gourmetgaming:

Catherine – Strawberry Tart (Katherine)

Katherine is Vincent’s long-term girlfriend who evidently has a bit of a sweet-tooth. She’s rarely seen without a dessert in front of her that somehow she’s been able to only take a small piece from. If I were dining at Chrono Rabbit I can assure you I’d be on my third slice of whatever strawberry covered treat was on offer. The source of Vincent’s current anxieties, Katherine takes some pretty interesting and disturbing forms in his nightmares. Even her fork is seen as a threat to him, well, she is usually the one doing the killing in her dreams. I can see why Vincent is so scared; her underlying dark streak and relationship pressures are enough to make me nervous! But as long as there’s desserts, everything’s okay.

This recipe makes 6-8 servings.

What you will need: A 9 inch (23cm) fluted tart tin with a loose base, 2 large mixing bowls, a sieve, a rolling pin, ceramic baking beans, piping bag, a small pot, cling film/saran wrap and greaseproof paper/baking parchment.

For the Shortcrust Pastry:

225g / 1 ¾ Cups Plain Flour

100g / ½ Cup Butter (Chilled and Cubed)

½ Teaspoon Salt

Water

For the Filling:

300g / 1 ½ Cups Cream Cheese (Room Temperature)

100g / ½ Cup Fine Sugar

1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract

2 Large Eggs (Room Temperature)

120ml / ½ Cup Soured Cream

2 Tablespoons Fine Sugar

To Garnish:

175g / ½ Cup Strawberry Conserve

120ml / ½ Cup Double / Whipping Cream

2 Tablespoons Fine Sugar

16 Fresh Strawberries

18 Fresh Blueberries

Making the Shortcrust Pastry:

1. Sieve the flour into a large bowl and add the butter. Using your fingers, rub the butter into the flour until it resembles breadcrumbs. Add the salt and add water a tablespoon at a time until the mixture comes together as a dough.
2. Wrap the dough in cling film/saran wrap and chill in the fridge for an hour before use. Meanwhile, lightly grease the tart tin and set aside.
3. Preheat the oven to 180C/355F. Once chilled, roll out the pastry to an even thickness and line the tin. Cover with greaseproof paper/baking parchment and fill the pastry with ceramic baking beans.
4. Place the pastry in the oven and cook for approximately 10-15 minutes. Watch the pastry to ensure it doesn’t dry out or get too brown. Once it’s golden and firm it’s ready to come out. Remove the baking beans and greaseproof paper and leave the pastry to cool while you prepare the filling.

Preparing the Filling:

1. Turn up the oven to 220C/450F. In a large bowl, combine the cream cheese, sugar and vanilla extract. Mix well until smooth. Don’t worry if it seems very liquid, this is normal.
2. Pour the mixture into the cooled and prepared pastry, leaving a small gap at the top, and put in the oven for around 7-10 minutes or until the centre has set.
3. Take the tart from the oven and set aside for 5 minutes to cool. Meanwhile, mix the sour cream and 2 tablespoons of sugar together. Spoon just enough of the sour cream over the top of the tart to create a thin layer.
4. Turn the oven off and return the tart to the oven for 10-15 minutes or until the sour cream has solidified.
5. Take the tart out and leave it to cool to room temperature before placing in the fridge for several hours or over night to chill.

Making the Strawberry Tart:

1. In a small pot, add the strawberry conserve. Warm through on a medium heat until the mixture becomes liquid. Allow it to cool for a minute before pouring a thin, even layer over the chilled tart. Place the tart back in the fridge until the strawberry conserve layer has set.
2. Meanwhile, whisk up the double cream with the sugar and spoon into the piping bag. Pipe cream around the entire edge of the tart.
3. Prepare your fruit for the top, check out this picture for how to arrange the blueberries and strawberries. Grab a milky coffee and enjoy the tart!

While I was trying to get a good look at the tart Katherine is eating during the game, I noticed that it actually changes a few times in one scene. It swaps between a sponge cake and the tart I’ve made above. I chose the tart as it was something a bit different to the previous recipes and it appears most frequently in the game. I went through 4 attempts at different varieties and combinations and then finally, I cracked it! A delicate cream-cheese layer, with caramelised sour cream topped with strawberries and blueberries is beautifully complimented by the smooth shortcrust pastry and whipped cream. Don’t waste your fork on your significant other, this treat is proof there are far better things to be forking.