Fruit Basket

In Romanian: Cosulet cu fructe

Ingredients

 * 8 oz / 250 g butter
 * 1 lb / 500 g flour
 * 4 tablespoons slightly sweetened cold water
 * a little salt
 * 1 lb / 500 g whipped cream
 * sugar
 * rum

Cream

 * 8 yolks
 * 2 cups milk
 * 8 tablespoons sugar
 * vanilla
 * 3 teaspoons potato flour
 * 4 oz / 100 g butter

Seasonal fruits

 * 2 lbs / 1 kg strawberries or wild strawberries
 * sour cherries
 * apricots
 * grapes

Directions

 * 1) Mix the water, flour and salt; roll a sheet the width of a pencil.
 * 2) Then spread the butter over it in a uniform layer.
 * 3) Fold envelope style and refrigerate for 20 – 30 minutes.
 * 4) Repeat the rolling and folding of the dough 3 times, refrigerating it each time for 20 – 30 minutes.
 * 5) Roll into a large circle and place this in a layer cake pan (with removable bottom) with the edges hanging outside.
 * 6) Bake at medium heat until golden.
 * 7) Remove from the oven and with a sharp knife, cut the dough that overhangs the rim of the layer cake pan.
 * 8) Then release the bottom and take out the baked basket.

Cream

 * 1) Boil the milk with the vanilla and sugar.
 * 2) After coming to a boil, cover and remove from heat.
 * 3) In a bowl, beat the yolks, gradually adding the milk mixture and stirring continuously until all the milk is used up.
 * 4) Then add the potato flour which was previously mixed with a little of the yolk and milk mixture.
 * 5) Pour everything into a double boiler and stir until it starts to resemble a soft paste.
 * 6) Remove from heat, add butter, mix well and refrigerate 15 – 20 minutes before serving, spread the cream on the bottom of the basket and top with the washed and drained fruits, sprinkled with sugar and rum.
 * 7) On top of the fruits, put some whipped cream and garnish with a few fruits.
 * 8) The basket may be prepared 1 – 2 days in advance but the filling is placed just before serving.