Cheese Tartlets (Ostpastejer)

By norsegal8

Scandinavians take pride in their cheese-making abilities. Not only do they eat a great deal of cheese, but they have a great many ways of using it in their cooking. All of the Scandinavian countries are very progressive in promoting their local cheeses. These little cheese-filled pastry shells are useful for snacks, entertaining or to serve as an accompaniment for soups or salads.

Ingredients

• FILLING:
• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup butter
• 4 to 5 talbespoons ice water
• 1/4 cup crumbled blue cheese
• 1/2 cup shredded white cheese, Swiss, Gouda or Edam
• 1/4 cup cream
• 2 eggs
• 2 teaspoons lemon juice

Preparation

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Butter 24 miniature muffin tins.

Measure the flour into a mixing bowl or into the work bowl of a food processor with the steel blade in place. Cut the butter into slices and add to the flour. With a pastry blender or on/off pulses of the food processor, blend the butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add the ice water and gather the dough into a ball. Chill for 30 minutes.

To prepare the filling, mash the blue cheese and mix with the shredded cheese, cream, eggs and lemon juice.

Roll the dough out to about 1/8-inch thickness. Cut into rounds using a 3-inch cookie cutter. Fit the rounds into the muffing tins. Spoon the filling into the pastry-lined cups.

Roll out the remaining pastry and cut into strips about 1/3 of an inch wide. Cross 2 strips over each tart.

Bake for 15 to 20 minutes until golden. Allow to cool for a few minutes before removing from the pan.