Tart Crust - Sweet n Buttery - (Silver Palate)

By Maverick19

From The Silver Palate shop, from Manhattan, in the 70's.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups unbleached all purpose flour
• 1/4 cup very fine granulated sugar
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 10 Tbsp sweet butter, chilled (1 1/4 sticks)
• 2 egg yolks
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 tsp cold water

Preparation

Step 1

1. Sift flour, sugar and salt into a mixing bowl. Cut chilled butter into pieces into the bowl. Using your Fingertips ONLY, rapidly rub the butter and dry ingredients together until the mixture resemble coarse meal. (Your palms will warm the dough)

2. Stir egg yolks, vanilla and water together and add to the flour-butter mixture and blend in, using a fork. Shape dough into a ball. This should not take more than 30-45 seconds.

3. Place the gall of dough on a pastry board. With the heel of your hand, smear about 1/4 cup of dough away from you into a 6-8 inch smear; repeat until all dough has been dealt with. Scrape dough together; re-form into a ball, wrap in wax paper, and chill for 2-3 hours.

4. Roll out dough between 2 sheets of wax paper, or use a floured pastry cloth and floured stockinette on your rolling pin, into a round large enough to line your pan. Work quickly, as the dough can become sticky.

5. Line either and 8 or 9 inch false bottom tart pan with the dough, fitting it loosely into pan and pressing to fit sides. Trim edges 3/4 inch outside top of pan, and fold this edge over to inside, and press into place with fingers. Chill

6. Preheat oven to 425 degrees

7. Line dough in the tart pan with a piece of aluminum foil or wax paper and weight with rice or beans. Bake for 8 minutes. Remove foil and beans. Prick the bottom of the dough with a fork in several places. For a partially baked shell, return to oven for 3 to 4 minutes longer. For a fully baked shell, return for 8-10 minutes longer, or until edges are a light brown.