Lemon Tart

1. Stage

Make the candied citrus zest (optional): Place lemon zest in a saucepan and cover with water by 1/2 inch. Bring to a boil. Remove from heat and drain the water. Fill up with water again and repeat. Bring to a boil, remove from heat, then drain. Add water again, this time adding the sugar as well. Simmer for 30 minutes, then drain.

2. Stage

Dry the candied zest: Spread the zest out on a sheet of parchment paper. Let dry overnight at room temperature (Do not put in the refrigerator!). (Tip: If you wrap the zest strands around a chopstick and let them dry wrapped, then the next day when you unwrap them, they'll hold a curly form.) The next day, toss the zest with a little more sugar.

3. Stage

Make the tart dough: Whisk together the flour, salt, and powdered sugar in a bowl. Add the butter, and either use your (clean) fingers or a pastry blender to mix the butter into the flour until the dough forms flaky crumbs and lumps. Try to make sure all of the flour is coated with some butter. With a wooden spoon, mix in the egg, 1/4 teaspoon almond extract, and 1 teaspoon lemon zest. Continue to mix until the dough clumps.

4. Stage

Chill the tart crust: Shape into a ball and flatten into a disk. Wrap the disk in plastic, and refrigerate at least an hour or up to two days in advance.

5. Stage

Preheat the oven: Preheat the oven to 350°F.

6. Stage

Roll out the tart crust: If the dough has chilled overnight, let it sit at room temperature for at least 10 to 15 minutes before attempting to work with it. This allows the dough to relax enough to become somewhat pliable before rolling out. Roll out the dough by either sprinkling the dough and rolling the surface with a little flour, or you can roll the dough out between 2 sheets of parchment paper. Roll the dough out to a circle 2 inches wider in diameter than your tart pan (about a 12-inch round). Press the dough into the tart pan. Use your rolling pin to level the dough along the edges of the pan. Freeze for 30 minutes.

7. Stage

Prebake the tart crust: Place aluminum foil over the crust and gently mold it to the dough in the pan. Add ceramic pie weights (or dried beans, sugar, or rice). Bake at 350°F for 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and lift the sides of the aluminum foil to remove the pie weights. Let the crust cool.

8. Stage

Make the lemon curd filling: Melt butter and creme fraiche together over a double boiler, stirring to combine. (If you don't have a double boiler, bring a couple inches of water to simmer in a saucepan, and place a stainless steel or Pyrex bowl on top of the saucepan, making sure the bottom of the bowl is not touching the simmering water.) Remove the top pan from heat and set aside. In a second bowl over the double boiler, whisk the eggs and egg yolks just long enough to warm them. Remove from heat and beat in the butter mixture, then the lemon juice. Strain the mixture through a sieve into a clean bowl and place over the simmering water. Add the sugar and zest and whisk until warm to the touch, about 4 minutes.

9. Stage

Fill and bake the tart: Pour the lemon filling into the crust and bake at 350°F for 25 minutes or until set in the middle.

10. Stage

Chill before serving: Let cool completely on a rack. Then, chill in the refrigerator. When ready to serve, top the tart with candied lemon zest, if you wish.