Maids of Honour Tarts

I First tasted the little tarts over 20 years ago at a little tea room in Kew gardens, London. They were like nothing i have tasted before and I have been searching for the right recipe ever since.

Maids of Honor cakes have a long history dating back to around 1585. They were a favorite of Henry VIII who is believed to have named them so after seeing Anne Boleyn and her maids in waiting eating the small cakes. It is said that the king was so fond of the recipe that he kept it locked away in a chest in Richmond Palace.During the 18th century the recipe was obtained by a Richmond bakery who began making the cakes for the general public - which is where I had tasted them

This is the recipe that seems to taste like the ones I so liked...but i am not sure if it is the original!

Ingredients

8oz Puff Pastry

8oz Curd or Cottage Cheese

1 Egg

1 Lemon

3ozSugar

2oz Currants

½ oz Blanched Almonds , crushed

½ oz Butter

2 tsp Brandy

Method
Preheat oven to 375°F

Push the cheese through a fine sieve, add the beaten egg, grated rind of the lemon, sugar, currants, chopped almonds, butter and brandy.

Mix thoroughly to combine all of the ingredients.

Roll out the pastry and cut into 16 rounds and place in shaped baking tray.

Half fill the rounds with the filling.

Bake for 20-30 minutes until golden brown.