It’s been a really busy baking time for the past few weeks. Clients’ weddings, birthdays, friends gatherings, year-end gifts to kids’ teachers. A lot of cakes, cupcakes, pies, cookies…

Like I’ve mentioned so many times, the best gift is something edible. And I love to bake for my loved ones. It’s hearty, homey, cozy. It’s the sweetest gift! I honestly think a beautiful lattice pie is a better gift than any gift cards.

This lemon meringue shortbread tart is very similar to these cute tartlets that I’ve made before. If you have noticed, I did pick another hot day to turn on the oven and bake this tart! The stupidity of me can only blame my vicious craving over something lemony.

For a very long period of time, my go-to perfect pie crust is shortbread crust. Because one, I’m more confident making a good shortbread crust than a pastry one. And two, shortbread means a lot of butter, and everyone loves a lot of butter!

I think I’ve up-ed the banana cream pie game a little here. By adding coconuts! Isn’t that genius?! No? Cause everyone is doing this? Oh! WHATEVER!!!

I made an extra mini pie crust last time when I was making this amazingly delicious mango lime cream tart. The crust had been sitting in the freezer for a few days until I decided to fill it with banana cream filling. Honestly I can’t pick which one I enjoy more, graham cracker crust or this toasted coconut crust. The pie filling goes equally well with both. I think it’s just the matter of how you like coconuts.

Sometimes I do think canned fruit works better than fresh ones. Here is what you have to do when it comes to puree mango – peel, dice, pit, puree and my least favourite step – strain the mango to make sure it’s very smooth. I don’t really mind about making mess in the kitchen because I do a pretty good job cleaning it up afterwards. And I do believe sometimes making a mess is making good food.