Saturday, November 27, 2010

The Daring Bakers make crostata

This month's challenge was to make a crostata dough and fill it with our choice of anything at all. Time ran out on me, as it usually does, as I really wanted to make a savoury one. I did manage to make 2 small crostate, but I'll definitely have to come back to this one, especially as I still have some of the pastry in the freezer. The first one I made, shown above, was blind-baked and  filled with passion fruit curd and topped with raspberries. It tasted like summer, which is a treat, considering it's been alternating between freezing rain and snow here for the last 24 hours. You can find the recipe for the passion fruit curd here
The other one I made was filled with homemade applesauce and fresh blackberries. I find that a very English combination, but it was fantastic in the pasta frolla crust. I actually liked the crust better in this one--it was not as crisp and flaky, but very tasty from the filling. I topped it with a lattice and sprinkled it with raw sugar. I served this with whipped cream on the side, but it didn't need it at all. I had some warm and some cold and liked it both ways. 
Before topping and baking
Blog-checking lines:
The 2010 November Daring Bakers’ challenge was hosted by Simona of briciole. She chose to challenge Daring Bakers’ to make pasta frolla for a crostata. She used her own experience as a source, as well as information from Pellegrino Artusi’s Science in the Kitchen and the Art of Eating Well.
After a bite or two
Full challenge PDF here. Thanks for a great challenge, Simona! Take a look at the Daring Kitchen to see a slideshow of all the lovely crostate this month.



33 comments:

Audax said...

WOW both versions look so stunning but the passion fruit one has my name on it. The second one look so cute well done on this challenge and I hope you get a chance to do some more versions.

Cheers from Audax in Sydney Australia.

PS lovely photos also.

Valerie Gamine said...

They both look delicious, but my eyes and stomach are craving the passion fruit curd crostata. It grabbed me when you said that it tasted like summer. :)

I know I may have said this before, but the move seems to be agreeing with you. Your photos keep getting better and better. I just want to pluck one of those raspberries out of the computer screen!

Evelyne@CheapEthnicEatz said...

I agree both look fabulous, but as you say with the weather we have been having the passion fruit curd and topped with raspberries calls to me like summer. Great challenge!

yummychunklet said...

Cute! I have a bunch of leftover homemade applesauce that I may try to use in the applesauce and blackberry version!

Poires au Chocolat said...

They look yummy. I adore passionfruit curd, what a great use of it!

sweetakery said...

both versions look so gorgeous..lovee the passion fruit curd crostata! yumm send it over plz! ;)

PattiCake said...

Yummy! They sound wonderful and we could certainly use a bit of summer right now; snowing again this morning.

Renata said...

You know how much I love passion fruit! Topped with the berries is even better. Both versions are mouthwatering!

Tadeja said...

They look so gently and delicate. Beautiful!

shelley c. said...

Wow - those both look and sound fantastic. You can't beat the taste of summer of the passion fruit one, but the applesauce one sounds like pure comfort food, which, well, how can you beat that on a cold snowy day?? I also had hoped to make a savory one, but just ran out of time. I love that about this challenge, though - totally inspiring for future baking! :) Great job.

Suz said...

They're gorgeous! Your weather sounds much like mine, and the picture of the raspberry and passionfruit curd crostata (by the way, YUM) is like a little ray of sunshine on this cold day. I'll be making a blackberry and apple pie this evening - hope it's as good as yours looks. Lovely lovely!

Unknown said...

Passion fruit curd...omg pass some to me please. Great job.

Valérie said...

Passion fruit and raspberry... sounds just heavenly! Both versions look lovely, and your crust looks so delicate!

Simona Carini said...

Better not ask me to choose one, because I would not know what to answer. Both crostate look wonderful.

Unknown said...

I love both your fruity crostate, Mary! The last post of the Cardamom Sables look beautiful! I really must get Dorie's book! Thanks for the comment on my post!

Laura said...

I love that you made two different fillings--one that is summery and the other wintery. I love the idea of passionfruit curd and the idea of applesauce with berries makes me feel all warm and nostalgic for some reason. Beautiful job.

Aparna Balasubramanian said...

YOur fruity and summery crostate so colourful and good. Making my mouth water. :)

Jessica @ bake me away! said...

These are so pretty and cute! The passion fruit one sounds especially delicious...yum!

chef_d said...

Wow, those crostatas look delicious! Love the look of the passion fruit curd and raspberries but the baked apple sauce and berries crostata looks oh so drool-worthy!

Todd M said...

I don't know what passion fruit curd taste like but I would like to try that one. And the apple and black berry - not a combination I would have thought of but it sounds like it would taste pretty good - and they both look great.

Koci said...

You had me at "passion fruit". That sounds sooo yummy! And I love how you made small crostatas instead of one big crostata. All the better for munching! :D

Manu said...

Your passion fruit filling is amazing!!! Very creative!
Great challenge!

Manu said...

Your passion fruit filling is amazing!!! Very creative!
Great challenge!

Miri said...

First off - that slightly oozing passionfruit makes me want to jump into your photos.
Even better though is that there aren't any pips in your curd! It might be silly but I can't stand them. Fantastic!

A Canadian Foodie said...

I have to make that passion fruit curd - thank you for the reminder. It looks so lovely, but the applesauce and blackberry tart looks yummy, too... and these are called crostata and not tarts because of the kind of pastry used? I am blown away.
:)
Valerie

Anonymous said...

Your crostate look absolutely delicious! The passion fruit one is almost too pretty to eat!

Elaine said...

I don't think I have ever had a crostata. Yours look amazing, Mary.

Anonymous said...

What a great idea using passionfruit to bring a little summer back. I simply adore it but it isn't so easy to find in Calgary this time of year. Great job
Sandie

Penny said...

The passionfruit one is definitely on my list! They both look good.
Great work on the challenge.

bake in paris said...

The passionfruit raspberry crostata is simply mouthwatering! I adore the color combination of bright red and orange, very outstanding!

And thanks for sharing the passionfruit curd recipe :-)

Cakelaw said...

Love, love, love the passionfruit curd and raspberry version - so pretty too.

Anonymous said...

They both look wonderful but I have to go with the passion fruit and raspberry combo! Thank you for commenting on mine...sorry I couldn't get to yours earlier.

Lisa said...

Mary, I am in lust with your mango curd raspberry crostatas. They all look great, but those have won my heart. Beautifully done and beautifully photographed!