Apple, Fig, Walnut & Mascarpone Tartlets

By Lisa VanWilliams

These dainty bite-sized puff pastries would be a great ending to any meal. They are great around the holidays as well so you can nibble and sample other goodies without filling up on one heavy item.  They are lite and delicious and you could even add a dollop of whipped topping or a teaspoon of vanilla ice cream dropped right on top.  The best part is these only take a few minutes to whip together. 

You can find the puffed pastry sheets in the frozen section at the grocery store, thaw the amount you want to use and refreeze the rest.  You can fill these will anything ! Strawberries, chocolate, you could even pre-bake the pastries and then add in banana or chocolate pudding with some whipped cream on top.  Bite-sized madness of your choice. 

Ingredients:
puffed pastry sheets
1 apple peeled and cubed
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 tablespoon butter
1/4 cup orange juice
handful of chopped walnuts
few drops of vanilla
sprinkle of cinnamon
few pieces of fig on top
mascarpone

Directions:
Simmer apples in butter for a few minutes then add in orange juice.  Then add in vanilla, cinnamon, brown sugar, & walnuts. Take a cupcake pan and spray with non-stick spray. Cut little 1 inch by 1 inch rectangle/squares out of pastry and stretch them out to cover half way up sides of tin.  Fill them with a teaspoon full of apple, a 1/2 teaspoon full of mascarpone, then add a few pieces of fig on top.

Bake in oven 15 mins until they start to turn a golden brown. Enjoy!