For tart shells:
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup confectioners sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 tablespoons poppy seeds
1 stick (1/2 cup) cold unsalted butter, cut into bits
1 large egg yolk
2 tablespoons cold water
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
For filling:
1 1/2 cups lemon curd
1 cup chilled heavy cream
2 tablespoons confectioners sugar
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
Garnish: poppy seeds
Special equipment: 8 (3 1/2- by 2/3-inch) round tartlet pans
Make tart shells: Pulse together flour, confectioners sugar, salt, and poppy seeds in a food processor. Add butter and pulse until mixture resembles coarse meal. Whisk together yolk, water, and lemon juice in a bowl, then add to processor and pulse until pea-size lumps form and dough holds together when squeezed. (Dough will appear slightly crumbly.)
Press 1/4 cup dough evenly into each tart shell with floured fingers (dough will be moist) and lightly prick bottoms with a fork. Chill until firm, about 20 minutes.
Put shells on a baking sheet and bake in lower third of oven until golden, 20 to 25 minutes. Transfer to a rack and, when shells are just cool enough to handle, carefully loosen edges with a thin knife and remove from pans.
Fill tart shells and make topping: Fill each shell with 3 tablespoons lemon curd.
Beat together cream with confectioners sugar and lemon juice in a bowl with an electric mixer until it just holds stiff peaks. Transfer to a pastry bag with a decorative tip and pipe onto curd (or dollop frosting with a spoon).
Cooks' note: Shells may be made 2 days ahead, cooled completely, and kept in an airtight container
Makes: 8 tartlets
1 tablespoon plus 2 teaspoons finely grated fresh lemon zest
1 cup fresh lemon juice
1 1/3 cups sugar
4 large eggs
1 3/4 sticks (3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons) unsalted butter, cut into tablespoon pieces
Whisk together zest, lemon juice, sugar, eggs, and a pinch of salt in a 2-quart heavy saucepan. Add butter all at once and cook over moderately low heat, whisking constantly, until curd is thick enough to hold marks of whisk and first bubbles appear on surface, about 10 minutes. Immediately pour curd through a fine sieve into a bowl, then chill, covered.
Cooks' note: Lemon curd keeps, covered and chilled, 1 week.
Active time: 10 min Start to finish: 1 hr
Makes: about 3 cups
Source: Gourmet, April 2001
Prepared by: Lena, Lisa, and Margarette for the April 2001 meeting