Concord Grape Jam Tart Recipes

Steps:

• Pate Brisee Extra: Pulse flour, granulated sugar, and salt in a food processor to combine. Pulse in butter until mixture resembles coarse meal, about 10 seconds. With machine running, add egg yolk and ice water in a slow, steady stream just until dough holds together. Divide dough in half; shape each half into a flat disk and wrap in plastic. Refrigerate at least 1 hour and up to 2 days.
• Filling: Bring grapes and 1/2 cup water to a simmer in a saucepan, mashing occasionally with a potato masher, until fruit is very soft. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a heatproof bowl.
• In a large, heavy-bottomed pot, combine grape juice, granulated sugar, lemon juice, and salt. In a small bowl, stir together cornstarch and remaining 1 tablespoon water. Add to juice mixture and cook, stirring frequently, until it reads 221 degrees on a candy thermometer. Transfer to same heatproof bowl; let cool completely, stirring occasionally. Filling can be refrigerated in an airtight container up to 1 month.
• On a lightly floured surface, roll out each disk of dough to a 1/8-inch-thick round. Transfer one round to a parchment-lined baking sheet. Fit remaining round into a 9-inch round fluted tart pan with removable bottom; trim flush with rim. Freeze both rounds until firm, about 15 minutes.
• Using the wide base of two pastry tips (3/4 inch and 1 inch), cut clusters of holes in dough round on baking sheet to resemble a bunch of grapes. Using a sharp paring knife, cut a stem at the top. Return to freezer until firm.
• Assembly: Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Spread filling over dough round in tart pan. Whisk together egg and 1 tablespoon water. Brush edges of dough with egg wash. Slide remaining dough round on top, centering the design. Press edges to seal, and trim excess dough. Brush with egg wash and sprinkle with sanding sugar. Place tart pan on a baking sheet.
• Bake 30 minutes, then remove from oven and gently tap sheet on counter to release any air bubbles. Continue baking until golden brown and bubbling, 15 to 20 minutes more. Transfer sheet to a wire rack; let cool completely. Unmold tart; serve with creme fraiche.

Steps:

• Bring boiling-water canner, half full with water, to simmer. Wash jars and screw bands in hot soapy water; rinse with warm water. Pour boiling water over flat lids in saucepan off the heat. Let stand in hot water until ready to use. Drain well before filling.
• Slip skins from grapes. Finely chop or grind skins; set aside. Mix grape pulp and water in saucepan. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer 5 min. Press through sieve to remove seeds. Combine skins and pulp. Measure exactly 6 cups prepared fruit into 6- or 8-qt. saucepot.
• Stir in pectin. Add butter to reduce foaming. Bring mixture to full rolling boil (a boil that doesn't stop bubbling when stirred) on high heat, stirring constantly. Stir in sugar. Return to full rolling boil and boil exactly 1 min., stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Skim off any foam with metal spoon.
• Ladle immediately into prepared jars, filling to within 1/4 inch of tops. Wipe jar rims and threads. Cover with two-piece lids. Screw bands tightly. Place jars on elevated rack in canner. Lower rack into canner. (Water must cover jars by 1 to 2 inches. Add boiling water, if necessary.) Cover; bring water to gentle boil. Process 10 min. Remove jars and place upright on towel to cool completely. After jars cool, check seals by pressing middles of lids with finger. (If lids spring back, lids are not sealed and refrigeration is necessary.)

Steps:

• Make the tarts: Pulse the flour, granulated sugar and salt in a food processor until combined. Add the shortening and about one-quarter of the butter and pulse until they disappear into the flour, about 30 seconds. Add the remaining butter and pulse a few times, until the mixture looks like coarse meal with pea-size bits of butter. Add 1/2 cup ice water and pulse once or twice, until the dough just comes together. Turn the dough out onto a piece of plastic wrap, form into a disk and wrap tightly; chill at least 1 hour and up to 1 day. (For quicker tarts, use refrigerated pie dough and skip this step.)
• On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough into a 10-by-14-inch rectangle, about 1/8 inch thick. Cut out ten 4-by-3-inch rectangles using a toaster pastry press or a paring knife. Transfer to a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Chill at least 15 minutes.
• Spread 5 of the dough rectangles with a heaping tablespoonful of jelly each, leaving a 1/2-inch border all around. Brush the edges with the beaten egg, then cover with the remaining 5 dough rectangles. Crimp the edges with a fork or use the toaster pastry press to seal. Chill at least 30 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Bake the tarts until flaky and golden, 20 to 25 minutes, brushing with the milk after 10 minutes. Transfer to a rack to cool.
• Meanwhile, make the glaze: Bring the granulated sugar, orange juice and liqueur (if using) to a simmer in a large skillet over low heat; cook until reduced by half, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove from the heat and whisk in the confectioners' sugar until smooth. Let cool. Brush the glaze on the tarts, sprinkle with the orange zest and let set, 5 minutes.

