Brush buns with egg glaze and arrange 2
pastry strips over center of each bun to form a cross.
Continue on both sides of the pie until you have a beautiful woven lattice top, and reserve any
leftover pastry strips.
I used slightly different spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, ground cloves, ginger, mace) instead of the allspice used here; also, didn't
use pastry strips to make the crosses since I always think that a nice fondant frosting (just powdered sugar and cream) is a real treat with the buns.
Drape the remaining 7
pastry strips at right angles to the first patch, in a criss - cross design, making a big, edible, tic - tac - toe board.
Roll the asparagus up in
the pastry strip.
Gently transfer
the pastry strips to the lined baking sheet.
When you come to the end of
the pastry strip, brush the end lightly with syrup and press to adhere to the next pastry strip.
Take a pastry brush and spread the preserves across
the pastry strips.
You will need about 18 - 20 strips.Brush the pears with the cooled sugar syrup and starting from the bottom, wrap
the pastry strips around the pears.
For lattice: arrange 5
pastry strips, 1 1/2 inches apart, over filling.
Brush the lip of the pie dish with beaten egg and line with
the pastry strips.
To weave a lattice pattern, fold back every second strip halfway, then place
another pastry strip perpendicularly across.
Beat the egg with a splash of milk and brush onto the rims of the dish before criss - crossing
the pastry strips around the top of the pie, leaving the bones protruding.
Cut out several long strips, around 4 cm wide, and then spread the mixture all the way along
the pastry strips.
Drape 7 of
the pastry strips over the berries in 1 direction, leaving an inch or so of overhang past the edge of the pan.
Bake 45 to 50 minutes more, until the filling is juicy and bubbling up through
the pastry strip, and the crust is golden brown.