Friday, December 7, 2012

Custard tart with walnuts and cinnamon / Tarte de ovos com nozes e canela

First, the obvious. Is it December already? Wow.

Are you prepared for a month of shopping, baking and giving? I know I am. I haven't done the Christmas tree yet, though. But I'm on, I'm on it! And as presents for my friends start accumulating in the living-room, the Christmas spirit is slowly invading my home. 

Today, as I came home and changed my shoes for my warm woolen red boots, I decided it was time I celebrated this pre-Christmas period somewhat officially, with something warm and sweet: 

Custard tarts with walnuts and cinnamon. These are inspired in the Portuguese custard tarts [pastel de nata], with a wintery twist.

Ingredients for the cake.
Ingredients for the custard.

 First, prepare the basis for the dessert. Mix 150g of flour, 90g of sugar, 2 eggs and 100g of margarine. Cover the bottom of the ramekin dishes with the dough, and let it cook in the oven for 15 minutes (until it starts becoming golden).

Before going to the oven.

Meanwhile, prepare the custard tart-like cream: in a pot, bring 60g of sugar, a teaspoon of corn starch, 200ml of cream and 80ml of milk to a boil, mixing continuously. Take the pot out of the heat and slowly incorporate 4 yolks.

Take the ramekin dishes out of the oven and add some previously chopped walnuts and some cinnamon (the more cinnamon, the tastier).


Add the cream. Now, it's up to you to decide if you want more cake or more cream in each ramekin. Frankly, I prefer it will less cream, since the portion in a ramekin is quite generous. And I'd rather the "I could have one more" feeling to the "I can't eat all this, it's too much" one.

Let it cook for 15 minutes. The top should be golden by now (looking pretty much like a custard tart).

Work in progress.

 I served it on a dish decorated with Gouchi edible flowers. 


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Primeiro, o óbvio. Já é dezembro? Wow.

Estão preparados para um mês de compras, cozinha e ofertas? E sei que eu estou. Mas ainda não fiz a árvore de Natal.  Mas estou quase lá, estou quase lá! E à medida que os presentes para os meus amigos se começam a acumular na sala, o espírito natalício está lentamente a invadir a minha casa. 

Hoje, quando cheguei a casa e troquei os meus sapatos pelas minhas botas vermelhas de lã quentinhas, decidi que estava na altura de celebrar este período pré-Natal como que oficialmente, com qualquer coisa quente e doce: 

Tartes de ovos com nozes e canela. São inspiradas nos pastéis de nata portugueses, com uma adaptação de inverno.

Primeiro, prepara a base da sobremesa. Mistura 150g de farinha, 90g de açúcar, 2 ovos e 100g de margarina. Cobre o fundo das formas com a massa, e deixa cozer no forno por 15 minutos (até começar a ficar dourada).

Entretanto, prepara o creme de ovos: num tacho, leva a ferver 60g de açúcar, uma colher de amido de milho, 200ml de natas e 80 ml de leite, mexendo continuamente. Tira o tacho do lume e lentamente incorpora 4 gemas.

Tira as formas do forno e junta nozes previamente picadas e canela (quanto mais canela, mais saboroso).

Junta o creme. Agora, é contigo se queres mais bolo ou mais creme em cada forma. Francamente, prefiro com menos creme, já que a porção numa forma destas é bastante generosa. E preferia sentir que "podia comer mais um" que "não consigo comer mais, é demais".

Deixa cozinhar durante 15 minutos. A parte de cima deve estar dourada (assemelhando-se muito a um pastel de nata).

Servi num prato decorado com flores comestíveis Gouchi.

20 comments:

  1. Já me estou a babar!
    beijinhos e bom fim de semana,
    Addicted
    http://cookaddiction.blogspot.pt/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. E eu tenho a dizer que só sobrou uma. ;) Bom fim de semana!

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  2. Alex,

    Este ano os gastos serão bem contidos, a crise a isso obriga e não estamos em época de desperdícios e ostentações.
    Pelo menos eu penso dessa forma !

    Lindas as tartes, ficaram muito convidativas, adoraria provar !:)

    Beijinhos

    Isabel
    www.blogdochocolate.com
    http://brisa-maritima.blogspot.pt

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Penso de igual modo. É mais o simbolismo do "não me esqueço de ti e estou cá quando precisares" que outra coisa. Com as crianças gasta-se sempre mais um bocadinho, mas sempre coisas úteis ou que as façam sorrir. :)

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  3. What smooth, delicious looking custards!

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    Replies
    1. Thank you. And none left by now. ;) Sweet, sweet weekend.

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  4. Ai que bom!!! Inspiraste-me para a sobremesa!
    Beijinhos, bom domingo!
    Madalena

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  5. I wish that I am as well organized as you. I would love to sit back to relax and enjoy lovely desserts like your custard tart. Unfortunately, I'm still wrapping more presents...

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    Replies
    1. That's only because I haven't bought most of them. ;) That's a task for this week and the next. And I'm guessing most will be last-minute ones... as always. :P

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  6. I love all the flavours in that custard

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    1. They matched really. well. I was thinking of adding some apple to the nut/cinnamon part, but then I decided against it, will all the eggs on top.

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  7. Despite the craziness of December, these are a wonderful thing to have to wind down and relax...love the look of your creamy custards!!!

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    1. That's what I was thinking while I was doing them - "I must be crazy: so little free time, and using it all in the kitchen". But it wouldn't be me otherwise. ;)

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  8. hi alex, my family doesnt really celebrate christmas here but might be popping over to my friend's house for gatherings. I might still be shopping for some christmas gifts tho: your custard tart looks wonderful, i think i will also prefer lesser cream. i'm sure there will be lots of baking for you this whole month!

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  9. Ai que bom, que apetitoso!!! Eu quero uma tacinha dessas :)
    beijinhos

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    1. Ora aqui vai uma.... ENVIANDO.... ENVIANDO..... ENVIADO! ;) Beijinhos!

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  10. This custard is perfectly made my friend, it looks delicious :D

    Cheers
    Choc Chip Uru

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you! ;) It has gathered different opinions around here: some prefer it with more custard, some agree with me... Oh, well, I guess I'll have to bake another batch one more time and see... :P

      Have a great weekend.

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