The
ABC's
of Cooking with
Lynn Fredericks
author of Cooking
Time Is Family Time
A
is
for Apple
Apple
Tart
The children's father began making this wonderfully simple tart when he
returned his culinary apprenticeship in France. My kids love it warm from
the oven topped by a big scoop of vanilla or cinnamon ice cream. The best
way to slice the apples is by using the slicing attachment to a food
processor. Better yet, invest in a Japanese vegetable slicer, which is
available in most Asian markets for under $20. It's a wonderful tool for
making thin slices of fruit, potatoes, vegetables etc. for a whole range of
culinary applications. The blade is very sharp, so you can tape up your
children's fingers with strapping tape so they do not get hurt. If you
don't have such a slicer, parents should do the slicing with a very sharp
knife. Take your time as precision counts, creating a very beautiful spiral
effect.
makes 4-6 servings
Ingredients:
- 9 tablespoons
cold unsalted butter
- 2 cups
flour
- 4 tablespoons
sugar
- pinch
salt
- 1 egg
- 3-4
tablespoons water
- 2 large
Granny Smith apples
- 1/2
cup water
- juice
from 1/2 lemon
1. Preheat
oven to 400°F.
2. Let the children help you cut up butter into small pieces with a table
knife and place the pieces in a large mixing bowl. Add the flour, 2
tablespoons of the sugar, and the salt. With clean hands, have the kids
work the butter into the flour until it is crumbly. Add the egg and as much
water as needed to make the dough into a ball. If it is too sticky, add a
couple more tablespoons of flour. Place the dough in waxed paper and
refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
3. Now have the children peel the apples with a 'sure-grip' vegetable peeler.
Older children can help core the apples and quarter them. Then the children
can help slice the apples with the slicing attachment to a food processor or
with the Japanese slicer or with a knife to 1/8-inch thickness. While older
kids are helping to slice, younger children can measure water into a medium
bowl and squeeze in the lemon. Place the apple slices into the lemon water
so they don't turn brown while you finish slicing all the apples and are
ready to arrange them over the dough.
4. Remove the chilled dough from the refrigerator and divide it in half. On
a flat baking sheet, have the children help you to press each ball of dough
into a circle 6 inches in diameter and 1/8-inch thick. Or use the bottom of
two tart pans and press the dough to this size, discarding excess dough
(note: do not build up the sides, this tart should only have a thin bottom).
5. Drain the apple slices and pat them dry. Arrange apple slices in a
spiral on the dough. Sprinkle with remaining sugar, and place into preheated
oven on the top rack closest to the heat source. Bake for 10-15 minutes or
until crust is done. Then, just before serving, transfer to the broiler and
cook 2 minutes or until the edges of the apple turn dark and create a
natural pattern of the spiral. Parents should remove it from the oven and
cut the warm tart, serving it alone or with ice cream.
Cooking
with Kids Home
The ABC's of Cooking ::: Aa
|Bb
|Cc
|Dd
|Ee
|Ff
|Gg
|Hh
|Ii
|Jj
|Kk
|Ll
Kid's Meals |
Lynn's Thoughts on
Feeding Her Children | Recipes
| Book
