Fresh Peach Tartlets

The tartlet shells

• 2 ounces blanched almonds
• 6 ounces all-purpose flour
• 1 ounce sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 8 tablespoons cold, unsalted butter, cut into small cubes
• 2 large egg yolks
• 2 to 3 tablespoons ice water

1. Pulse the almonds in the bowl of a food processor until they resemble fine breadcrumbs (careful not to over-grind, or you'll end up with almond butter).
2. Add the flour, sugar and salt and pulse several times to combine. Add the butter and pulse until the largest pieces of butter are about the size of small peas.
3. Lightly beat the egg yolks and add to the mixer, pulsing a few times just to combine. As you continue to pulse, gradually add the ice water, a tablespoon at a time, until the dough just starts to come together. (It should stick when you pinch a bit of it between your fingers.) Do not over-mix!
4. Remove the dough from the mixer and put it on a lightly floured surface. Pat it gently into a disc, wrap it tightly in plastic and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or overnight. **Alternatively, you can press the just-mixed dough into the tart tins at this stage and refrigerate until ready to bake.
5. Heat the oven to 350F. Roll the dough between two floured pieces of plastic wrap until it is about 1/8-inch thick. Put your tartlet tins upside down on top of the dough and cut shapes around them, leaving about half an inch on all sides. Press the dough pieces gently into the tins and level the tops with a rolling pin, removing any excess dough from the edges. Dock the tartlets several times with a fork and fill any larger shells with parchment and baking weights. Refrigerate the tartlet shells for at least 20 minutes.
6. Bake the shells for 15 to 20 minutes, until golden in color, removing the parchment and baking weights about five minutes before the shells are done. Cool on a rack and then turn the shells out of their tins.

The peach tartlets

• 1 cup good peach and/or apricot jam, divided
• 1 cup mascarpone cheese
• 4 to 6 small, ripe peaches

1. Put 1/2 cup of the jam in a small heavy saucepan with a tablespoon of water. Warm gently over medium-low heat as you assemble the tartlets.
2. Spread a small spoonful of jam over the base of each cooled tartlet shell -- you just want a thin coating. Add a dollop of mascarpone to each and spread gently over the jam.
3. Wash and dry the peaches, and then cut them into 1/4-inch slices. Arrange them prettily among the tart shells, covering the surface of the mascarpone.
4. Use a pastry brush to glaze the peaches with the thinned jam. Serve immediately!