I baked it blind for 10 minutes before removing the beans, brushing it with beaten egg and then baking another 10 minutes to form a glaze that word deter the custard from leaking through the dough. I had some pate sucree, rich pastry containing almonds, eggs and sugar, in my freezer (from my favourite Pierre Herme recipe in The Cooks Book) and I used that for the shell.

If its good enough for her Majesty, then it is good enough for me! (Although Wareing does note in this interview, that ' I don’t want to be remembered for a custard tart when I’m gone!')Īlthough he tendered the intial inspiration, I didn't actually use Wareing's recipe to make my fabulous tart. Correct us if we are wrong.) Apparently - Wareing's tart recipe won the BBC's The Great British Menu dessert and was served at the Queen’s 80th birthday lunch. (Although after double-checking with a couple of experts that there wasn't some new-fangled idea I wasn't aware of, I believe that putting pie weights inside the shell in a plastic bag would probably not be the smartest move. I started doing some research, online, into custard recipes and came across this charming video of Marcus Wareing making ' The Perfect Custard Tart'. I have to confess, that although I loved the eggy, nutmeg-speckled filling of these little tarts, I detested the often-soggy, pale insipid shortcrust pastry that held the custard in place. Growing up in Britain, commercially-made individual custard tarts that looked like this, were ubiquitous in every neighbourhood bakery. To support Barabra's own efforts to raise awareness is the least I can do, especially since it gave me an excuse to make a glorious English-style Baked Custard Tart that was the best I have ever tasted.įrom reading I have done on the internet (who knows if it is to be trusted), the English have been making custard tarts at least since Medieval times. Even though I have never met her! Barbara sent me assurances and advice through email and via google chat. Barbara has not been so lucky, but despite her own suffering, she never failed for one second to be a positive and unfailing support to me throughout my own ordeal. Luckily for me, it turned out to be benign.

Earlier this year, after having my first mammogram at the age of 40 I had to have an operation to have a lump removed from my breast.

One day she hopes she will be able to call herself a cancer survivor. Those of you who know Barbara, will also know that she has cancer. LIVESTRONG Day 2007 will occur on Wednesday, May 16. LIVESTRONG Day, Lance Armstrong Foundation's (LAF) grassroots advocacy initiative to unify people affected by cancer and to raise awareness about cancer survivorship issues on a national level and in local communities across the country. Barbara over at Winos & Foodies is running an event called A Taste of Yellow in conjunction with:

Yamy xox five nights at pinkies