Yesterday I reviewed the kids cook book Cook It , Step by Step by Dk  and today I am thrilled to be able to share a recipe extract straight from the book with you all.  How good do these Strawberry tarts look? Kids will love to make them.

Strawberry tarts recipe

These pretty pastries taste as good as they look! You can also make them with other types of soft fruit.

Ingredients

• 225g (8oz) ready-made shortcrust pastry

• 150g (51/2 oz) mascarpone cheese

• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract •

2 tbsp icing sugar

• 175g (6oz) strawberries or other soft fruit

• 4 tbsp redcurrant jelly •

15ml (1 tbsp) water

Preheat the oven to 200 ̊C (400 ̊F/Gas 6). Thinly roll out the pastry, then using the fluted cutter, cut out 8 circles. Press the pastry circles into a bun tin.

Line the cases with baking parchment and fill them with dried beans. Cook for 10 minutes, then remove the beans. Return to the oven for 3 minutes. Cool in the tin

Transfer the cases to a cooling rack. Place the cheese and vanilla extract in a mixing bowl. Sift over the icing sugar, then beat with a wooden spoon until smooth.

Place the strawberries on a chopping board. Remove the green stalks from the strawberries. Then use a knife to cut them in half or quarters if they are large.

When the pastry cases are completely cool, use a teaspoon to fill them with the mascarpone and vanilla mixture. Arrange the strawberries over the top.

Place the redcurrant jelly in a small pan with the water and cook over a low heat, stirring until the jelly has dissolved. Brush this over the strawberries.

enjoy!