Today’s post was going to be Moroccan Lentil and Vegetable Pasties and a deliciously tangy Tabouli. I say was, because unfortunately, I hated how the photos turned out so I won’t be publishing them today. I will however remake the pasties (which have since been devoured) and the tabouli (which my fiance adored) as I really enjoyed both and want to share the recipes with you.
The photography side of food blogging is the part I find most difficult. There are so many wonderfully talented food blogger photographers, who style their photos so beautifully that they look like the pages of the best food magazines, that often I can’t help but feel quite inadequate in comparison. I look at the amazing photos from these talented photographers, with awe and admiration, and then read up on how to improve my photography. The problem is, it seems, the more I try to work on improving the less I like the resulting photos. Instead, I find I like my photos more when I simply throw things on the table and look through the viewfinder of my camera and go from there, adjusting as necessary, rather than trying to follow the rule of thirds and other photography rules.
While my photos won’t be winning any styling awards, I do hope that my photos do entice you enough to want to try the recipes you find here on Delicious Everyday, because that really is my ultimate goal when I take photos of my cooking to share with you.
Now, onto the Lemon Tart. I made this Lemon Tart yesterday, and burnt my hand in the process 🙁 spending the night with an ice pack strapped to my right hand :(, but it was worth it. When I think of lemon tarts I want that mouthpuckering lemon tang, and this Lemon Tart certainly packs a punch in that department, which I love!
This recipe, is actually a combination of two different recipes. The filling for the Lemon Tart comes from a lemon slice recipe by Belinda Jeffrey. I’d made the Belinda’s lemon slice a little while ago, and while I adored the filling I didn’t like the base as I found it too soggy and a bit bland. Because this Lemon Tart filling is so soft that it melts on your tongue I wanted a crisp base to provide contrast and a bit of texture. For the base, I turned to Dorie Greenspan’s trustworthy sweet tart dough. I’ve tried many tart dough recipes and in my humble opinion Dorie’s is the best. It’s easy to prepare and more importantly doesn’t shrink when baked (as long as you following the chilling times).
So tell me, do you like a lemon tart that delivers that mouthpuckering tang or a more subtle lemon flavour?
Winner of the Scanpan Knife Set Giveaway
Congratulations to Joanne Flower, the winner of the Scanpan Knife Set Giveaway!!!! I contacted Joanne yesterday who is excited and can’t wait to receive her prize. Well, Joanne, you won’t have to wait long because the amazing people at Kitchenware Direct have already shipped your prize!! You should receive it in the next day or so.
There were a whopping 458 entries, so a big thank you to all who entered! Keep your eyes peeled for another giveaway coming soon.
Lemon Tart
Ingredients
TART DOUGH:
- 145 g unsalted butter at room temperature
- 75 g icing sugar sifted
- 1/4 cup ground almonds
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 large egg at room temperature
- 245 g plain flour all-purpose
LEMON FILLING
- 6 eggs
- 3 cups caster sugar
- zest of 3 lemons
- 250 ml freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1/2 cup flour all purpose
- icing sugar to serve
Instructions
- To make the tart dough, place the butter in a large food processor bowl fitted with a metal blade. Process until smooth and creamy, scraping down the sides with a rubber spatula as needed.
- Add the icing sugar and process until well blended.
- Add the ground almonds, salt, vanilla and process until smooth, scraping down the sides of the bowl as necessary before adding the egg and processing until combined.
- Add the flour and pulse the mixture until it just starts to form a ball and stop. Remove the mixture from the food processor bowl and place onto cling film and form into two flat discs. Wrap each disk separately and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, you can freeze the 2nd dough disk to use another time.
- Once chilled, remove the dough from the refrigerator and roll out between 2 sheets of baking paper until 3mm thick.
- Carefully place the dough into a 24cm tart tin and press the dough against the bottom and edges of the tin to ensure it is well fitted. If the dough cracks or splits simply patch with additional pastry. Trim the top of the tart – the easiest way to do this is to roll the rolling pin over the top of the tart case which will trim the edges neatly.
- Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes and repeat with the second portion of dough.
- Preheat the oven to 180 degrees celsius (350 Fahrenheit) and line the tarts with baking paper and add dried beans or pastry weights and bake for 20 to 25 minutes until lightly coloured.
- Set aside while you make the filling.
