My love for Bon Appétit spans twenty years, and I have the archived issues to prove it! In fact, one of the motivations behind this blog was to make use of my library of special editions by challenging myself to recreate the cover recipes. Salivating through the May 2010 issue, I was gobsmacked 
when I came to the article Pudding…British for Dessert and immediately went to FaceBook to contact my friend, and expat, Lorna to ask her if she would like to be a guest “cooker” and prepare one of the delectable desserts presented by British cookbook author and TV personality Tamasin Day-Lewis.
My appreciation for food extends beyond the obvious and immediate sensory pleasures to being intrigued by cultural associations and traditions. I’ve enjoyed documenting moms preparing Jewish latkes, Mexican tamales, and Polish pierogies. Now, courtesy of Lorna of Califlorna, we proudly present a classic British dessert:
Bakewell Tart with Raspberry Preserves
from Bon Appétit
Legend has it that the Bakewell tart was invented in the 1800s in the village of Bakewell. An inexperienced cook made a mistake when putting together a strawberry tart—and ended up with a pie crust with a layer of preserves on the bottom and a soft, cake-like filling. This version uses raspberry preserves, but strawberry would also be delicious.
INGREDIENTS
CRUST
• 1 1/4 cups all purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) chilled unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
• 3 tablespoons (or more) ice water
FILLING
• 3/4 cup raspberry preserves
• 1/2 vanilla bean, split lengthwise
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted, cooled
• 4 large egg yolks
• 3 large egg whites
• 1/4 teaspoon almond extract
• Pinch of salt
• 1 cup roasted salted Marcona almonds
• Lightly sweetened whipped cream
PREPARATION
CRUST
• Blend flour, sugar, and salt in processor 5 seconds. Add butter. Using on/off turns, cut in until very coarse meal forms. Add 3 tablespoons ice water. Blend until moist clumps form, adding more ice water by teaspoonfuls if dough is dry. Gather dough into ball; flatten into disk. Wrap in plastic wrap; chill 1 hour. DO AHEAD Can be made 1 day ahead. Keep chilled. Soften briefly at room temperature before rolling.
• Preheat oven to 375°F. Roll out dough on floured surface to 12- to 13-inch round. Transfer dough to 9-inch tart pan with removable bottom. Cut off all but 1/2 inch of overhang and fold in, pressing dough to come 1/4 to 1/3 inch higher than pan sides. Freeze crust until firm, about 10 minutes.
• Line crust with foil and dried beans or pie weights. Bake crust until sides are set, about 25 minutes. Remove foil and beans. Continue to bake until crust is pale golden, piercing with fork if crust bubbles, 12 to 15 minutes longer. Cool on rack 30 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 350°F.
FILLING
• Spread raspberry preserves evenly over bottom of crust. Scrape seeds from vanilla bean halves into medium bowl. Add sugar and blend with back of fork to distribute vanilla seeds evenly. Add butter, egg yolks, egg whites, almond extract, and salt; whisk to blend. Finely grind almonds in processor; stir into filling. Pour filling into crust.
• Bake tart until browned on top and set in center, 30 to 35 minutes. Cool on rack until just slightly warm, about 45 minutes.
• Push up tart pan* bottom to release tart. Serve slightly warm or at room temperature with whipped cream.
* A tart pan is not essential – Lorna used a ceramic pie baker which went from oven to table beautifully.
While the tart was baking Lorna shared another British classic with me: a Pimm’s spritzer! I knew nothing of this refreshing cocktail that’s a fine Wimbledon tradition along with the eating of strawberries and cream, royal patronage, and strict all-white dress code for competitors. Cheerio!
I dare say, it was another fine day at the beach!
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That was so much fun! Any time you need a British dish – let me know!
.-= Lorna Harris´s last blog ..Come on Engerland! =-.
I had to come take a look. Gorgeous tart, gorgeous spritzer! Do you know what Lorna mixed the Pimm’s with?
.-= The Rowdy Chowgirl´s last blog ..Look Left =-.