Not quite "Bake Off"

My number six challenge in the big list is to make 50 new puddings. 

That's it I've got the baking bug. My 6th pudding was a recommendation from a very wise friend of mine who has probably made more puddings than I ever will.  She sent me this recipe the day after we met upfor our annual meet. A meet up which I have to say we have been doing for 25 years, It's one we are all proud of. We have known each other from when I had gate-crashed their first antenatal meet up after having their babies. I had just moved into the area and my health visitor recommended I should pop along and see if it would help me to makes friends with other new mums.

At their first meet up  one of the new mums (you know who you are ❤️) invited me to the next coffee morning which was going to be at her house. This became one of many. It was a life saver when our babies where small, hand on heart I can say my life would have been very different if it wasn't for this group. So if there are any mums to be or new mums hesitating about going along to a mums to be or NCT group, think twice before you say no. Having a baby is a very exciting time but once everyone gets back to their daily lives and hubby goes back to work reality sets in. All of a sudden you are left looking after your new born with no clue and very little sleep at night time. Being able to talk it though with another mum who is going through the same is just comforting. It's helps to know your not alone in this new chapter. 

Getting back to the recipe, the choice was  perfect for me. I hadn't thought about putting fruit pies in my top 50. Very much out of the norm for our family... fruit that is!

However apart from looking really good in a photo once baked, taste wise it went down really well with the grown ups. I haven't made shortcrust pastry for a very long time and I would be lying if I told you it went well first time around. I left it too long in the fridge after mixing it together which caused big problems when rolling it out. However, I did manage to peel it off the floured work top and throw it onto the flan dish. The fruit of course was the easy bit and then came the top.

This is the time were I confess to making another batch of pastry. Second time around was better. Remembering not to leave it too long and adding less water to the mixture all contributed to a less sticky mixtureand a less stressful time getting the top layer of pastry on the pie.

Taking into consideration the slightly over cooked pastry where I had the oven on too hot, the fruit was still moist and the pastry held together quite well.  I definitely recommend  this pudding . It would go down well with autumn on its way after a Sunday roast.  

So below is the link that was passed to me to help me on my way. Thanks Marion xxxx

http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/blueberry_pie/