As I grow older it seems that time goes ever faster - how can the blackberries be ripening in our hedge already? What has happened to summer?  And then I realise that they're simply very early this year, probably due to all the hot sunny weather we've been experiencing and it isn't September but still only the middle of July....

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I had already picked a bowlful of these early berries for freezing, when I came across a delicious sounding (and simple) recipe that I thought would be worth trying.  And I am delighted to be able to report that this bramble tart recipe is one of the nicest uses for blackberries I have come across and I thought you might enjoy it too..

Bramble Tart

I used two pre-purchased shortcrust pastry cases as I was a bit short of time (lots of 12 Days of Christmas panels to pack!).  The recipe called for cinnamon pastry but I simply sprinkled some ground cinnamon over the base of the pastry cases before filling them which I found worked really well..

For the tart filling whisk together 3 medium eggs and 100g caster sugar in a large bowl.  Put 200ml double cream, 200ml whole milk and 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract into a saucepan and gently bring to the boil.  Pour onto the egg and sugar mixture, whisking as you go and then if necessary (I didn't bother) sieve into a jug.  Divide as many blackberries as you like between the two tart cases - I covered the base with fat juicy berries - and then pour over the custard to fill the cases completely.  Grate over some nutmeg and bake at 150C for 20-30 minutes.  They're ready when the top is set but the centres wobbly slightly when the baking tin is jiggled. Cool and chill before eating - totally delicious especially with a lovely dollop of cream!

Twelve Days of Christmas

I've been absolutely blown away by the amount of interest in my Twelve Days of Christmas panels - I'm so pleased you like them.  For me they were one of those projects that I enjoyed stitching so much that I really didn't want to come to the end!  I'll be hanging my completed bunting across the chimney breast in my living room this Christmas and hopefully for many years to come.  

I sold out of the printed panels earlier this week but have now restocked and am being kept busy packing everyone's orders.l

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Each flag is about 6" long and the designs are printed on a really nice quality soft white medium weight linen blend fabric.  The twelve flags fit very nicely onto a fat quarter (which is of course a good thing when it comes to choosing backing fabric).

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I've done my utmost best to keep the price as low as possible as I'm aware of the rising costs of living and the need to watch the pennies.  To this end I'm not including a printed stitching guide, instead a link to download the (very) detailed guide is included with every printed panel purchase.My

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The price for the fabric printed with the 12 designs that includes the downloadable stitching guide is just £20 including postage for UK purchasers and £20 plus postage everywhere else.  (I separated out overseas postage so US tariffs wouldn't apply to the postage element of the price, again trying to keep costs as low as possible). To view the listing please just click on the button below.  

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