First order of business – we have another Office Tour! Apparently guilt is a powerful thing because ScoMan has finally coughed up! Be sure to check out what an Australian Accountant’s office looks like and leave him some love over here. Who’s next?!
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It has recently come to my attention, via Beckles at Foresight Is So Often Blind, that some Americans do not know what a “butter tart” is.
This news was shocking news to me. And outrageous. And unacceptable. And frankly – horrifying.
As I tweeted about these little pieces of Heaven the other day, Beckles replied that she had no idea what they were, and that she had to Google them for more info.
Again – utter disbelief. Disbelief that there are people out there that are completely in the dark about Butter Tarts.
So I Googled them myself to see exactly what info Beckles would have been given. And low and behold, I discovered something that stopped me in my tracks.
Wikipedia (the source of all things) says that the butter tart “is a type of pastry best known as a Canadian treat. It should not be confused with butter pie (a savoury pie from the Preston area of Lancashire, England) or with bread and butter pudding.“
A Canadian treat?! I had NO idea. Honestly. I thought the entire planet, or at least North America, enjoyed these little babies. I was shocked.
Wiki continues to say “Butter tarts were a staple of pioneer Canadian cooking, and they remain a characteristic pastry of Canada, considered one of only a few recipes of genuinely Canadian origin.”
Canadian Pioneers? Seriously? Why do I suddenly feel so grossly inferior? I would have put money on the fact that they were a French thing. As in – from Paris.
So all weekend I conducted a very informal and non-scientific survey of many other Canadians. The questions included in this survey were;
a) are you familiar with the Butter Tart?
b) were you aware these were a Canadian delicacy?
The results were a resounding OF COURSE and NO WAY – YOU’RE KIDDING respectively.
Let me tell you a bit about my love with Butter Tarts. I’m not big on chocolate. Sure, I like it. But it’s not really my thing. However I have always loved butter tarts. And not the homemade kind. No, no. I like the cheap, mass produced, convenience store, pre-packaged kind. So don’t try making a recipe to see what it is I eat. It won’t be the same.
Basically, they are a pastry shell with a sweet, gooey filling. I like mine with raisins in them, not nuts. And I like when the middle is less runny and more like gel.
They look like this;
(I did not make these – I don’t bake. Ever. Via Google)
And they taste like this;
(supposedly Heaven, but who really knows - via Google)
There’s a restaurant in the lobby of my building that sells just such an animal. And they are divine. I spend most days trying to avoid jumping out of my chair and racing down there to buy one. But every now and then I simply can’t resist. So I somehow convince myself that I deserve it. Whether I’ve had a very productive day at work, or a very bad day at work, or I’m PMSing, or maybe just feeling sorry for myself because my gosh darn Friend Connect numbers are so low, I can always find a good reason to go on a butter tart run.
You foreigners have no idea what you’re missing. I’m sad for you. Like REALLY sad.
Have YOU ever heard of butter tarts? Ever had one? Like or no like? What’s your most favourite guilty pleasure treat?
22 Responses to “My Beloved Tutter Barts (aka Heaven)”
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May 10th, 2010 at 4:52 am
The look a lot like jam tarts, which I guess makes sense because they’re both tarts. Although neither of them look very much like Paris Hilton.
I love jam tarts. I haven’t had one for awhile though. Now I want one. Butter tart, I can’t say I’ve had the pleasure, but maybe after I’m finished my Jam Tart I’ll give one a try.
May 10th, 2010 at 4:52 am
Oh, and thanks for the shout out for the office tour. It wasn’t guilt that finally got me to post mine, it was simple laziness that had prevented me from posting earlier.
May 10th, 2010 at 5:28 am
I adore butter tarts,love them enough to marry them I do!!! I like mine zapped in the microwave for about 20 seconds, then they are all warm and gooey,!!!! Magic and yes pure heaven!!!!!
May 10th, 2010 at 8:23 am
I’m so glad I inspired a post! I do bake, so I’ll have to make these little babies one day. Anything with “butter” in the name of it is pretty much guarenteed delicious. They kind of look like mini shoofly pies, minus the crumbly goodness that goes on top.
May 10th, 2010 at 9:27 am
you forget to mention that they have zero calories!!!!
May 10th, 2010 at 10:10 am
Beckles, a virtual and real-life friend of mine, spread the news of Butter Tarts to me and now I two am intrigued. I have made mini pies before that look very similar to these, but the filling was cherry and not delicious Canadian goodness (as i assume that’s what the jelly filling is). I think i may have to trek it up to Canada and get me some of these. They seem worth it!
Cher
Replied:
May 10th, 2010 at 3:16 pm
soooo worth it!
May 10th, 2010 at 10:14 am
I almost died when I read “supposedly heaven, but who really knows” caption….that was the best! I don’t think I’ve ever had a butter tart, but with the word butter in the name they can’t be bad. However, raisins are pretty nasty, so I would go for a different filling. They do look pretty delish though!
May 10th, 2010 at 10:15 am
OH, and who is this other Cath? I am intrigued.
May 10th, 2010 at 10:26 am
Butter tarts….mmmmmm, yummy, with or without raisins, with or without nuts, just pure yumminess!
May 10th, 2010 at 10:47 am
Yep. I had no idea what a butter tart was until I came in here today. But now I am intrigued and wondering where I might find them. Especially if they taste like Jesus.
May 10th, 2010 at 1:05 pm
You have my address. When can I expect some? This week? Ok, great. Thanks.
May 10th, 2010 at 1:41 pm
I’ve heard of these, but never actually had one. They look so good. Maybe I should try to find them. Or make them. I have to stop reading blogs while I’m eating lunch…I often find little tidbits of deliciousness like this and then my salad just doesn’t do it for me anymore!
May 10th, 2010 at 2:49 pm
Not only have I never had one, but I’ve never heard of them either. And I feel a little bit sad about it myself!! Like I’m suddenly missing a limb or something.
They look a little like the inside of the little pecan pies that you get at the convenience store.
Cher
Replied:
May 10th, 2010 at 3:13 pm
Yes, exactly! The filing is very similar. But no pecans. Just a few raisins instead.
Oh no – now I want one . . .
May 10th, 2010 at 4:37 pm
That looks SOOOO good. I’m actually sort of salivating. Ew.
May 10th, 2010 at 6:00 pm
I am shocked!! No idea that they are considered Canadian….well just another amazing thing we have to share with the world!!!
May 10th, 2010 at 7:30 pm
i have never heard of these, but i need them. asap.
i would die with a restaurant of any nature in the building i work in. i have very little self control. i would be the size of a house.
May 10th, 2010 at 8:11 pm
Never heard of them until now, but now I want some.
May 11th, 2010 at 8:46 pm
Wait. You are seriously telling us that you will take RAISINS over chocolate?
Sigh. I liked you so much up until this point. I will try to make the like come back…
May 18th, 2010 at 12:22 am
MMMmmm. Butter Tarts. Love them. Course, I’m Canadian by birth so of course I know about them. But I had no idea they were a Canadian thing!! (Might have to teach some of these Kiwis how to bake them… after they teach me how to make neenish tarts. Also heaven. )
May 28th, 2010 at 5:49 am
I still don’t know what it is! What’s in them? Inquiring minds need to know. And if you say butter and tart or heaven bits. I will not accept that answer!