I hope you have all had a wonderful Christmas and New Year and have spoilt yourselves with baked treats!!! (I know I have)! I received the fab gift of many cake tins in their varieties which inspired some new bakes!
To start the New Year in fabulous style I decided to bake Mary's Tarte au Citron! Now I must confess this recipe is in the British Bake Off Cook Book rather than Mary's Baking Bible...although I haven't checked but I am sure it will be in the Bible too!! Now this tart is a firm favourite with my family and as it was my first attempt at ever making it, I thought the best occasion was our family day on the 1st Jan!
I cheated slightly, I must admit as I was short on time I used bought pastry, the just -roll variety. I have also not made or used pastry very often! I followed Mary's recipe as always but a scare came along... I completed the 'blind bake' and took out my pearl barely (I don't have baking beans!) I then returned the pastry to the oven and within minutes it had started to balloon in the middle!!! A panic call to my Bakey Aunty was made and I was assured that as long as I pushed down the pastry when the case came out the oven it would be fine!!!
Very happy to say my Bakey Aunty was 100% right! Although I was stilled terrified it wouldn't work right, I let the case cool an it started to look normal!!!
The filling for this one, (like the cheesecake) was very simple. One bowl of ingredients transfered into a jug and poored into the pastry case. I used the Bake Off great tip of pouring the mixture when the case was resting on the oven shelf... that way no spillage!
The tart was taken out the oven when it held the slightest wobble in the centre. I was really happy with how the filling looked!
I took the tart to the family gathering and my Nan and Bakey Aunty both checked out a slice in true Bake Off style! (Tapping the base and everything)! The test taste went down very well, with my dessert offering being all eaten up and 2 other puddings left on the table! Not bad for a first attempt! And next time I will tackle pastry myself!
Happy Baking,
Cakey Bakey xxx
