Summer fruits are so divine in a tart of the lightest pastry and creamy confectioners' custard.
But to be honest, my nerves & time management aren't always up to the production of light and airy pastry and so I resort to a no-effort, impossible-to-mess-up biscuit base.
My version is just 75g / 0.31 cups of melted unsalted butter and 50g of ground almonds stirred - very gently - into 200g / 1.05 cups of sweet plain biscuits which have been bashed into crumbs with the rolling pin.
You just pile the mixture into a flan tin - I like the biscuit layer quite thick so use a 9" one - compact it down with your fingers and then shove the biscuit mixture into the fridge whilst you get on with the creamy confectioners' custard.
The only thing is - truth be told - my nerves & time management aren't always up to the production of creamy confectioners' custard, or at least an un-curdled one with no lumps!
Which is where the second cheat comes in ... a creamy filling - adapted from a recipe by Nigella Lawson - which is never lumpy and doesn't curdle.
All you need is:
- 1 large egg
- 75 g / 0.31 cups of caster suager
- 500g / 2.11 cups of mascarpone
Separate the egg and whisk up the white so it's nice and stiff. Separately beat the egg yolk and sugar into a paste and then beat in the mascarpone. Once it's smooth, fold in the whisked egg white and then heap the whole lot onto the biscuit base.
This is scrumptious with all sorts of summer fruit - berries are wonderful but also lightly stewed rhubarb - which I pile on just before serving or if it's a less child-friendly fruit - such as gooseberries - serve separately.
If by any chance I am ahead of time - this of course being a rather fat chance! - I might make a little syrup with some of the fruit and drizzle it on before piling on the fruit.
*NB If you are making confectioners' custard or creme patisserie and it curdles, peel a big starchy potato and just stir the potato around in the custard - it will un-curdle the custard, I promise you, I've done it!
For more scrumptiously, sweet recipes check out these posts and visit The Mommy Archive ... I would love to hear about your favourite pudding and dessert recipes ... do share them in the link-up below.
Your Favourite Desserts
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