Tag Archives: maid of honor tarts

Maid of Honor Tarts – Making Memories

My first batch of Jam bottoms!
My first batch of Jam bottoms!
So simple inside - but Oh so good!
So simple inside – but Oh so good!

Ever heard of “Jam Bottoms” or maybe “Maid of Honor” Tarts. Well today I made them for the first time, and at the same time evoked many memories for myself and my family.  Tom helped me – the pastry had to be thin and the cake had to cover the jam and my pastry had these funny bumpy edges that his Mother’s tarts never had!  But they got made!

These particular tarts were my Mother in Laws “special” tarts.  They were her thing!  If you saw them at any family gathering you knew who had made them and that they were good.  No one else would make them – they were Ruth’s!

What are they? You might ask.  I did the first time I heard of them.  The family calls them “Jam Bottoms”.  A friend of the family said that she thought they were really Maid of Honor Tarts.  I think that she was right!

They are a tart that starts with a pastry shell, topped with jam and then finished with cake batter!  They are heavenly when eaten a little warm from the oven and are still wonderful a couple of days later.

We hadn’t had any since Ruth died, a couple of years ago.  I was going to make them for my husband for Christmas – they are his very favorite thing.  But I ran out of time.  I think that I may be making them a lot from now on.  My sister-in-law wants some next time she is down and my daughter practically started crying when I told her I had baked some.

Some memories are meant to be passed on – perhaps they will now become my thing!

About 3 more inches and then the hem!
About 3 more inches and then the hem!

Well my week to knit my sweater is up!  Tomorrow I must start on the other knitting that demands attention; the retreat, some patterns that need finishing and some new idea’s that need polishing.  I have almost finished the body of my sweater though – just the sleeves, hem and other finishing.  So maybe another week of a bit here and there will get the job done!

Sophie is looking pretty alert!  There is another dog coming over to say hello!
Sophie is looking pretty alert! There is another dog coming over to say hello!

This morning we walked at Neck Point!  This day had had a glorious start and the walk at Neck Point continued the trend.  I hope that you enjoy the walk, Sophie certainly did.  She was in and out of every cranny and up every hill!

Happy Knitting

Lynette