In early July I decided to knock the dust off of the recipe boxes I had inherited from my late grandma, a woman who was so near and dear to my heart. I challenged myself to make all (well, most) of her recipes and remix them where I felt they may need it.
Up next, Strawberry Tarts!
My husband wanted to participate, so he downloaded a food critique score card that he found online and plans to rate each dish… no pressure, no pressure at all!
My score: 18/25 or a “C”
Presentation on a scale of 1-5, this rated a 3
Temperature on a scale of 1-5, this rated a 4
Taste/Balance on a scale of 1-5, this rated a 4
Sauce on a scale of 1-5, this rated a 3
Texture on a scale of 1-5, this rated a 4
What could have been improved
- My grandma’s recipe called for pre-made custard, but I didn’t know where to find this and I wanted to make my own (something I have never done before). The first batch’s custard-to-crust ratio was off and it was not sweet enough. The second batch’s ratios were perfect, it tasted fantastic, but I didn’t let it thicken enough (recipe has been adjusted for this). This is why I was scored a 3 for presentation and sauce, as it wasn’t as firm as intended and my husband is harsh…
- Another lemon could be added to the shortbread crust to increase the tartness, but when I did this in the first batch, I just wasn’t a fan, I enjoyed the subtle lemon taste much more.
- I think to improve the presentation, strawberries could be added in a layer between the shortbread crust and the custard, this would keep them in place, as when you slice the tarts, all the of the strawberries fall off.
Changes I made
- I did not follow the crust recipe at all, instead I made a lemon shortbread crust, inspired from Rachael Devaux’s Twix Bar Recipe.
- I made my own custard instead of purchasing a pre-made version.
- I used coconut whipped cream, which paired well the coconut flour in the lemon shortbread crust.
The recipe


Love the custard recipe. Custard is hard to get right when you are just starting out, but you learn next time will be perfect.
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Thank you! I will keep trying!
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