Strawberry Flan with custard and strawberry topping

2 Punnets of Strawberries

Pastry
100 gram butter
50 gram castor sugar
25 ml cold water
1 egg yolk
200 gram plain flour
pinch of baking powder

Blend butter and 100 gram flour
in another bowl mix the water yolk and sugar together
Add to the flour and butter
Work in remaining flour
Rest for 20 - minutes in the fridge (the pastry not you)
Rolll out to desired shape and approx quarter inch thickness
Bake blind in a moderate to hot oven for 10 - 15 minutes or until lightly browned

Creme patissiere (Pastry Cream)
3 egg yolks
90 gram sugar
30 gram flour
vanilla pod or essence
250 ml milk

Blend yolks, sugar and flour together
Place pod or vanilla in the milk and bring to the boil
Pour the milk onto the egg mix
Blend well
Pour back into the saucepan and gently boil till thickened (Watch it carefully)

Then pour into pastry flan and place strawberries around in it

Topping
2 tablespoons strawberry jam
3 tablespoons strawberry topping
5 tablespoons water
1 tablespoon cherry brandy (Optional)
1 tablespoon arrowroot or cornflour

Combine together over low heat stir continually until thickened
It will become clear and then pour over strawberries in the pastry flan

This is a good recipe to then make a pavlova with all the egg whites that are left over

Submitted by Marie Cameron