guavajellyforkids

Inspired by Jam Tarts

Blanche Fisher Wright

Something as simple as making jam tarts offers much in the way of inspiration and learning. 'The Queen of Hearts' rhyme is, as we all know, taken from Lewis Caroll's classic novel Alice in Wonderland.

Apart from being a novel every child should have read to them, the stories have inspired so much stunningly good illustration.The stories of our childhood stay with us all our lives and the value of reading to children should never be under-estimated.

The illustrations we have included are: on the right the the Queen of Hearts carrying the tarts.. and below the perfect image of a little girl rolling out pastry - Elsa Beskow, a Swedish designer, writer and illustrator started contributing illustrations to magazines in 1894 - her books are still in print!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elsa_Beskow.

Elsa Beskow

Jam Tarts for Valentine's

What better teatime treat than Jam Tarts, simple to make, the kids will love them and if you use a tiny cookie cutter to press little hearts out of the pastry lids you will be spot on for Valentines Day. We made our own sweet pastry which is fairly easy to make (see recipe below) however for efficiency and speed use a 500g block of sweet pastry. (available from all good supermarkets). You could also use regular short pastry - after all the jam will sweeten things up.

You will need

500g block of sweet pastry

jar of red jam (we used strawberry)

butter to spread on the baking tin

a little flour to sprinkle for rolling the pastry.

Melt a little butter and use a pastry brush to butter the baking tray - definately a job for the children.
Sprinkle flour over a clean work surface and roll out the pastry to a thickness of a one pound coin (20mm).
Use a suitable cookie cutter (or a clean glass) to cut shapes from the pastry. You will need larger bases and smaller lids. We used a tiny heart shaped cutter to press out the hearts. Stars would also be fun. Place a base in each patty pan.
Spoon a small teaspoonful of red jam into each pastry base. Cover each jam-filled base with a lid.

Bake for about 12 to 15 minutes at 170C (150C fan-assisted). Keep an eye on the tarts, if they appear to be browning a little too quickly, lay a piece of aluminium foil over the baking tray.

The tarts are ready when they are lightly browned. Remove from the oven with care as the jam will be incredibly hot. Never allow children to remove hot items from the oven. Allow to cool and enjoy for tea!

A Useful Box

Creating a Useful Box

Before starting any craft activity you will need to protect your work surface. A large vinyl table covering.Choose a neutral coloured vinyl fabric, something not too busy a pattern that will not look out of place where ever you use it.

Wipe down childrens aprons or tabbards are also a good idea along with a good easywipe vinyl apron for any adults involved - it's amazing how messy paint and glue can be! Once the fun is over wipe the surface down, hang out to dry, or wipe dry with paper towel.