2 Almond Torte recipes by Kathy Kennerly

These are two variations on the same theme: almond tort... or tart...

Torte = A rich cake made with many eggs and little flour and usually containing chopped nuts.

Tart = A pastry shell with shallow sides, no top crust, and any of various fillings; commonly baked in metal dishes

 

Almond Tart, new version

 

Crust:

• 1.5 cups flour
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1 cup butter
• 1 egg
• Knead it all together into a ball and let it sit for about 30 minutes in the refrigerator while you complete the next steps

Filling:

• 4 eggs
• 1.25 cup sugar
• zest of 1 lemon
• 2 cups ground almonds
• pinch of cinnamon
• Beat the eggs and sugar together until creamy.  Fold in lemon zest, ground almonds, and cinnamon.

Final preparation: Roll out pastry on floured surface.  Line a buttered 10" spring pan with the pastry.  Add the filling.  Bake at 350 F for 30 minutes or until golden brown--you will know it is finished when an inserted utensil or toothpick comes out clean.

Serving Recommendations:

• Warmed, with hot coffee or with one of our health-promoting antioxidant teas
• After dinner with a glass of wine

Health Benefits of This Meal:

• By itself, this dessert provides some fiber and phytonutrients from the almonds and cinnamon, but mostly this is a sugary dessert that we cannot classify as health-promoting.  However, a pleasurable unhealthy snack like this can be part of a health-promoting lifestyle if other factors such as Dr Vasquez's 5-part nutrition plan and a routine of regular exercise are in place.

 

 

Almond Tart, aka Torta de Santiago

Ingredients and Preparation:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees
• butter a 9" spring form pan
• Mix the following:
  • 3 cups of almond meal (or blanched almonds ground pretty fine)
  • 2-1/4 cups granulated sugar
  • 1/4 cup butter
  • 7 eggs
  • 1/3 cup flour
  • Zest and juice of one large lemon, separate
  • Confectioners' sugar
  • Sugar and butter -- beat together until "fluffy"
  • Eggs -- add one at a time, beating to incorporate
  • Flour, lemon zest and almonds -- stir in
• Bake +/- 1 hr. or until a toothpick or broom straw comes out clean.
• Prick surface and sprinkle with lemon juice.
• When cool, dust with confectioners' sugar

Serving Recommendations:

• A wonderful after-exercise treat!

Health Benefits of This Meal:

• Except for happiness and a little bit of fiber, this desert is pure sin.  Don't even try to fool yourself into thinking it's healthy!