?
Lemon Tart
(adapted from Gordon Ramsay’s Sunday Lunch)
Serves 6 to 8
- 1 pound Chocolate Shortcrust Pastry or 454 g Sweet Flan Pastry
- flour to dust
- egg wash
- 3 large eggs
- 6 large egg yolks
- 270 g caster sugar
- 300 ml double cream
- juice of 3 lemons
- confectioners’ sugar to dust
- chocolate curls, to serve (optional)
- crème fraîche, to serve (optional)
- Roll out the chocolate pastry on a lightly floured surface and use to line a 28 cm (11 inch) tart dish.
- Heat the oven to 190° C (375° F). Line the pastry with parchment paper and fill with baking beans. Bake “blind” for 15 minutes; the sides should just begin to colour. Remove from the oven and remove beans and parchment. Egg wash the bottom and sides of the pastry case, return to oven and then bake for another 5 minutes until the pastry base is cooked and lightly golden. Lower the setting on the oven to 110° C (230° F).
- Whisk the eggs, egg yolks and sugar together in a large bowl until pale in colour. Add the cream and whisk to incorporate. Add the lemon juice and whisk to combine (this will thicken the cream). Strain the lemon filling through a fine sieve into a large jug.
- Pour half of the lemon filling into the pastry case. Place the tart dish on the bottom shelf of the oven. Pull out the oven shelf halfway, keeping the tart dish level, and pour in the remaining lemon filling. Carefully push the shelf back into the oven and bake for 50 to 60 minutes until the filling is almost set. It should have a slight wobble in the centre. Place on a wire rack and leave to cool.
- Dust the tart with confectioners’ sugar. Cut neat slices with a warm knife and serve on its own or with some chocolate curls or with some crème fraîche.
Sweet Flan Pastry
(from Gordon Ramsay’s Sunday Lunch)
makes 500 g
- 125 g unsalted butter (room temperature)
- 90 g caster sugar
- 1 large egg
- 250 g all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon cold water (if necessary)
- Put butter and sugar into a food processor and whiz until just combined. Add the egg and whiz for 30 seconds. Add flour and process for a few seconds until the dough just comes together. (Be careful not to over-process or the dough will become tough.) Add cold water if the dough seems to dry.
- Knead pastry dough on a lightly floured surface. Shape into a flat disc, wrap in cling film and chill for 30 minutes before rolling out.
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Tags: baked lemon tart, chocolate pastry, dessert, Gordon Ramsay recipes, lemon tart, tarts
Posted in Baking & Pastry, Baking Mise en Place, Custards, Creams & Mousses, Eggs, Fillings, Frostings & Dessert Sauces, Pastry Doughs & Batter, Recipes
Comments (12)
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June 15th, 2010 at 9:33 pm
what an incredible dessert, the lemon in contrast to that lovely chocolate shortcrust….wow…I can only imagine how good it must have tasted!
June 16th, 2010 at 4:00 am
I’d love a slice of your lemon tart it looks absolutely delicious. I want to see the toilet paper wedding dress, it sounds hilarious.
June 16th, 2010 at 5:18 am
Ryan we were all in stitches, we had a great group of ladies, everyone really got into it. I know there were a ton of photos taken, I will try and put one up.
June 16th, 2010 at 5:24 am
Thanks Dennis, do your girls at your school like citrus desserts? Wish I could persuade my kids to just try a slice, I think they would love it if they gave it a chance. Looks like you were successful with Tomato Bisque!
June 16th, 2010 at 2:01 pm
Im sure its finger-licking-good! Any way to parcel it to bangladesh ?
thanks for the recipe! will try it out!!
June 16th, 2010 at 2:42 pm
I bet you are experiencing some kind of after party sadness. It’s always fun to look forward and prepare for an event like that. I bet it was fantastic! Now you’ll have to get the next one lined up…
June 16th, 2010 at 3:11 pm
You are so right Marly, believe it or not, my niece Nat just got engaged (I set them up, I love playing matchmaker) and I am already starting to research centrepieces, games etc.. Having such a large family something is always happening. I love it!
June 16th, 2010 at 3:12 pm
Let me know how it works out for you. My daughter’s tutor was here today and he loved it.
June 16th, 2010 at 4:20 pm
Yummy! I must try this recipe someday.
November 24th, 2010 at 5:12 am
I baked this on Saturday 20/11/2010 for the Wine Circle lunch on Sunday .
I plated individual slices, garnished with fresh strawberries and whipped cream
It was superb, winner ,not a crumb leftover?!!Delish!!!
November 24th, 2010 at 5:27 am
I am so glad you enjoyed it Carol. Al the best!
December 8th, 2010 at 1:14 am
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