Pies and Tarts Dessert Recipes - Maids of Honour Recipe

Ingredients

For the pastry (paste)

• 200 g/7 oz/1 3/4 cups plain (all-purpose) flour

• A pinch of salt

• 100 g/4 oz/1/2 cup butter or hard block margarine, diced

• Cold water, to mix

For the filling

• 175 g/6 oz/3/4 cup curd (smooth cottage) cheese

• 40 g/1/4 cup currants

• 50 g/2 oz/1/4 cup caster (superfine) sugar, plus extra for sprinkling

• Finely grated rind of 1 small lemon

• 15 ml/1 tbsp ground almonds

• 10 ml/2 tsp brandy or sherry

• 1 small egg, beaten

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Method:

1. To  make the pastry, sift the flour and salt into a bowl. Add 90 g/3 1/2 oz of the butter or margarine and rub in with the fingertips until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs.

2. Mix with enough cold water to form a firm dough. Knead gently on a lightly floured surface. Roll out and use to line 6 tartlet tin (patty pan) sections.

3. To make the filling, beat together the curd cheese and the remaining butter or margarine until well blended. Beat in the remaining ingredients. Spoon into the tarts.

4. Cook in a preheated oven at 190°C/375°F/gas mark 5 for about 35 minutes until golden brown. Sprinkle with a little caster sugar and cool on a wire rack.