Special Delivery Tea Party

I think this week of dreamy posts deserves a tea party, don't you? I hope you are enjoying this jaunt through the English countryside through favorite books and BBC costume dramas.

Yesterday I introduced my new favorite series, Lark Rise to Candleford. You can catch all four seasons on DVD or on Amazon Prime, available here. I generally watch BBC costume dramas while doing housework, but I dream of enjoying an episode over tea instead of a mountain of laundry. With that thought in mind, I developed this little recipe and tablescape.

I think this special delivery would be worthy of tea at the Candleford Post and Telegraph, don't you? The beauty of this recipe is that each envelope tart is prepared individually, so you can fill a tiered server for a viewing party, offer two for tea with a friend, or make one for a laundry-day marathon.

Special Delivery Fruit Tart

This recipe makes one dainty envelope.

1 refrigerated pie crust

Peach slices (about four)

Raspberries

1/8 teaspoon flour

1/4 teaspoon sugar

Sugar sprinkles

You can get four tarts from one refrigerated pie crust. Simply cut the circle into four equal pie-shaped sections. (Or cut one segment to make one tart, and reserve the rest of the dough.) Each wedge of pie crust should have two straight sides and a rounded edge. Cut the rounded edges away to make a square. You can use the scraps of dough to cut little decorative shapes, like the scalloped heart accenting the tart pictured. You will fold the square of dough into an envelope. If you have one corner of the square that looks best, let this one be the open point of the envelope. Place a few slices of peach and a few raspberries in the center of the dough. I placed one peach slice lengthwise inside the envelope and fanned three out to stick out of the envelope. After you place the peaches, nestle a few raspberries around them. Sprinkle the fruit with flour and sugar, and pull up the points of the envelope. Add a decorative shape to the dough and sprinkle with Wilton sugar sprinkles, if desired. Bake at 400 degrees for about 14 minutes, or until golden brown. Serve with ice cream and a cup of tea.

Note: I also tried this recipe with sliced apples and a sprinkling of cinnamon added to the recipe.

Using store-bought dough makes this recipe quick and easy, but a little attention to detail makes it a special delivery.

Promise me you'll make a special delivery fruit tart to watch an episode of Lark Rise to Candleford, or bookmark it for an easy Valentine dessert.

Tea time, a pretty dessert, a favorite BBC costume drama and the opportunity to share a special moment with a friend?

In the words of Dorcas Lane, "It's my one weakness."





I'm sharing this post with "Tutorials, Tips and Tidbits" at Stone Gable.




Stop in tomorrow for an exciting end to this special week -- a giveaway fans of BBC costume dramas are sure to love!