August 6, 2015. Western Head, N.S. Butter Tarts.

Ken loves butter tarts so yesterday Doreen and Rita baked them for him as a surprise.  Doreen made the pastry while Rita made the filling.  They were delicious.   They made twenty four.  Today there are two.   They were perfect,  just like his Mother used to make.  A good butter tart has liquid in the middle so the filling runs out on the plate.  This afternoon Ken ate a butter tart without bothering with a plate and ended up with the filling all over his hand and the table.  It was a perfect butter tart.

People think that a butter tart is similar to a pecan pie but that would not be accurate.  A pecan pie or tart does not have liquid in the center.  It is impossible to buy a butter tart in the US.   In Canada, everyone makes butter tarts and you can buy them in any grocery store or bakery.  And most Canadians are not aware that only in Canada can you get one.   It was not until we moved to Texas in 1964 that I realized that butter tarts are specific to Canada.

The best butter tarts are home made.   We ate them for dessert last evening.  Each of us ate two.  We were fortunate that our cooks can make such delicious butter tarts.  Rumor has it that Doreen still has pastry left over for another batch.  That will make Ken happy.  He has been known to eat three butter tarts in a row for dessert.  They are rich and filling but delicious.  We both love butter tarts.  Hats off to Rita and Doreen.