Zucchini and Cheese Tartlets
Since zucchini are so prolific, there never seem to be enough recipes for them. I like this one as an appetizer. You can make up a big batch, bake and then freeze some for whenever you need them. Served with a salad they make a nice lunch or light dinner.
Zucchini and Cheese Tartlets
1 recipe of pie crust dough, enough for 2 pies, home made or store bought, recipe follows
1 medium zucchini shredded, about 1 1/2 cups
1 T. flour
1 c. shredded cheese- any kind you like. I like cheddar.
2 eggs, beaten
1/2 c. minced onion
1 t. Italian seasoning
salt and pepper to taste
hot pepper sauce to taste
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Roll out dough to 1/8-inch thick. Use a 2 1/2-inch biscuit cutter to cut out circles of dough. Place dough circles in mini muffin pans. Press them in gently being careful not to tear them. Repeat with remaining dough and re-roll scraps. You’ll end up with about 3 dozen in all. If you don’t have enough pans, keep the extra dough circles under a towel or plastic wrap so they don’t dry out until you are ready to use them. In mixing bowl combine zucchini and toss in the flour. Add remaining ingredients and mix well. Adjust seasonings to your taste. Place a rounded teaspoonful of zucchini mixture into each of the tartlet shells in the prepared pans. Don’t over fill. Bake for 12-15 minutes or until golden brown on top. They will puff up while baking but flatten when cooling. Can be served hot, warm or at room temperature. Makes about 3 dozen.
Can be frozen. To reheat take straight from the freezer and place on a baking sheet. Bake in a preheated 325 degree oven and bake for about 20 minutes, but check after 15 minutes.
Layered Crust
Somewhere between a crust and a puff pastry this crust is very flaky but also fragile. Great for small pies, turnovers, tarts and tartlets.
6 T. unsalted butter, room temperature
¾ c. vegetable shortening or lard, room temp. – you can even use chilled coconut oil
2½ c. pastry or all-purpose flour
1 t. salt
½ t. baking powder
1 t. lemon juice or vinegar
6 T. ice water, about
Start by mixing the 2 fats together and spreading them out into a ½ -inch thick rectangle. Chill at least 30 minutes before proceeding. Measure dry ingredients into a bowl and toss to mix. Score the chilled rectangle and cut the fat into ½ – ¾ -inch cubes. Drop into the flour mixture and toss to make sure all of the cubes are coated in flour. Combine liquids and toss in 2 tablespoon increments until dough will just hold together. You will see the lumps of fat. Wrap and chill dough for at least 2 hours. Now the fun begins: On a lightly floured surface roll the dough into a rectangle about ½ inch thick and 10 inches long. Fold the sides in, making 3 layers, like folding a piece of paper to put in an envelope. Turn the pastry ends to be at 6 and 12 o’clock and roll again into a rectangle. Fold again, turn again and repeat one more time for 3 turns in all. Cover and chill at least 4 hours. Makes 2.
