---------- Recipe via Meal-Master (tm) v8.02

     Title: FLOWER TART - COUNTRY LIVING HOLIDAYS
Categories: Holidays, Desserts, Tarts, Decor
     Yield: 10 servings

          Sugared Flowers, Petals, or
          -Leaves (separate recipe)
          Pastry (recipe follows)
 1-1/2 c  Slivered blanched almonds,
          -toasted
   1/2 c  Sugar
   1/2 c  (1 stick) butter, softened
     2 lg Eggs
   1/4 c  Unsifted all-purpose flour
     1 ts Almond extract

 NOTE: This elegant tart with sugared-flower topping can be made with
 an almond filling for a spectacular holiday dessert or without the
 filling for a table or sideboard holiday display that will last
 several days.

 1. Several hours or day before, prepare Sugared Flowers, Petals, or
 Leaves. At least 45 minutes before, prepare Pastry.

 2. Heat oven to 375°F. On floured surface, roll out pastry to 11 -inch
 round. Fit pastry into 9-inch fluted tart pan with removable bottom.
 Line pastry shell with aluminum foil and fill with pie weights or
 beans. Bake 10 minutes. Remove foil and weights; bake shell 10
 minutes longer. Set aside. If making for display, cool and fill with
 Sugared Flowers. Petals, or Leaves at this point.

 3. In food processor fitted with chopping blade, grind 1 C almonds
 with the sugar until very fine.

 4. In large bowl, with electric mixer on medium speed, beat butter and
 almond-sugar mixture until combined. Add eggs, one at a time, beating
 well after each addition. Stir in flour and almond extract just until
 combined and stiff batter forms.

 5. Sprinkle remaining 1/2 C almonds over bottom of tart shell. Gently
 pour batter over almonds.

 6. Bake tart 20 minutes or until golden. Cool completely on wire rack.
 Remove tart from pan; place on serving platter and top with Sugared
 Flowers, Petals, or Leaves. Cut into 10 wedges to serve. Pastry: In
 medium-size bowl, combine 1-1/4 C unsifted all-purpose flour and 1/4 t
 salt. With pastry blender or 2 knives, cut in 6-1/2 T butter until
 mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Sprinkle 2 to 3 T cold water, 1 T at
 a time, over flour mixture and mix lightly with fork until pastry is
 moist enough to press into a ball. Wrap and refrigerate 30 minutes.

 Country Living Holidays/1994 Scanned & edited by Di Pahl & <gg>

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