Dear PDS (actually that sounds too much like GPS, I will call you Pie – it more than appropriate don’t you think considering this blog’s theme?)
Ok so let’s start again…
Dear Pie,
Firstly, I know that your birthday was actually the 2nd of September and right now, it is the 23rd. Your birthday marked the beginning of Spring and sun and fun so I am sorry I could not get you your present by then to celebrate because, as you know, we were studying biology/Facebook stalking + Youtubing Michael Jackson videos from that time on.
But now that it (the unmentionable period) is all over, I hope you enjoyed your tart. Do you want to know why I made chose this dessert this year for you?
You may think it was a little strange, I mean, I certainly did seeing your obsession with Whittaker chocolate and snickers bars, you would think I would make something along those lines no? But I think this tart really reflects your personality. You want to know why my friend?
Ever since we met in Year 7, that first day where we were small, curious and a pain in the older kids’ backsides, you have always been really… sunny. You smile way too much and way too hard and have ever since year 7 (probably cause you met me right? JOKES! ;)) and you are one of the nicest people I have ever had the chance to meet. I know, ‘nice’ is such a bland way to describe someone these days but seriously, you encompass it 🙂
Pie, you are awesome. As much as we ribbed about being sick of each other because by some random chance, we were in the same main classes for four years, I missed you this year. Whenever I went to class, it was a little daunting because no one was there whom I could turn to and go ‘we are going to be late’ or ‘are you sure this is the classroom’? We went from C – to D – to C – to D block together and that is what made walking into that geography teacher’s (you know exactly who I mean) class late that much better 😀
It is so much better now that we are neighbours (5 minute walking neighbours but you know, same thing). Doesn’t it honestlyfeel like we are in those American TV shows like Pretty Little Liars where we meet up whenever and wherever we want because we. can. walk! (sure, we need parental consent, mobiles, time when we are home and a call before to make sure we are not busy and can’t go out at night BUT IF YOU IGNORE THE SMALL DETAILS, it’s basically the same thing ;))
Pie, you are one of the bestest, sunniest friends I could ask for. We may have our differences (I keep telling you, Rugged boys over Pretty boys! ;)) but at the end of the day, you are person I want to turn to first!
Happy [belated] 17th birthday Pie, hope you enjoyed your tart as much as I loved making it for you!
xxxx Uru
P.S I just realised, I never mentioned how this tart reflects your personality! I am soo not going into an extended-English lesson version but did you ever think that this tart looked like a huge big yellow sun disk? 😀
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This tart, from what Pie has told me, melts in the mouth 🙂 – It looked good when cooking, after cooking and in the picture so before cooking 😀
I used another Le Cordon Bleu recipe, but this time from their Patisserie Cookbook. While their shortcrust was delicious, it was a little hard to handle due to a greater load of butter than usual in the pastry (my stable pastry recipe is this one) but damn, it made some fine biscuits (which I roughly chopped with a knife instead of a cookie cutter 😉 – to make them, simply bake them at 160 degrees C for 15-20 minutes or until golden on a baking tray covered by wax paper)
Definitely give it a whirl (my suggestions and slight changes, since I am reviewing the book later, are in bold)
Passionfruit Crème Brulee Tart
Source: Le Cordon Bleu: The Original Masterclass: Patisserie
Serves: 8
Ingredients:
1 Quantity Sweet Shortcrust Pastry
*Note: This is freeze-wrothy, wrapped in plastic wrap
- 200g plain flour
- Large pinch of salt
- 70g butter, chilled
- 80g caster sugar
- 1 egg, lightly beaten
- 1-2 drops vanilla essence
Passionfruit Filling
- 150ml thickened cream
- 100g caster sugar – used white
- 200ml passionfruit filling (including pulp and seeds) – 9 fruit – I used tinned
- 4 eggs
Other
- Icing sugar – caster sugar
Method:
- In a large bowl sift together flour and salt. Cut the butter into 1cm cubes and place in the flour. Rub the butter into the flour using your fingertips until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs – I used a food processor. Just place everything in until it resembles small fine pebble-like pieces – I also placed in the sugar with the flour
- Stir in the sugar and make a well in the centre. Pour in the combined eggs and essence and slowly work the mixture together using a palate knife or pastry scraper. If the dough is too dry, sprinkle with a little water until it just holds together. – Add in the egg and vanilla and process until the mixture comes together as one large clump.
- Remove the dough from the bowl (processor) onto a lightly floured surface. Using the palm of your hand, smear the dough away from you until it is smooth.
- Gather the dough into a ball and flatten slightly. Refrigerate, wrapped in plastic wrap, to chill for 20 minutes before using
- Preheat the oven to 190 degrees C. Brush a loose bottomed tart tin, about 20cm across and 4cm deep with melted butter
- Roll out the pastry onto a floured surface to 3mm thickness. Ease the pastry into the tin, pressing it into the corners, then trim the edges neatly. Prick the base lightly with a fork and chill for 30 minutes. Cut a circle of baking paper slightly larger than the tin and place into the pastry case. Fill with baking weights. Bake for 10 minutes then remove the baking paper and weights and return to the oven for 5 minutes (8 minutes) or until golden. Reduce the oven temperature to 140 degrees C.
