Published: 19 August, 2010
by CLARE LATIMER

I HAVE just had friends to stay in Cornwall and one of the many gifts they brought was a huge basket of home-grown blueberries. At first sight I thought we would have to plough through those rather flavourless or bitter berries that are never as tasty as they look.  

I then picked out a huge soft berry and realised that if you grow them in this country and they are left to properly ripen they are absolutely delicious.  

Not only are they very good for health reasons (such as only 80 calories in a good portion) but also they have an excellent source of vitamin C, they are high in fibre which we need to keep our hearts in good health and also keeps our cholesterol in check. 

My guest then set too and made this stunning blueberry tart, so not only were they generous but also cooked most of the holiday. They can definitely come and stay again and bring more recipes. 

Blueberry and almond tart

Coming in off a day on the boat with hunger tapping at the door this was just what the doctor ordered in every way. Perhaps not the ice cream and clotted cream that was heaped on the top but then none of us are perfect! 

Ingredients

Serves 4-6
150g butter, softened
150g caster sugar
1 egg
150g self-raising flour, sieved
150g ground almonds
1 teasp ground cinnamon
225g blueberries.

Method

Preheat the oven to 170C / 325F / gas 3. Line a 20cm cake tin with a loose fitting base.   

Cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy and then beat in the egg. Fold in the self-raising flour, the ground almonds and the cinnamon. Mix well and then spoon half the mixture into the cake tin and smooth over.  

Place all the blueberries over the top evenly and then put the rest of the cake mixture over the top and smooth over. 

Bake in the oven for about 40 minutes or until the top is golden brown and a skewer comes out clean from the middle. 

Leave to cool and then serve warm. Cut into slices and serve like a cake.

Clare’s Kitchen
www.clareskitchen.co.uk
Email: clare@clareskitchen.co.uk
020 7722 6554