- To make the filling, preheat the oven to 150 celsius (300 Fahrenheit) whisk the eggs and caster sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer until well combined. Whisk in the lemon zest and juice before sifting the flour over the top and whisking until smooth.
- Pour the filling into the prepared tart cases and bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the top is set.
- Once cool dust with icing sugar.
Franny says
August 12, 2012 at 1:40 pmWow, what stunning, but so easy, recipes I have found. Thanks so much.
PPoppy says
February 4, 2012 at 9:17 amHi !
This tart looks delicious … Elle a l’air délicieuse 🙂
Your blog is very pleasant to look at ! I love tacting photos for my recipes, but I admit some recipes are more photogenic than others !
Bye !
delicieux says
February 7, 2012 at 7:54 pmThank you for your kind words PPoppy 😀 And I agree, some recipes are more photogenic than others 🙂
Xiaolu @ 6 Bittersweets says
October 18, 2011 at 9:51 amMmm I love a good lemon dessert — your tart looks perfect!
kankana says
October 14, 2011 at 4:56 pmIsn’t it sad when something that taste so good just doesn’t happen to be that photogenic at all and we keep trying and trying ! Things we do for our love for blogging.
As for this tart … you got my attention dear and I love lemon tart. This is now in my wish list.
delicieux says
October 14, 2011 at 7:56 pmIf you decide to try it Kankana please do let me know what you think of it 😀
thelittleloaf says
October 13, 2011 at 10:37 pmI totally know what you mean about taking photos…it can be so hard. Although yours are always so beautiful you really don’t have anything to worry about 🙂 This tart looks delicious (and looking forward to the pasty post in due course!)
Jay says
October 13, 2011 at 8:04 pmwow…sounds scrumptiously tasty..
chanced upon your space while blog hopping…
amazing space you have with gorgeous posts..
Am your happy subscriber now..:)
do stop by mine sometime..
Tasty Appetite
muppy says
October 13, 2011 at 7:31 pmLemon tart is one of my all time favourites, it looks very similar to a recipe i make.
Your photography is stunning, i am shocked to hear you question it!
and the pasties sound really delicious.
delicieux says
October 14, 2011 at 2:29 pmAwww thanks Muppy 😀 The pasties were delicious, I just now have an excuse to make them again :p
Sweet Artichoke says
October 12, 2011 at 10:59 pmYummy! This is one of my favourite desserts ever and it looks soooo delicious!
Your pictures are always pretty and could very well be featured in a magazine, but I agree with you, this is one of the most difficult part of blogging. There is one thing that I find personnally conforting: looking back at my own early blog pictures, which makes me realize that even if I am very far from taking professional looking photos, there are some improvements….
delicieux says
October 13, 2011 at 8:37 amThank you so much Sweet Artichoke, you are too kind! 😀
Vitchen Cook says
October 13, 2011 at 11:37 amYour photo’s are amazing, Jennifer. I often wonder how you get them to be what they are! And this tart is just calling my name… will definitely have to give it a try… Thanks for posting 🙂
delicieux says
October 14, 2011 at 7:41 pmAww you are so sweet 😀 Thank you.
Susie says
October 13, 2011 at 9:40 amThis tart loks perfect! I love lemon and I agree sometimes you have to find the base for the perfect filling.
Ellie | Gourmand Recipes says
October 12, 2011 at 6:12 pmI don’t follow all the rules, just go with feel. Your photographs are stunning, so is the tart 🙂
delicieux says
October 13, 2011 at 8:31 amThanks Ellie 😀 I think your photos are stunning too, all of your food looks so good.
Baker Street says
October 12, 2011 at 3:19 pmI totally agree with you on the photography bit! I haven’t posted quite a few things because of bad pictures! But look at that tart! Its just gorgeous. 🙂
[email protected] says
October 12, 2011 at 2:06 pmYou def sell yourself short in the photography department. Iwas just thinking the other day how I admire your styling as it always looks so effortlessly great.
I do love a good moutherpucker lol also a great excuse for some sweet sweet vanilla bean ice cream as a side 😉 WOO
delicieux says
October 12, 2011 at 2:24 pmAwww thanks Nic 😀 That is so sweet of you to say that.
Good to hear I am not the only one that likes a tart lemon tart 😉
anh says
October 12, 2011 at 10:52 amLovely lemon tart!
