alchemeiters-records

[alchemeiters-records]

This counts as vent art.

[alchemeiters-records]

Welcome to the Alchemeister’s Records

This time, I'll be crafting a dessert loved by all the fairies and their queen: Titania's Spring Circlet Tart.

The White Gold and Amethyst Circlet

Deep within Oberon and Titania's realm, where the fae gather under the moonlight to dance and play, and where no man may enter and return to the mortal world, legends and odes describe a pure white circlet made of gold adorned with deep purple amethysts.

The fairy queen wears it once spring has come; her astonishing beauty and elegance can be compared to no other.

She gathers the admiration of the trees and bushes, prompting them to adorn their branches with white flowers and purple fruit.

This makes them slightly resemble the queen of the forests, letting every inhabitant of her land know that it is yet again the season of beauty, rebirth, and bountifulness.

May all her vassals rejoice in the blessings of her majesty!

First, we will form the crust for our tart. The formula for creating the perfect tart shell, comparable to an earth golem in resistance and appearance, is as follows:

- 20g ground almonds

- 125g cake flour

- 1 tbsp sugar

- 63g cold butter

- 1 tbsp water

Begin by combining the ground almonds, flour, and sugar in a food processor. Run it for a few seconds to combine all the dry ingredients.

Next, add the cold butter and run the processor for a few more seconds until the mixture takes on a yellowish color and forms small chunks resembling the sands of time.

Open the processor, scrape down all the walls and bottom, and run it for another few seconds to ensure all the ingredients are uniformly combined.

Finally, add undine’s pure water and run the processor for 1-2 minutes.

At this stage, if there are abundant undines nearby, the humidity in the environment would cause a clay-like paste to form, making the paste stick together and revolve inside. However, if it does not combine this way, individual clusters of pastry are fine too.

The next step is rolling out the pastry, otherwise known as golem’s clay, to the size of our tart tin. A baking mat with tart-size circles is a perfect tool, though not indispensable.

On a clean working surface, lay down a layer of cling film. Spread a small amount of flour on it, then place the pastry in the center.

In the case we are working with the crumbly variation, take the dough and press it together to form a disk.

With a floured rolling pin, start rolling it out from the center outwards, changing directions periodically. Once it is roughly the desired size, use your hands to push the uneven borders into a circular form as if molding your own destiny.

Then, use the rolling pin to flatten the uneven borders to the necessary size and thickness; 1.5 - 2 mm is optimal.

Once the crust is ready to fit into the tin, flour your rolling pin again to avoid the crust sticking to it while lifting it.

Lift one side of the film, place the rolling pin above the crust, and fold the film as you tuck in the pin with the crust. Slowly peel off the film from the crust and roll away the pin to the middle so it hangs free. Then, peel off the rest of the film.

If the crust breaks while trying to peel it, press it together, roll it out, and try again.

To make the golem’s clay sturdier and break-resistant, you can chill it for a few minutes using Fenrir’s icy breath or by putting it in the fridge before peeling it to harden the butter slightly.

Using your rolling pin and hands, lift the crust over the tin and place it gently into the it.

Once in the tin, use your hands to press down the crust to fit every space and mold it into shape.

Use a fork to make holes in the pastry in the pattern of a magic circle to enhance the flavor and to let air escape and ensure that air pockets won’t form beneath the pastry while baking.

Now it’s time to prepare the cheese filling. The ingredients for the ivory elixir are as follows:

- 300g cream cheese

- 140g sugar

- 130g cream

- 2 eggs

- 1 tsp vanilla essence

In a bowl or electric mixer, combine the cream cheese and sugar. Whisk until fully incorporated and the mixture has a creamy and fluffy consistency.

Add the vanilla essence and cream. Whisk until fully incorporated, then add 1 lightly beaten egg.

Whisk to incorporate, add the remaining egg, stop the mixing, scrape all the sides and bottom of the bowl to ensure there are no lumps left.

Mix one final time on high speed. Once finished, take a spoon or spatula, lift a small amount of the mixture, and let it drop to check the consistency. If it drops slowly running, it’s a success.

Summon a salamander friend to help you preheat the oven or turn it on to 170°C alternatively  gas mark 3.

While our fiery reptile friend warms up the oven, place half the berries in the crust to your preference, leaving space between the berries.

Then, pour in the cream on top, spreading the mixture evenly, and top with more berries.

Once done, shake the tin slightly and tap it gently on the surface of the table to let any air bubbles rise to the surface.

Bake for 30-40 minutes, or until the surface starts to turn golden brown and our salamander friend rejoices in the fragrant aroma.

While the tart is baking, let us transmute a berry-refreshing potion to complement the fairy treat.

The ingredients are;

Berries of choice as desired

2 Tbsp sugar

A splash of water

1 tsp vinegar of choice

In a saucepan, combine the berries, 2 tbsp sugar, and a splash of undine’s water just to cover the bottom of the saucepan.

With a spatula, mix the berries and sugar, bring to a boil over medium heat, then smash the berries with the spatula while boiling.

Add 1 tsp of vinegar of choice to enhance the floral scent carried in the berries by the forest’s blessing.

Once most berries are smashed, the sauce has thickened, and the deep royal red color has appeared. Remove from the heat and let cool until ready to use.

Finally, our delicious fairy dessert is complete. One bite of this Titania’s Spring Circlet Tart will be enough to transport you to the fairy realm for a delightful tea time in the forest with Her Majesty. For more fantastic and delicious meals, please like, reblog and follow. 

Until the next Record, pursue a delicious time with alchemy!