Steps:

• 1. Make dough: Pulse flour, sugar, and salt in food processor. Add butter, and process until mixture resembles coarse meal, about 10 seconds. With the machine running, add ice water in a slow, steady stream until mixture just begins to hold together. Shape dough into 2 disks. Wrap each in plastic, and refrigerate 1 hour (or up to 2 days). 2. Make the jam: Combine grapes and lemon juice in a medium nonreactive saucepan over high heat. Cook, stirring frequently, until grapes release their juices, about 7 minutes. Strain through a fine sieve (should have 1.5 - 2 cups juice). Return juice to saucepan over high heat, stir in sugar and a pinch of salt, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium, and simmer until temp. registers 220 degrees on a candy thermometer, about 8 minutes. Transfer jam to a bowl, and let cool, stirring occasionally. 3. On a lightly floured surface, roll out each disk of dough to 1/8-inch thick. Transfer 1 round to a baking sheet, preferably lined with parchment, and fir the other round into a 9 1/2-inch tart pan with a removable bottom. Trim edges flush with tart pan. Freeze both until firm, about 15 minutes. 4. Using a wide base of 2 pastry tips (one 3/4" in diameter and one 1"), cut clusters of holes in dough on baking sheet to create a bunch of grapes. Using a paring knife, cut a stem at the top. Freeze until firm. 5. Preheat oven to 375 dF. Spread 1 cup grape jam over dough in tart pan. Refrigerate any remaining jam for up to 2 weeks. Brush top edges of dough with egg. Slide remaining dough round on top, centering the design. Press edges to seal, and trim excess dough. Brush top with egg, then sprinkle with sanding sugar. Refrigerate for 30 minutes. 6. Bake tart for 15 minutes, then gently tap pan on counter to release air bubbles. Return to oven, and bake until golden brown and bubbling, 15-20 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack, and let cool. Unmold, and transfer to a platter. Serve with creme fraiche.

Steps:

• In a large saucepan combine grape juice, lemon juice, butter, and pectin. Bring mixture to a rolling boil over high heat, stirring constantly. Boil for 1 minute. Add sugar and stir until dissolved. Keep stirring and bring mixture to a rolling boil and boil hard for no longer than 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and skim foam if necessary. Ladle hot jelly into hot sterilized jars leaving 1/4-inch head space. Adjust 2-piece caps. Process 5 minutes in hot boiling water canner.

Steps:

• Sterilize jars:
• Wash jars, lids, and screw bands in hot, soapy water, then rinse well. Dry screw bands. Put jars on a rack in canner or deep pot and add enough water to cover by 2 inches. Bring to a boil, covered, then boil for 10 minutes. Remove from heat, leaving jars in water. Heat lids in water to cover by 2 inches in a small saucepan until thermometer registers 180°F (do not let boil). Remove from heat, leaving lids in water. Keep the jars and lids submerged in hot water, covered, until ready to use.
• Cook jam:
• Chill 2 small plates (for testing jam).
• Slip skins from grapes and purée skins with 1 cup sugar in a food processor, then transfer to a 4- to 6-quart wide heavy pot. Stir in lemon juice, peeled grapes, and remaining 4 cups sugar and boil over moderate heat, stirring frequently and skimming foam, until pulp is broken down, about 20 minutes. Force jam through food mill set over a large bowl. Discard remaining solids. Return jam to pot and cook at a slow boil, skimming foam occasionally and stirring frequently as mixture thickens to prevent scorching, 35 minutes, then test for doneness.
• To test jam, remove from heat, then drop a teaspoonful on a chilled plate and chill 1 minute. Tilt plate: Jam should remain in a mound and not run. If jam runs, continue cooking at a slow boil, testing every 5 minutes, until done, up to 25 minutes more.
• Seal, process, and store jars:
• Drain jars upside down on a clean kitchen towel 1 minute, then invert. Ladle jam into jars, leaving 1/4 inch of space at top. Wipe off rims of filled jars with a clean damp kitchen towel, then top with lids and firmly screw on screw bands. Put sealed jars on rack in canner or pot and add enough water to cover by 2 inches. Bring to a boil, covered, then boil 10 minutes. With tongs, transfer jars to a towel-lined surface to cool.
• Jars will seal; if you hear a ping, it signals that vacuum formed at the top of cooling preserves has made lid concave. Remember that you may or may not be around to hear that ping (some jars make the sound after you remove them from water, and others in same batch may take a few hours); the important thing is for jars to eventually have concave lids. Preserves will thicken as they cool.
• After jars have cooled 12 to 24 hours, press center of each lid to check that it's concave, then remove screw band and try to lift off lid with your fingertips. If you can't, lid has a good seal. Replace screw band. Put any jars that haven't sealed properly in the refrigerator and use them first.