Pies, Puddings and Pottages

To make the curd cheese place the milk and single cream in the large saucepan and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer and add the lemon juice.

Stir gently and watch the milk separate into curds (white lumps) and whey (pale liquid).

Remove from the heat and leave to cool, then pour the mixture into a sieve lined with muslin or a clean cloth, resting over a pan or bowl. Leave to drain for at least 2 hours.

Scrape the curd cheese from out of the cloth and refrigerate.

Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/gas 4.

Grease the tart tin with butter.

To make the pastry sift the flour and salt into the mixing bowl or food processor bowl.

Add the butter and then rub it in (or process if using food processor) until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs.

Break the egg into a cup and add the ice-cold water and whisk together.

Add to the pastry mix and bring together to make a dough adding more water if the dough is too dry. If using a processor add the egg mixture and whizz until the mixture forms a ball of dough.

Wrap in clingfilm and place in the fridge for 30 minutes.

On a lightly floured work surface, roll out the pastry and line the tart tin with it.

Scrunch up a large piece of greaseproof paper, open it out and place over the pastry.

Fill with baking beans and bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes.

Take out of the oven, remove the paper and baking beans and brush the pastry with the beaten egg.

Return to the oven for a further 10 minutes.

Remove from the oven and set aside to cool.

To make the filling, place the butter in the small saucepan and melt.

Place the melted butter and all the other filling ingredients except the currants and nutmeg in a large mixing bowl and beat together with the electric hand whisk.

Add the currants and stir in until evenly distributed.

Put the filling mixture into the pastry case and grate the nutmeg over the surface.

Place in the oven and bake for 30 to 40 minutes. The filling should still have a slight wobble or when it cools down it will be too dry.

Remove from the oven and allow to cool to room temperature.