A very special Birthday Treat

Hai's special fruit tart

(apple and blueberries tart with chocolate banana filling)

My dear friend Hai had his Birthday last Saturday, and he was so depressed. I am not sure why, he is still young and living a pretty good life. But whatever the reason I felt bad. I am pretty cheery on my Birthday, it's my excuse to pamper myself. For the past two years I spent my special day at the spa with one of my best friends. I usually go on a shopping spree, renewing my wardrobe. Or I surround myself with some good friends and cook them a special meal. That's my special day, when everything can happen. Anything to feel good, right ?

So, I had to intervene. Via Facebook chat, since it's the norm now. "Hai, what would make you feel better? Do you want me to make you a Bday dessert?" [excitment on the internet] "OMG yes make me a fruit tart !". I serve to please, so you know what's next...:)

Hai is a very sweet person, he deserved a new creation, a special tart that could bear his name. Because his birthday falls in February, I used two common winter fruits, apples and blueberries. That's what on top for everyone to see. Pretty and easy to arrange in a pattern. But beneath it all hides more sweetness to be discovered, a mixture of chocolate and banana that lingers on the palate and makes you yearn for another bite.

Hai loved it ! But most importantly his spirits were lifted. And he did blow all his candles :)

The recipe:

Crust (see previous post):

1 cup flour, 1/3 cup almond flour, 4 oz butter, 1 egg, 1 tsp almond extract.

Bottom Filling:

1 banana, 1/3 cup choclate chips, 3 tbs half and half cream, 5 tbs almond flour, 2 tbs kalua liquor

Melt the chocolate chips on low heat and add to the pureed banana. Mix in the half and half, the almond flour, and the liquor. Spread the mixture on top of the crust and chill for 15 minutes to harden the chocolate. It makes it easier in the next step.
Top filling:

3 apples, 1 oz butter, 5 tbs sugar, pint of blueberries.

Peel, core and cut the apples in eight thick wedges. Cook them in a pan with the butter and the sugar on medium heat until the sides are browning. They should be soft. Put them aside and add the washed blueberries to the leftover juice in the pan. Cook for 1 minute and set aside.

Place the apple wedges on top of the hardened chocolate banana, in a creative pattern of your choice. Pour the egg cream (below) slowly as to not know disturb the pattern, then sprinkle the berries.

Cream:

2 eggs, 4 tbs sugar, 3 tbs marsala wine, 1/2 pint half and half cream.

Mix eggs and sugar together, then add the marsala wine and the cream. Pour the egg cream on the apples.

Bake the tart for an hour at 350F. Serve warm or cold, by itself or with ice cream. And don't forget the birthday candles !

Best way to stay cool this Summer ?....Ice Cream !

===========================================================

Looks familiar to you ?

So many bananas suffer the same fate in my home, something had to be done ! Here comes Cuisineart ICE-20 to the rescue, my faithful ice-cream maker sidekick. It comes with a chilling container (mine stays in the freeze all the time, ready to use) and conditions the cream in 20 minutes.

Ingredients:
3 egg yolks
1/3 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
2 teaspoons Kahlua liquor
1.5 cup half and half
1.5 cup milk (used fat free milk here)
3 ripe bananas

Directions:

1. Beat the yolks and the sugar in a frothy mixture, then add the vanilla flavor.


2. Bring the mixture of milk and half and half to a boil while stirring, then take it off the stove


3. Add a few tablespoons of the hot milk to the egg/sugar, mix it, then add the rest of the milk slowly while stirring (you want to avoid a thermic shock or the yolks will curl, hence the few tablespoons as primer).


4. Cook the resulting cream on slow heat until a spoon dipped in it is left with an even coat, your cream is now ready.


5. Cool the cream


6. Mash the bananas (I use a fork, they are so ripe its very easy) and whip the puree into the cream


7. Add the Kahlua (how much is really up to you ! But remember that too much alcohol will lower the freezing point of the ice cream)


8. Place the banana cream into your ice cream maker and follow its instructions.

I prepared mine after dinner, it was ready the next day for lunch.


With 3 bananas, the flavor is quite intense. I found that the Kahlua blended nicely and reinforced the banana flavor. This recipe makes a very smooth texture thanks to the eggs, yet tiny pieces of banana break the surface here and there.