And I hear you about photography. I think it’s the matter of practice and get used to your camera, and the space you have for organising stuff. it’s a bit of trials and errors, dont you think?
delicieux says
October 12, 2011 at 2:21 pmIt’s funny you say that Anh, because you were one of the talented food photographers I was thinking of when I wrote this 😀
a spoonful of yumm says
October 12, 2011 at 11:14 pmmelting part sounds great ! has that pick me up look 😀 i love lemon flavored tarts & cheesecake
[email protected] says
October 12, 2011 at 10:41 pmLooks delish. Have to agree, I like your photos and look forward to seeing them. Surprising how we underestimate ourselves.
delicieux says
October 13, 2011 at 8:36 amThank you for your kind words Tania. I think we all underestimate ourselves 🙂
Jo O says
October 12, 2011 at 10:14 pmYour photos looks great 🙂 it doesnt matter how you photograph it’s the taste that matters!! Is looks like a great recipe and I love a good lemon tart so I’m going to definitely try this over the weekend!!
delicieux says
October 13, 2011 at 8:35 amYou’re right Jo, it’s that taste that matters 🙂 If you make the tart let me know what you think of it.
Ali says
October 12, 2011 at 8:13 pmSeriously the pic got me salivating. The tart looks really good. great photography 🙂
delicieux says
October 13, 2011 at 8:34 amThank you Ali 🙂
Sukaina says
October 12, 2011 at 6:48 pmYou don’t know how many drafts I have sitting in blogger- never published because the photos just didn’t turn out the way I envisioned. But I like going with the your attitude that your main aim is for people to cook your food. And this tarts looks fab 🙂 I’d bake it for sure!
delicieux says
October 13, 2011 at 8:34 amThanks Sukaina 😀 It’s funny to hear you have drafts of things you’ve not published because I think your work is so beautiful. I guess we are most critical of ourselves.
Meeta says
October 12, 2011 at 6:47 pmLovely tart. I’ve made it from Dorie’s book a few times. As for the food photography part – you are doing a fantastic job and practicing, learning is all you can do to improve. The rule of the thirds is a good think to know and keep in your head but do not drag your creativity down but following the rule exclusively. I have it in my head but keep myself free from it when styling – it’s your creative freedom and let that come out! ;o) And if you want to feel better – have a look at my photos from the earlier days (2007 for example). You’ll feel better and see you are on the right road. Hugs!
delicieux says
October 13, 2011 at 8:33 amThank you so much Meeta 🙂
Rosa says
October 12, 2011 at 5:38 pmA wonderful tart! That is one of my favorite desserts.
Cheers,
Rosa
CC11 says
October 12, 2011 at 4:03 pmThe photography part is the one I also struggele with, but I’ve just accepted the fact that food styling is not my thing! But you know what I enjoy most about food blogs, the recipes they post. I find that the blogs whose recipes I actually bookmark tend not to be the most stylised. Even though I personally think your pics are definitely NOT amateur, your blog is one of the ones I bookmark the most recipes from!
delicieux says
October 13, 2011 at 8:31 amThank you so much, that really means so much. I am so glad you enjoy the recipes I share and was SO flattered when you made my mushroom, spinach and feta pies 🙂 And I don’t think you struggle with photography, your photos are beautiful!
[email protected] says
October 12, 2011 at 3:00 pmFirst time here, and you know what, your photography entice me to follow you! I think your photos are stunning, and what matters most is the recipes are genuine, you have a seriously mouthwatering collection here, keep up the delicious work!
delicieux says
October 13, 2011 at 8:29 amThank you so much Jehanne 🙂 Your blog is gorgeous too.
Nadia says
October 12, 2011 at 2:53 pmJenn, your photos are totally amazing and you should have no doubts about them :)))
I personally don’t think you have to improve anything… but if you want to feel more confident try reading Plate to pixel, it has some great advice about photography, styling, plating, etc tricks 🙂
delicieux says
October 13, 2011 at 8:29 amThanks Nadia 😀 I actually have Plate to Pixel (on my iPad) 🙂
amee says
October 12, 2011 at 1:22 pmps – all of your pics are awesome. who cares what the photo peeps say. i like that you have your own style!
delicieux says
October 12, 2011 at 2:22 pmThank you so much Amee 😀
amee says
October 12, 2011 at 1:21 pmi LOOOOOOVE anything lemon! i made a lemon tart years ago and got compliments on it but never made it again. i should! i love the powdered sugar.
Olly says
October 12, 2011 at 1:01 pmYummmm… Looks great I love anything with lemons!