- Warm the cream in a small pan over low heat.
- Meanwhile in a large bowl, whisk the passionfruit and sugar together then whisk in the eggs
- Stir in the warmed cream and pass the mixture out through a fine sieve into a wide jug, pressing down on the seeds to extract as much passionfruit flavour as possible
- Place the cooled pastry case onto a baking tray and carefully pour the filling into the pastry. Gently slide the tart into the oven (It is VERY easy to spill, I had a very minor one so was lucky!)
- Bake for 50-55 minutes or until the filling is firm around the outside and slightly wobbly in the centre (like a cheesecake)
- Leave to cool completely then remove from tin (I chilled mine for 10 minutes before doing this) and chill for several hours to all the centre to firm up.
- Just before serving, dust the surface with icing sugar (caster sugar) evenly and caramelise under a hot grill for a few seconds to make a thin glaze – I used a torch and while it took much longer, it was way more fun 😀
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The crust looks perfect, CCU! What a wonderful friend you are.
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Now let me seriously tell you – that’s a WOW pie, Uru! I love the passionfruit or Crème Brulee in a pie/tart. Really, impressive!
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Oh wow! this looks delish!
Glad I found your blog. Thanks to jenbeans.
I hope to be inspire my child to cook and bake as your Mom did to you.
🙂 visit me at theredapronscravings.com
gghie
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Such a delightful tart, perfect for celebration!
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What a ‘nice’ (in every sense of the word) tribute to your friend! This birthday ‘pie’ sounds wonderful, too.
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what a lovely post!! Have to say that the pie looks fantabulous (made up words always describe it best!) and i think I’d like to have some please!!=) xxx
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Gorgeous Pie CCU! You never fail to impress 🙂 Cheers!
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oh boy does that pie look good. i give you so much credit to whip up a pie from scratch.. i dont’ have the balls to do it. or am i just lazy? 🙂
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Haha trust me my friend, when you do, it tastes so much better 😀
If anyone can do it you can!
Cheers
CCU
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I need you to celebrate my birthday with me. 😀
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Yum yum yum!!! This is absolutely the best way to celebrate pie, with this outstanding recipe! Welcome back to the blog action, glad you’re able to bake and write again! 🙂
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What a gorgeous tart! your friends are so lucky to have you to make them birthday treats!
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A beautiful tart to accompany a beautiful tribute. You have a lucky friend, CCU.
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I’m behind on my blog reading… WELCOME BACK!!!!
Now, please pass the pie.;)
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This looks incredible!
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What a perfectly delicious tart!
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Happy belated birthday to Pie 🙂 The tart looks great. I want to steal a bite now!
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Love the pie and love the passion fruit adds on. I surely wanna try a slice of this pie.
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You made the short crust from scratch? awesome! so much better home made right? 😉 Love your pie!
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Yep, and you are so right! Thank you 😀
Cheers
CCU
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I must get one of those kitchen blowtorch’s … Looks so fun and the pie looks fabulous 🙂
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Mmm… passionfruit creme brûlée sounds so glamourous! Stunning pics and delish recipe, this seriously looks soooo yummy!
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So pretty!
hahaha looking up Michael Jackson Videos on YouTube 🙂
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Cute post. What a perfect looking and delicious pie. I would love a slice right now.
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Hehe what a cute post! The pie looks amazingly good! I love passionfruit in baking, it cuts through the sweetness 😀
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Oh wow! That tart looks amazing!!! Great post!
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This is a beautiful post and a magnificent tart.
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Lovely letter, your friend must be delighted! I like to put my hands into my pastry dough, but I can appreciate the convenience to use a food processor!!
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This is my type of pie 🙂
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what a great post to your friend and what a great pie! looks delish. wish i can taste some. 🙂
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You are too sweet CCU! And that pie…I need some now! Fabulous! 🙂
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You and Pie are so lucky to have found each other.. best friends like this are rare indeed.. as rare as a tart as pretty as the one you’ve made!! xx
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Welcome back Uru! And what an absolutely exquisite tart! And it’s always fun to pull out that kitchen blowtorch! ;- }
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This passionfruit creme brulee filling looks amazing!! And happy birthday to your dear friend.
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What a lovely pie for a special friend. Beautiful post Uru!
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I have not used passion fruit in cooking but I will have to make this gorgeous tart though:) It is full of sunshine:)
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A delicious looking pie. You’re so right: it looks like a big ball of sunshine in the middle. 🙂
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Gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous. Maybe by now you might notice I LOVE Passion fruit. Gosh I love a lot of fruits, but there is always these few who hits a soft spot in me and I completely melt away. If this was in a bakery, It will be the first of my choice and I will not only take a slice of it, probably pack to who tart back. Delish! Love the step by step Uru. Have a good week girl! cheers~
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Haha I think (hope) everyone loves passionfruit as much as you 😀
Thank you so much my friend!
