Apple Pie Fairs,
Fresh Figs
and
Blackberry, Apple and Raspberry Tart
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| Blackberry, Apple and Raspberry Tart |
Monday 29th August
August Bank Holiday ~ UK
MARLDON APPLE PIE FAIR
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| Blackberry, Apple and Raspberry Tart |
Yesterday was wonderful ~ we made it to the beach in the afternoon for a walk, and even took the deck chairs ~ we sat for nearly 2 hours near the yachting club and watched several games of boules on the beach……it was all very serious and tape measures were constantly at the ready to check who the winner was as there was much vocal disagreement. Feeling relaxed and invigorated, we got home to find that the Coronation chicks, my wee hens, had discovered FRESH FIGS and had munched their way through the bottom branches of our fig tree! The scene was likened to that of a Roman orgy by my husband as he floundered through discarded figs skins that were littered all over the garden; the hens were sat digesting their ill gotten booty on the log pile, looking full and VERY pleased with themselves!
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| Deirdre looking full and pleased with herself! |
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| Rita and Mavis gorging on figs! |
Today is a bank holiday in the UK ~ late August bank holiday, the last fling before schools are back….and it is also the Marldon Apple Pie Fair in South Devon in the South West of England; an old fair that was revived back in 1958 and is held on the village green every year now ~ according to the website, there is the Apple Pie procession led in by donkeys and the crowning of the Apple Pie princes as well as a visit from The Red Sparrows! The fair also promises a Hog Roast, donkey rides and apple pie with cream on sale……wish I was there for a slice of that giant pie……. The history of the fair is really interesting and is all down to one George Hill.
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| Blackberry, Apple and Raspberry Tart |
Apparently, during the apple season, George used to travel weekly to the Market at St. Marychurch on a donkey, with panniers full of apples. On his return the panniers would be full of washing to be laundered. On the day of the annual fair and sports, held in Cary Park in St. Marychurch, George drove a cart carrying a huge apple pie, drawn by two black donkeys wearing harness and reins decorated with plaited straw, around the town. The pie, oval in shape and about the size of a kitchen table, ended its journey at the fair and was eaten with cream. The Marldon Apple Pie was a feature of the annual fair at St. Marychurch until George died.
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| Picture from History of Apple Pie Fair Website |
Marldon had its own annual show and sports every September, from 1888, and the Marldon Apple Pie was a feature of the procession to the field. It was drawn in procession behind a band from the Royal Oak (now a private residence) where it was baked, to the field. According to the recorded memories of villagers, the pie was baked in several sections and assembled as a full pie on the donkey cart. The villagers referred to the annual event as “Apple Pie Day”. Unfortunately, the fair ceased to take place for some years in the 20th Century.
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| Picture from History of Apple Pie Fair Website |
In 1958 a group of enthusiastic researchers, led by Mr. Fred Westaway, pieced together the story of the Marldon Apple Pie, decided to revive the annual village day and called it Marldon Apple Pie Fair. In recent years a large pie was baked at the Torbay Chalet Hotel (later the Torbay Holiday Centre, but now no longer in existence) in Marldon. The event draws together members of village organisations and residents of Marldon in a combined effort to produce the Apple Pie Fair, and attractions include various arena events, an exhibition of craft activities and local artists in a large marquee, plus numerous side-shows and stalls. You can visit the site here for more information:
Marldon Apple Pie Fair 2011 and here for the history of the fair: History of Marldon Apple Pie Fair
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| Blackberry, Apple and Raspberry Tart |
In celebration of the Apple Pie Fair, I made a wonderful fresh tart from the apples, blackberries and raspberries all growing in my garden ~ what a great combination of flavours too ~ the soft fruit adding a sharpness to the sweet eating apples in the tart ~ do use eating apples, as Bramleys do not hold their shape and go to mush……although, they would be good for the apple purée. The tart was elegantly rustic, the pastry was crisp whilst the fruit filing was the star of the show ~ I shared some with a friend down the road who raved over it, a result then!
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| Blackberry, Apple and Raspberry Tart |
So here is my recipe, I hope that you enjoy it as much as we did ~ it really is Autumn on a plate and so easy to make too. Fresh fig recipes to follow this week, if the hens leave some for us that is, as well as some seasonal preserves…….
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| Blackberry, Apple and Raspberry Tart |
Blackberry, Apple and Raspberry Tart
(Serves 8)
- 230g ready-made butter puff pastry
- 1.75kg crisp, green eating apples
- 150g unsalted butter
- 50ml water
- 100g granulated sugar
- 100g fresh raspberries
- 50g fresh blackberries
- 2 tablespoons raspberry jam
- juice from 1 lemon
- 3 tbsp Demerara sugar
- Icing sugar
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- Peel, core and chop half the apples. In a large pan melt half the butter over a medium heat, add the apples and stir well to coat with butter. Reduce heat slightly and cook apples for 10-15 minutes, stirring frequently.
