Pastry Seashells with Salmon Roe

Preparation

1. Step 1

   In a food processor blend the butter, the cream cheese, the flour, and the salt until the mixture forms a ball of dough. Flatten the ball and chill it. Wrapped in wax paper, for 1 hour. Press small pieces of the dough into 1 5/8-inch madeleine molds of other shell molds of the same size, pressing the dough as thin as possible and trimming away any excess dough around the edges. Chill the shells for 10 minutes, press a 2-inch square of foil into each mold to weigh the dough, and bake the shells on a baking sheet in a preheated 375°F. oven fot 10 to 12 minutes, or until they are pale golden. (If the dough is not pressed into the molds evenly some of the shells may brown faster than others.) Remove the pastry shells from the molds, transfer them to racks, and let them cool. The shells may be made in advance and kept in an airtight container for up to 2 days or frozen for several weeks.

   Step 2

   In the refrigerator let the yogurt drain through a sieve lined with a double thickness of rinsed and squeezed cheesecloth set over a bowl, covered with plastic wrap directly on the surface of the yogurt, for 2 days. Transfer the yogurt to a bowl and discard the liquid.

   Step 3

   Just before serving, in each of half the shells put about 1/2 teaspoon of the yogurt, add about 1/4 teaspoon of the roe and 1 of the dill sprigs, and top the filling with a second shell.