Travelling Man's favourite tart.....

This is travelling man's fav dessert.....he isn't really a dessert kind of a guy...unfortunately  the opposite to me....I love desserts..... so I was so excited when I cooked this...years ago and he actually enthused  about it !
 French pear Tart....french tarts are always the best n'est pas??!

2 tins pear halves in natural juice
4 tbsp apricot jam
 For the almond filling.. 3 1/2 oz ground almonds
2 oz sugar
5 tbsp butter
1 egg plus 1 egg white
few drops of vanilla essence

For the pastry..
7 oz -3 2/4 cups plain flour
pinch salt
1/4 cup confectioners sugar
1/2 cup butter,cubed
2 egg yolks
1 tbsp cold water

First make the pastry (or cheat and buy ready made...) Sift the flour with the salt and sugar. Rub the butter into the flour until it looks like breadcrumbs. Mix the egg yolks and water and sprinkle over the dry ingredients,then mix to a dough. I've also done this all in a food processor.... Knead for a few seconds and then wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes.  Roll out the pastry and line a 9 inch flan tin ,and chill again whist you make the filling.
    Pulse the almonds and sugar together in a processor,add the butter and process until creamy. Mix in the egg plus extra yolk and the vanilla essence.
   Place a baking sheet in an oven and preheat to 375. Pour the almond cream filling into the tart shell. Drain the pear halves and arrange over the almond mixture.  Cook for 50 minutes until the filling is set and well browned.  Meanwhile  warm the jam in a small saucepan and brush over the warm tart when its cooked.

About to go in the oven......

The finished tart..!!