Celebrate the last of summer with this strawberry treat

As schools open for the Autumn term it feels like we are saying goodbye to summery treats and looking forward to comforting thoughts of orchard fruits.

I didn’t want to let summer go without one last strawberry bake.

On Saturday I was booked to host an online event with Bake with a Legend. It is all done over zoom on the internet....from my kitchen to yours so to speak.

My youngest daughter Tess was the only UK participant, she joined from her kitchen near Oxford. All the others were in America: it's so fantastic, interacting and having a good time with people from so far away.

We made a strawberry tart. This tart is my favourite when I am in France - you can buy them everywhere, from supermarkets to top end boulangeries.

The bakers in my class were thrilled with their results. Every tart looked triumphant and beautiful.

Now some in the class had never made pastry before and they were amazed that they could pull off such a professional looking bake.

This is what we did: We made a sweet pastry case and blind-baked it to ensure no soggy bottoms! That just means that you bake the pastry first and use greaseproof paper and baking beans (or dried pasta) to weigh down the pastry as it bakes. This keeps the base flat.

Then we made the custard filling, which we made extra lush by adding white chocolate. The strawberries are arranged on top of the custard and are glazed with apricot jam loosened up with a bit of hot water. This is brushed on the fruit and makes them glisten.

We whipped up some double cream and piped that around the edges, and scattered on some toasted flaked almonds. Et voila!

I intend to write up the recipe and method on my website. However, you can cheat if you want to and buy a pastry shell, use packet custard and squirty cream!

This week I am on my travels once again. I am heading to Malvern for a first stop.

We always use Caravan and Motorhome club sites, so we know what to expect but I just love a new area, and I have never walked the Malvern hills before. My friend Terry from Bake Off is joining us there so we are going to do some campsite cooking together.

Just now I need to shake my feathers and gather our belongings to get the caravan set up.

So, readers, enjoy your week and I'll be reporting next week from Malvern!

Heidi Hi

www.karenwrightbakes.co.uk