I have a friend who is an amazing cook, baker, cheese maker, caterer, fruit grower and all round whiz in the kitchen.  She and her family are generous and thoughtful and the kind of people you can always rely on.  Recently, in a split second accident their lives were turned inside out and upside down and perhaps changed forever.

Many miles from home and amongst unimaginable upheaval my friend remembered her quince tree and knew that this year, she wouldn’t be cooking any of the precious fruit.

This amazing woman also managed to remember me and arranged to have the quinces sent in my direction.

It was one of those sunny, sparkly autumn afternoons when I picked up this basket.  Joy, gratitude and sadness rushed over me all at the same time.  Instead of enjoying the warmth and autumn light in her kitchen, this year my friend is far from home clinging to hope and bravely holding her family together.

 

Something special needed to be done with these quinces.  Enter quince curd tarts.

I made the curd using this recipe and the little tart shells using a dependable pastry recipe from the Bourke Street Bakery cookbook.

 

 

 

Showered with a little icing sugar my whole family tested these as soon as they were cool enough to safely eat.  Buttery, lemony quince goodness sitting on a flaky pillow.

Sending you all some sparkly autumn sunshine for your Friday x