- Add the water and cook for further 10 minutes, then stir in sugar and cook until apples very soft – approx. 10 mins. Remove from heat and allow to cool. Meanwhile preheat oven to 200ºC (180ºC fan assisted)/400ºF/Gas 6.
- Roll out pastry and use to line a 25.5 cm/10” shallow tart tin, put to chill. Peel core and thinly slice remaining apples, toss in a little lemon juice.
- Spread the raspberry jam over the base of the pastry and then pour the apple purée over the top before scattering the raspberries and blackberries over the apple purée; top with apple slices arranged in concentric circles, each slice slightly overlapping the one before until all compote is covered. Dot with remaining butter and sprinkle the Demerara sugar evenly over apples. Bake for 25-30 minutes. Sift with icing sugar and return to oven for few minutes to glaze.
- Serve warm with cream, ice cream or crème fraîche.
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| Blackberry, Apple and Raspberry Tart |
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| Raspberries at the bottom of the garden |
See you later, have a great bank holiday and enjoy an apple pie or two on me…….
Karen
A Trifle Rushed says
I just love checking your blog every morning to see what you've made. This tart looks soooo delicious.
The beach sounds great, we managed a swim yesterday, and had to dodge various boule players as we walked home.
Marie says
That's one very delicious looking tart Karen! Had to chuckle at your hens! Nothing is sacred! I miss having chickens. I miss the figs that we had down at the Manor too. They were gorgeous as were the plums this time of year. The trees were beautifully festooned with them and the orchards around us were filled to the brims with all sorts of apples and pears, and of course wild blackberries!
Marie says
Oh and Medlars too!
Mitinita says
I love the combination of the ingredients and since I have them on hand I might make one myself. Have a great week Karen!
Corina says
This tart looks gorgeous. I wish I had some puff pastry in the flat right now so I could make it today.
Liz says
Oh … that looks absolutely delicious!
Liz @ Shortbread & Ginger
Karen S Booth says
Thanks Jude ~ the boules games were hysterical, all SO serious! We didn't swim yesterday, but will try for an afternoon off and a swim midweek!
Karen S Booth says
Marie ~ thanks, yes they seem to like all red fruit, my hens, so plums would be a target too, but I only have Mirabelle plums and they have come and gone, so I am safe there….I don't really mind as the fig tree is groaning under the weight of fruit ~ those on the top branches for the birds, those on the bottom for the hens and we get the middle branches ~ seems like a fair system! I bet you miss your hens, I am still over the moon when I go to check their nest box and find those little eggs just waiting there for me.
Ahh……medlars, I love them ~ we get them in France, not in my garden but on the lanes outside the village.
Karen
Karen S Booth says
Thanks Adina ~ let me know how it turns out!
Have a great week too!
Karen
Karen S Booth says
Thanks Corina, I bet this would work with shortcrust too….I'll give that a go next time!
Karen
Karen S Booth says
Thanks Liz ~ we only have 2 slices left now!
Karen
La Table De Nana says
Gorgeous pie..I still want a hen:)
A Vintage Chic says
What a lovely post, Karen! I love learning about the old English festivals…always so interesting!
Thank-you for sharing your recipe–my girls & I will be heading to a local apple farm in the next week or two to pick apples–I think I'll have to give this a try!
Wishing you the most beautiful day…
Julie
Cathy at Wives with Knives says
Your beautiful tart has my mouth watering, Karen. I just poured my first cup of coffee of the day and would love to have a slice to go along with it. The story of your apple pie fair is delightful. I always look forward to my town's celebration of Oktoberfest. The food is wonderful and I love the music. However did they cook a pie the size of a table?
Inspired by eRecipeCards says
i just love recipes that come with stories. And what an incredible recipe. So much in this tart, so many layers of flavors. Loving every bit of this (and my hens of course)!
Kate@katescakesandbakes says
Can I please come live with you Karen? I don't mean to sound all stalker-ish, its just you make the most delicious food anywhere! This pie being no exception!
Karen S Booth says
Thanks Monique ~ sending you a virtual hen!
Thanks Julie ~ I would love to visit that apple farm too…..let me know how many you pick!
Thanks Cathy ~ it is hard to imagine how they managed to bake a pie that big!!
Thanks Dave ~ your hens are at the figs again as I type!
Kate ~ LOL ~ if we shared the same kitchen we would be as big as houses with all our manic baking!
Pegasuslegend says
This not only looks scrumptious it should be on every national magazine, I love this recipe its wonderful!
Claudia @What's Cookin Italian Cuisine
Karen S Booth says
Many thanks Claudia! and I LOVE your name BTW ~ Pegasuslegend……..this was quite a photogenic tart, so I was lucky.
Karen