Cheers
CCU
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Beautiful tart and delicious flavors, Uru! Bravo 🙂
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What a lovely pie with passion fruit it sounds so exotic. Glad you final exams are over and you can get back to blogging and baking the things you love.
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What a sweet birthday wish – in more ways than one! – and boy, that looks delicious.
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Great combo of flavours! I can imagine the crunchy topping to just melt in my mouth.
Your friend is very lucky!
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This looks and sounds amazing!!
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Way to rock out Pie’s Birthday! Looks incredible!
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Nice to see you back in the kitchen and making these lovely creations. The tart looks wonderful and you are a very good friend!
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What a lovely post for your friend and what a gorgeous gorgeous tart, perfect for spring and very very sunny and happy 🙂
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What a great tart, Uru. I love passionfruit so this is a great recipe for me to try. Enjoy the holidays! xx
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Ohhh my, this is to die for! I’m sure it has the power to whisk me off to a tropical island where there, we’ll celebrate an intimate birthday together (late or not), just me and pie =D LOL
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What a great way to celebrate a birthday! “Pie” must be just thrilled – I would be too!
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Happy belated birthday!
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Absolutely stunning (like your friend??)! What a lovely way to honor Pie and friendship.
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Uru, this looks divined!
Just got to see if I can find passion fruit filling here in the States.
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You´re one wonderful friend and blogger Uru! Passion fruit, such a fabulous tasting fruit for a tart!
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I’m on board with this pie!! Love passion fruit and in combo with creme brulee, what could be better?
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Beautiful and very tasty looking! Bet your family loved it!
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Aw, such a sweet post! Very appropriate for something as sweet as this! Really nice looking tart. And I’m all for anything where I can use a torch!
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That’s one of the sweetest posts I’ve read in a while! Sounds like such an awesome person. 🙂 Happy belated to her- and what a pretty pie to celebrate! Passionfruit and cream= amazingness. Wow, so impressed!
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Love your posts. And how wonderful of a friend you are! The tart is absolutely dazzling! I loved the torch effect!
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Your friend *pie* is one lucky girl. This is gorgeous.
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What a luscious pie! It looks and sounds incredibly good. I love this extension of creme brulee and really want to give your recipe a try. I hope you are having a great day. Blessings…Mary
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Great post and a lovely tribute to your friendship. Lovely looking pie and a fab idea for a sunny birthday. GG
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My daughter’s birthday is just 3 days apart from yours 😉 What a delicious pie to celebrate – even if it is belated pie. Looks scrumptious!
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Girl, you’re absolute amazing – here you are on your autumn break and you bake .. and bake and bake and bake. Love passion fruit – but not keen on pie, as you know. Next week will I post my total vegan dessert – had you in mind … Even if I don’t like pies I enjoy your photos and your posts – and most of all your PASSION. Bring more on…. to me.
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Haha it is actually my spring break my friend but thank you so much 😀
Aww that is really sweet I cannot WAIT to see your vegan creation!
Cheers
CCU
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It’s here … today! Spring break of course … you’re downunder. *smile
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Those passionfruit seeds are so pretty! I would LOVE to get that tart for my birthday!!! Stunning!
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You are a world class pastry chef Uru…..your friend is so lucky!! That looks fantastic!! Loved your post and happy belated bday to your friend Pie 😀
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I approve of pies for birthday celebration! And what a magnificent one for your dear friend! Passionfruit is considered exotic over here…which makes this pie even more enticing 🙂
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Wow! That tart looks amazing! Lovely post Uru!
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What a sweet birthday post!
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Happy belated bday to Pie! May your friendship lasts forever! I would’ve enjoyed this dessert just as much, Uru 🙂
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Beautiful tart and happy birthday to your friend. I am sure she loved it, who wouldn’t love a passion fruit creme brulee tart from CCU!
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Yum yum – GREAT job, so delicious looking – a passion fruit tart, I can only imagine what it smells like!
Nice to hear you studying Michael Jackson, I mean, biology 🙂
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Haha it is quite the important subject 😉
Thank you my friend!
Cheers
CCU
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Beautiful post and tart! Happy birthday to your friend 🙂
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yummmmmmm
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Yippee, another delicious reason to use my torch!
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A beautiful pie for a beautiful friendship! What a special birthday treat! Best wishes to your friend.
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Such a pretty tart and a lucky friend, great story! Funny how it often seems just like yesterday walking down memory lane.
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Wow you clever cookie 🙂 This tart looks AMAZING! You are such a wonderful baker ~ never thought of a creme brulee tart before! Can’t wait to give it a go hehe thanks for sharing xox
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What a lovely post CCU and fantastic pie.
🙂 Mandy
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A very gorgeous pie from a very generous girl. No doubt your friend loves her special b’day treat! Love a crunchy sugar top anything!!!
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