Rustic Tarts: The Ultimate Carefree Dessert

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A French friend once told me that those glamorous tarts for which the French are famous are merely open-faced cousins of American pies. But, he qualified, they are generally more refined than their "homier" relatives.

Intimidated? Don't be, especially when it comes to rustic tarts, the carefree ones I love to make.

By definition, a tart is a single-layer pastry dish -- most often sweet -- that's just like a pie but with an open top that lets the filling shine. A crostata, a native of Italy, also is a tart, but one that can be prepared by folding the edges of the dough over the top of a fruit filling. This technique creates a rough or rustic look rather than a …