MANDARIN BUTTERMILK TART

Makes 1 tart

Ingredients:
-2 large eggs, lightly beaten
-3/4 cup sugar
-1 Tbsp. heavy cream
-¾ cup buttermilk
-4 Tbsp. melted butter
-1 ½ Tbsp. fresh mandarin juice
-1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
-zest of 1 mandarin
-3 Tbsp. all-purpose flour
-1 prebaked sweet tart crust (recipe below)
-1/4 cup sweetened whipped cream

Preheat oven to 300 degrees F. In a mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, sugar, cream, buttermilk, and melted butter. Slowly whisk in the mandarin and lemon juice, zest and flour. Whisk until all lumps of flour have disappeared. Carefully pour buttermilk mixture into the prebaked tart shell. Place onto a baking sheet and bake in the preheated oven until tart is just set (when gently tapped the center should no longer jiggle), about 35-45 minutes. Allow to cool to room temperature, then slice into wedges. To serve, top with whipped cream and garnish with a sprig of fresh mint, if desired. Wrap leftover tart in plastic and store in the refrigerator.

Flakey Tart Dough
Makes 2 tart crusts

Ingredients:
-2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
-1 teaspoon sugar
-1 teaspoon salt
-12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/4-inch pieces
-5 tablespoons cold lard or shortening, cut into pieces
-Ice water

In the bowl of a food processor, combine the flour, sugar, and salt. Pulse to combine. Add the butter and shortening, and pulse until the mixture forms little balls, and no chunks of butter or shortening remain, 5 to 10 times. Do not over process.
Transfer to a large bowl. Sprinkle with 1 tablespoon of the ice water. Repeat 3 times more. Using your hands or a wooden spoon, stir the mixture until it just begins to come together as a dough. If necessary, add more water, 1 tablespoon at a time.
Divide the dough into 2 disks. Wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 400.
Once dough is chilled, roll each ball out into an even circle. Carefully lay into tart pan and prick all over with a fork. Quickly chill for another minute in the freezer.
Blind bake the tart shells by cutting a piece of foil to cover and filling the tart crust with dry beans or pie weights. Bake in the preheated oven until golden, about 15-20 minutes. Cool completely before adding any filling.