Today I decided I wanted to try baking some new things, so when Faith was napping and Grace was watching a film, I set to work. Inspired by the punnet of plums sat in the kitchen, I thought I’d try a plum and almond tart.

I never make puff pastry as I’m far too lazy and, as a busy mum of two small children, I don’t really have the time. I always think the shop bought puff pastry tastes fairly good anyway! 🙂 This has got to be the simplest and tastiest plum and almond tart ever!

Roll out a rectangle of puff pastry, score a border in the pastry about 3cm from the edge. Roll out a thin layer of marzipan the same size as the inner rectangle and place it on the pastry. Slice about 4-5 ripe plums and arrange them in a pattern on top of the marzipan. Sprinkle with a little sugar (I used light soft brown sugar), brush some milk around the edges and then put in the oven (moderate temperature) for about 25 minutes until the pastry is cooked through and the plums have softened. So simple! Delicious served warm with ice cream.

Plum Tart

Tart and Ice Cream

I also thought of a cupcake I wanted to try (whilst lying awake at 4am after Faith had woken me for the second time!). I made a normal sponge cake mix, spooned it into the cupcake cases, swirled in a teaspoon of caramel sauce to each cake and baked for around 20-25 minutes. Each cupcake was decorated with vanilla buttercream and little flowers cut out of rolled out clotted cream fudge. Yummy!

Caramel Cupcakes