I listen to a lot of music.

I bake a lot.

There, that covers the intro.

Now go make these melt in your mouth classic British tarts bursting with raspberry jam and a sublime almond filling.

Make sure you have some Meursault blasting on the stereo.

Bakewell Tarts

Ingredients for the pastry:

2 cups flour
1/3 cup butter
1/3 cup shortening
6 to 8 Tbs water

Ingredients for filling:

1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup sugar
1 egg
1 1/4 cup ground almonds
1 cup cake crumbs (I used a slice from a store bought pound cake and whirred it in the food processor)
2 tsp almond extract
Raspberry jam
Confectioners’ sugar for dusting

Directions for the pastry:

1. Place flour, butter and shortening in a food processor and process until mixture looks like fine breadcrumbs. Add water and pulse until mixture comes away from side of bowl. Remove from processor and knead briefly on a floured surface.

2. Roll pastry out and cut circles with a biscuit cutter to fit the size of tartlet pans. Press dough into tartlet pans.

Directions for filling:

1. In a mixer, cream butter and sugar until thick and white. Beat in egg, ground almonds, cake crumbs and almond extract.

2. Put about 1/2 tsp of raspberry jam into each unbaked tart shell and spread almond filling on top.





3. Bake in a preheated 400℉ oven for 25 to 30 minutes

Makes about 12 mini tarts

Recipe from Bermuda’s Tea Time Treats Cookbook by Mair Harris

You know him best from Meursault. But not only is Neil Pennycook the brilliant force behind that band, you can hear his distinctive voice in Cold Seeds and Withered Hand. He’s probably involved in plenty more projects that I am unaware of.

I have liked Meursault for years. However, since I bought Cold Seeds and ‘Good News’ then proceeded to wear the disks out, I now listen to all of my Meursault songs with a different appreciation.

Obviously, these incredible musicians know how to surround themselves with talent. The way all of the voices and instruments intermingle gives me chills.

This is a lovely video with two of my favorite singers singing the song of another one of my favorites.

They shoot Meursault don’t they?

Hard to nail down just one favorite Meursault song, but this is up there in my top five. I seem to remember hearing once that, to the band, this is a funny song. Well then this is my kind of comedic music.

Mmmm…that piano, that voice.

Hey guys…my birthday is coming up in November….hint, hint. I’ll make your fave cake.

Could you even imagine having Dan Willson and Neil Pennycook play at your house?

Jesus. Talk about ecstacy. LOVE.

I have to make sure some of the electronic excellence is represented.

Can’t wait for the new album due out this July!

Check out Neil Pennycook and Meursault on Myspace, Facebook and Soundcloud.

You can learn more about Neil and his collaborations with Withered Hand on Dan Willson’s Website. Buy ‘Good News’ while you are there.

Buy Cold Seeds over at Song, By Toad Records. You can get Meursault’s music there, too, by clicking over to here.

Cheers!