A Year-Round Guide to Franklin and Nantahala

Yield: 36 tarts. 2 cups white sugar ½ cup butter, softened 5 eggs 1 cup milk 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour 2 tablespoons cornmeal ½ teaspoon salt ¼ cup fresh lemon

Rosemary and Goat Cheese Strata

Yield: 36 tarts. 2 cups white sugar ½ cup butter, softened 5 eggs 1 cup milk 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour 2 tablespoons cornmeal ½ teaspoon salt ¼ cup fresh lemon

Lemon-Mint Chess Tarts

Yield: 36 tarts.

2 cups white sugar
½ cup butter, softened
5 eggs
1 cup milk
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons cornmeal
½ teaspoon salt
¼ cup fresh lemon juice
8 fresh mint sprigs, chopped
2 tablespoons lemon zest
2 piecrust shells
Powdered sugar for dusting 

Preheat oven to 350°. In a large mixing bowl, cream together sugar and butter with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs, one at a time. Add milk. Lower speed and add flour, cornmeal, salt, lemon juice, mint, and lemon zest. Mix until smooth. Set aside.

Sprinkle flour on a clean countertop. Place piecrust on counter. Cut pastry rounds using a 2½-inch round cookie or biscuit cutter. Place and evenly press pastry into each cup of a mini-muffin tin. 

Pour lemon mixture into pastry shells, filling each to the top.

Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until the filling centers begin to set. Remove tarts from oven and let set before serving. Dust with powdered sugar.

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This story was published on Apr 17, 2018

Lynn Wells

Lynn Wells gained a fond respect and interest in cooking from her mother and Aunt Addie at the age of 8 in North Carolina. During college, Wells worked in a wide range of restaurants, from fine dining to family- owned. After graduating from UNC Greensboro with a degree in nutrition management and hospitality, Wells began a 21-year career in the nutrition department at Cone Health. In 2014, Wells started Thyme Well Spent Personal Chef Service, an in-home cooking experience for private clients, which continues today. Wells is also a food writer, food stylist, culinary consultant, and the recipe developer/writer for Our State.