Chocolate Truffle Tartlets

After reviewing the recipe for these tartlets, I decided the tool I would purchase next would be some tartlet pans with removeable bottoms. I found some 4 1/2" pans and ordered them. I waited impatiently as they arrived four days after their anticipated delivery date. My intention was to prepare the tartlets for Valentine's and also as a birthday gift for a friend that same day.

I prepared the crusts first. I had no problem with the crust made with the food processor. I was able to manipulate it into the necessary divisions for my 6 pans. In retrospect, I should have just used 5 of the pans, as the crust dough had to be spread a little thin for all 6 pans. I perservered and was able to press in all six crusts and set overnight in the fridge to chill.

After getting everyone off to school and work, I baked the crusts and let them cool. The house smelled "yummy." I always love the scents of baking in the house. I got started on the filling. I saved the egg whites for my daughter's breakfasts for the week, so nothing went to waste. The chickens are finally laying, so I was pleased that I had enough fresh eggs again.

Once the crusts were cooled thoroughly, I popped them out of the pans. All were fine, albiet delicate, except one that the sides stuck and when pressing the bottom of the crust, it began to tear and crack apart. I smashed the pieces back into the tart pan with the bottom to assist in the removal later. I figured this would be mine :)

The tarts were filled and placed into the oven to bake. I checked to see how they were doing and realized that a few of the crusts had broken under the weight of the filling. The filling was oozing out on those, but there were a few that held their own!

After cooling, the tart in the pan was easily removed and turned out to be one of the better looking of the bunch. I believe the problem with that individual was it was too thick in the center and the sides were to thin making them fragile.

I made a batch of home made vanilla ice cream to serve with the tartlets. The final product was not fully appreciated after the heavy dinner of homemade pasta with a gorgonzola spinach cream sauce with steak strips! We were so full! I think a light dinner salad followed by the tartlets would have worked better for our Valentine's dinner.