Try this Torta della Nonna recipe, or contribute your own.
Why does pastry dough turn tough and crumbly instead of tender as it bakes? The answer lies entirely in how the butter and flour interact before the heat ever touches them. Working room temperature butter into the flour quickly creates a sandy texture of fine crumbs, coating the proteins to inhibit gluten development, which prevents the crust from becoming unpleasantly chewy. When combining the warmed milk infused with vanilla pod and lemon peel into the whipped eggs and flour, stream it slowly while whisking constantly to prevent the eggs from curdling into scrambled lumps. Cooking that custard over minimum heat ensures the starches fully gelatinize, yielding a smooth interior that will not weep or make the crust soggy during baking. Dividing the dough unequally provides enough mass for a solid base and a thinner top lid that bakes evenly at 180°C. Blind baking the pierced base for twelve minutes sets the bottom structure against the moisture of the heavy filling. Allowing the pastry to cool completely before dusting with powdered sugar prevents the sugar from melting into damp patches on the crust.