SC - Blackberry/Apple Pie

[Elysant at aol.com]

- -Poster: <Elysant at aol.com>
 
>  I am looking for recipes for blackberry/ apple pies. Preferably period and
>  Celtic or welsh.  As I have read that the Celts did not pick blackberries
>  after Celtic New Years because the berries would have been cursed by the
>  fairies (frost). 

This is possible, :-) usually though, November is a little late for 
blackberries anyway.  The wild ones are ripe and are picked usually during 
September to the first half of October or so. :-)

>  So I thought Blackberry Pie would be good for Celtic New
>  Year, but all Blackberry would be to costly, which is why Blackberry/ Apple
>  Pie. Any help or opinions are welcomed.

In Wales we make all kinds of fruit tarts (as pies are called).  They usually 
have a pastry top and bottom, and are cooked on plates.  I was unable to find 
a specific blackberry or blackberry and apple tart recipe for you in my Welsh 
cookbooks (sorry), but I do know that both tarts are popular in Wales at this 
time of year (my mother makes both).
 
Instead then, here's a traditional Welsh recipe for "Tarten Eirin" (Plum 
Tart) which also has apples in it.  Perhaps you could substitute blackberries 
for the plums?  

Elysant
(BTW I do not have documentation on how old this recipe is). 


Tarten Eirin

Filling
1 lb plums, cut in half and stone removed
4 small apples sliced
4 oz of sugar for sweetening, and a little water

Pastry
The pastry is spiced - using 8 oz. flour and 4 oz. fat and 1/2oz sugar and a 
little water; with 1/4 teaspoonful of cinnamon and a pinch of mixed spice.

Line a plate (or shallow tin) with half the pastry.  Fill with fruit, cover 
with sugar and add a little water.  Cover with the rest of the pastry, seal 
the top and bottom  together around the edges, cut a few slits in the middle 
of the top, and bake the tart for 45 minutes (400 degrees for 20 minutes, 
then turn down to 350 degrees to finish).                           
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