For 8-10 tartlets you need

For the pastry

8 oz. flour, preferably plain pinch salt 4 oz. butter or margarine 1 oz. finely-chopped blanched almonds. 1 egg yolk water to bind

For the filling

juice 1 -2 lemons 2-3 dessert pears 6-8 oz. firm blackberries

For glaze and decoration

5 tablespoons redcurrant jelly, 1 tablespoon water 2 oz. ground almonds 2 oz. sieved icing sugar few drops almond essence little egg white little castor sugar

  • Sieve the flour and salt together, rub in the butter or margarine then add the almonds, egg yolk and water to bind.
  • Roll out and line the individual tins; prick these well or cover with a piece of foil and bake blind in a hot oven for 15 minutes or until golden brown, allow to cool.
  • Squeeze out the lemon juice and put into a shallow dish.
  • Cut the peeled pears into neat slices (discard the cores); allow 2 slices per tart.
  • Turn pear slices in the lemon juice.
  • Fill the cases with the fruit and coat with the glaze made by melting the jelly with the water, let this cool.
  • Mix the ground almonds, icing sugar, essence and enough egg white to bind
  • Roll out on sugared board, cut into leaf shapes, mark the 'veins' and put over the top of the fruit.

Oven temperature: moderately hot -425-450°F. - Gas Mark 6-7 Oven position: above centre