Welcome Home Bandie Wandie

Bandie Wandie came back from NYC today.  He was only gone for 4 days, but it seemed like a loooong time.  I didn't have sleeping problems while he was gone this time(I usually do.  I wake up 3-4 times a night, scared that I left the door unlocked.) but our apartment seemed so big when it's actually pretty tiny.  I am so so happy he's back! 

To welcome him home, I made mini cream cheese apple tarts.  They were really good, but they didn't really taste like cream cheese.  

Mini Cream Cheese Apple Tarts

The Recipe: 

1 1/4 cups flour, plus extra for rolling
8 Tbsp (1 stick) unsalted butter, very-cold, cut into 1/2 inch cubes
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon sugar 
2 Tbsp ice water

1) Cut the sticks of butter into 1/2-inch cubes and placing in the freezer for at least 15 minutes so that they become thoroughly chilled.

2) In a food processor, combine flour, salt, and sugar, pulse to mix. Add butter and pulse 6 to 8 times, until mixture resembles coarse meal, with pea size pieces of butter. Add water 1 Tablespoon at a time, pulsing until mixture just begins to clump together. 

3) Remove dough from machine and place on a clean surface. Carefully shape into a circles. Do not over-knead the dough! Sprinkle the dough with a little flour on all sides. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 1 hour.

4) Remove the dough from the refrigerator. Let sit at room temperature for 5-10 minutes. Sprinkle some flour on top of the disk. Roll out with a rolling pin on a lightly floured surface to a 30 cm circle. Add a few sprinkles of flour if necessary to keep the dough from sticking. Gently fold in half. Place on to a pie plate, tart pan, or mini plates/pans. Gently unfold and press down to line the dish with the dough.

Filling 

1 package cream cheese, at room temperature

1/4 cup granulated sugar

1 large eggs

1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Topping

1/4 cup granulated white sugar

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 cup apples, peeled and cut 

1/3 cup walnuts or almonds 

1) In a small mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese, egg and vanilla. Pour over crust. In a bowl, combine the apple, sugar and cinnamon; arrange over filling. Sprinkle with walnuts. 

2) Place pan on a baking sheet. Bake at 190° for 30 minutes or until apples are tender. Cool on a wire rack.