Recipe of the Week: Harry Potter Treacle Tart

by Leigh Sackett

My son just had a Harry Potter birthday party and since I was a fan of the books long before he was born, a Harry Potter party is no small venture in this house. We went all out and had a blast. And it occurred to me that this may be one of the last “kid theme parties” that my children ask for.  Soon they may feel they are too cool for such things.

The same thing happened to Dora! Dora the Explorer was adored in this house. I was forced to play in the Dora dollhouse, the Dora kitchen, dress up the Dora doll – ALL DAY LONG! As much as Dora could wear me down I did feel such sadness the day my daughter declared, “Dora is for babies.” I thought of poor Woody in “Toy Story” and I just hugged Maddie’s Dora doll and told her it would be ok, some little girl would love her again one day.

But the thing is my children are growing up, they do that you know!  Now my children like things that are a little more appealing to me than Dora – they are interested in the world, people, how things work, they have opinions, they are caring and they have developed a great sense of humor! Like all little ones, they are working their way towards the people they are to become and it is so wonderful to watch.

My kids are in that moment that you wish you could freeze for you know it is fleeting  – they still like being with me; they even still want me to do lame muggle-like magic tricks at their Harry Potter party. I am aware it is a window in time that only lasts a few years so you have to enjoy it while you can! We should never take any stages in life for granted and especially these magical late childhood years.

I will miss them when I send them to school next week and they will certainly grow and change so much over the course of the coming school year. I guess part of the reason I like “Toy Story” so much is that we are like Woody at the window watching Andy grow and change. Our love is constant, never changing and yet we watch these little ones change and grow and move through the world and sometimes move away from us and more into their own. It is so very beautiful and heartbreaking at the same time. I suppose it is a bit like our relationship with God.  I suppose that is one reason he gives us children, so we can know some part of a love that is His for us. We are so blessed!

If Harry Potter is a still a constant theme in your house as well or if you are still stuck in Dora’s world and long for something more stimulating like Harry Potter then try out this inspiring and tasty wizarding treat!

For the pastry

Chilled butter, cut into cubes – 1/6 cups

All-purpose flour – ½ cup+1/8 cup

Soft brown sugar – 1 tablespoon

Chilled water – 1 tablespoon

Molasses – 1 tablespoon

For the filling

Golden Syrup (or Maple Syrup or Corn Syrup) – 1/3 cup

Butter – ¾ tablespoon

Whipping cream – 1/6 cup Egg, lightly beaten – 1

-To make the pastry, mix the butter, flour, and sugar together in a food processor, or in a mixing bowl, using your fingertips to combine, until the mixture resembles coarse breadcrumbs.

-Make a hollow in the centre and pour in water and molasses (if not enough, add a little bit more molasses) to make a dough.

-Shape into a ball, cover with plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for 15 minutes.

-Roll out the pastry and use it to line the forms. Chill in the refrigerator for another 40-60 minutes.

-Preheat the oven to 350F and put a baking sheet in the over to heat up.

-Gently heat the Golden Syrup in a small saucepan.

-Add the butter and stir until the mixture is smooth.

-Remove the saucepan from the heat and gently stir in the cream and the beaten egg. Be careful not to scramble the egg, if, however, egg white cooks a little, then pour the mixture through a fine sieve to get rid of the egg white lumps.

-Pour the filling into the pie shell and bake for 30-35 minutes until the crust is golden brown and the filling has set.

-Allow the tart to cool for a few minutes before serving with whipped cream.

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