Tangerine Tarts

Sweet Crust
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/4 cup granulated white sugar
1 large egg, lightly beaten

Directions:
Mix together flour and salt. In a separate bowl, beat butter until softened. Add sugar and beat until light and fluffy. Gradually add the beaten egg, mixing just until incorporated. Add the flour all at once and mix just until it forms a ball. Flatten into a disc, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 15-30 min or just until firm (can place in freezer for about 10-15 min).

Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Butter either an 8-9 inch tart pan or a cupcake pan. Evenly pat the chilled pastry onto the bottom and up the sides of the pan or cupcakes. Lightly prick bottom of crust with a fork (to prevent from puffing). Bake crust for 5 min. Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and continue to bake for about 15 min or until dry and lightly golden brown. Remove from oven and place on a wire rack to cool completely before filling. Can be covered and stored for a few days.

Tangerine Cream Filling
Ingredients:
1 1/4 cups milk
3 large egg yolks
1/4 cup granulated white sugar
2 Tablespoons all purpose flour
2 Tablespoons corn starch
2-4 drops Tangerine essential oil

Directions:
In a medium sized bowl, mix the sugar and egg yolks together. Combine the flour and corn starch together, then add to the egg mixture, mixing until you get a smooth paste.

In a saucepan, bring the milk just to boiling (until the milk starts to foam up). Remove from heat and add slowly to egg mixture, whisking constantly to prevent curdling. Then pour the egg mixture into a medium saucepan and cook over medium heat until boiling, stirring constantly. When it boils, whisk constantly for another 30-60 seconds until it becomes thick. Remove from heat. Pour into a clean bowl and mix in Tangerine essential oil to taste. Immediately cover with plastic wrap to prevent a crust from forming. Cool to room temperature. If not using right away, you may refrigerate until needed, up to 3 days.

Fruit Topping
Fruit(s) of choice = Blackberries, Blueberries, Raspberries, Strawberries, Bananas, Kiwi, Melons, etc.

To Assemble Tangerine Tart
Pour the Tangerine Cream Filling into the crust. Creatively arrange the fruit of your choice on the top.