Fruit custard tartlet

For a new years' day potluck party for 15 people today, I made some fruit custard tartlets with a shortbread crust as my contribution. It's a no brainer for me to prepare what I prepare best (and that is dessert), and I wanted something that didn't require too much fuss to prepare yet will look good being arranged out on the table (for photography sake). Tartlets are the perfect little bite for the sweet tooth, and topped with fruits, it adds a little bit of nutritional value.

Ingredients:
The shortbread crust: (Yields about 35 tartlets)
4 oz flour
4 oz rice flour
2 oz caster sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla essence
4 oz margarine

The filling: (Similar to the blanc mange recipe)
8 oz milk
2 Tsp cornflour
1/2 tsp essence
1 oz sugar

The topping:
Any type of fruits actually. There are no restrictions to the type of fruits to use and here, I used kiwi and grape, cut into small quarters. I chose the fruits mainly for the colours because the green and the maroon create a contrast with my custard yellow.

Directions:

To prepare the shortbread crust:
1. Add the margarine with the flour and sugar. Cut up the margarine into tiny little chunks.
2. Use fingers to rub in the mixture.
3. Once everything is rubbed in and looking like breadcrumbs, add in the vanilla essence and lightly knead until the dough holds together.
4. Flour table surface and roll the dough until it is a thin layer. Use a tart cutter to cut out shapes, press into molds.
5. Bake at 165C for about 45 minutes, or until the shortbread starts to brown and then remove from oven to cool. While cooling, prepare the custard mix.

To prepare the custard: (Similar to the blanc mange recipe)
1. Blend cornflour with a little milk. Place remainder of milk to heat.
2. Remove from fire and pour the heated milk over the blended cornflour. Remember to keep on stirring all the time.
3. Return to stove and stir over fire till boiling. Let the mixture boil for 3-5 minutes. Keep on stirring.
4. Add sugar and flavouring (if needed). Pour into the crust.
5. Assemble tartlets with cut fruits. Remember to move quickly to arrange the fruits because the custard solidifies really fast.

And here we are, perfect fruit tartlets for a new year's day party. I love how the festive colours brighten up the little tarts!