Tuesday 23 April 2013

T is for Treacle Tart ...



George Orwell wrote some essays expounding his reasons that British cookery ain’t half good ... it makes interesting reading – but as it’s under copyright I will only use snippets.
 
Treacle Tart - now how good does that look!


Orwell describes puddings as one of the ‘greatest British glories of British cookery’ ... certainly Treacle Tart was a favourite in our family ... which Orwell tells us is a delicious dish.




Tate and Lyle's Golden syrup
My mother used to make our pastry – she was a mighty fine cook – with treacle tart becoming one of our favourites.    Treacle to us is the lighter version – the golden syrup type ... not the thick molasses, that some families call Treacle.


Orwell gives a recipe ... these will vary slightly depending on the depth of the filling – more breadcrumbs, the gooey stickiness of the tart – more golden syrup, a touch of ginger as he mentions/or some lemon juice to counter the sweet golden syrup.
 
The early cream settling
plant was near our
grandmother's house!

I totally agree with Orwell – this is one delicious warm tart ... especially served with cold pouring cream, or preferably Cornish clotted cream ...


A very good Easter Sunday lunch dish – especially as I write this the day before Easter ... and it’s still very cold and unspring like ...


So good on Orwell and his Treacle Tart ...


That is T for Treacle Tart from Aspects of British Cookery

Orwell’sEssays and Other Works – Treacle Tart ... to find reference to the desserts, scroll down approximately half way ... 


Hilary Melton-Butcher
Positive Letters Inspirational Stories

43 comments:

Vallypee said...

Yum yum! My mother used to make a mean treacle tart too, but I haven't had it since I was a child. Must get a book of English recipes!

Su-sieee! Mac said...

I doubt I'll find any Treacle Tart in our bakeries so I must go find a recipe to bake. Curious to know the taste of it.
Take 25 to Hollister
Don't be a Hippie

Rosalind Adam said...

I love treacle tart but what with my cholesterol and Mr A's blood sugar it's not something we have in the house too often!

Ida Thought said...

Can't say I have tried it, but I have been reading a bit of George Orwell lately. I am not really sure what clotted cream is, it sounds kind off... like cream with clots in it that is past it's use by date... which I am sure it's not it just sounds that way to me :)

Melanie Chisnall said...

I've never heard of treacle tart before. Wow, that looks so good!!

Lynn said...

Clotted cream was my favorite thing I had to eat in the UK when I visited. :) I don't think I had treacle tart.

I wonder what that golden syrup is made from? It makes me think of the syrup made from sugar cane here in the US.

Unknown said...

Oh, that dessert sounds wonderful! I'm sure your mother made it beautifully.

Rhonda Albom said...

I am pretty sure I tried one of these when we were in the UK last year.

Rhonda @Laugh-Quotes.com

Optimistic Existentialist said...

The Treacle Tart looks like something over here that we have called "transparent pie". Good stuff!

J.L. Murphey said...

Treacle Tart...my blood sugar just took a huge jump just reading about it.

Bob Scotney said...

I would love to have some treacle tart but things like that are on my wife's restricted list.

I shall have to check out more of Orwell's writing. I didn't know he wrote about cookery for a start.

JoJo said...

That looks like a toffee bar recipe I have that uses condensed milk and Skor toffee chips.

Ghadeer said...

I absolutely love Treacle Tart!

Jo said...

My taste buds jumped up and cheered, funnily enough I have been thinking about treacle tart a lot lately. My mother used to make it, a Mrs. Beeton recipe, and I loved it. I did manage to find Lyle's Golden Syrup whilst in the States, bought it on line as I recall. It doesn't taste anything like the syrups over here IMHOP. As for clotted cream... I'm almost at the stage of asking what that is. So long since I had any real clotted cream.

JO ON FOOD, MY TRAVELS AND A SCENT OF CHOCOLATE

Jo said...

For people in the States, Lyle's Golden Syrup can be bought from Amazon.com

JO ON FOOD, MY TRAVELS AND A SCENT OF CHOCOLATE

T. Powell Coltrin said...

OH MY, I want me some Treacle Tart.

I shouldn't find it amazing, but I do, the different foods you all eat -- different from MO, in the states.

Anonymous said...

Lovely childhood memories Hilary,

Yvonne.

Julie Flanders said...

I've heard of treacle tart but never knew what it was. Now I want to try some! :)

cleemckenzie said...

I've always wondered what Treacle was, and now I do. Did the Treacle Tart show up in Alice in Wonderland? I'm trying to remember.

Tina said...

This hypoglycemic girl has never, nor can she, taste this, but The Engineer would. What is cold pouring cream? Extra thick cream?
Tina @ Life is Good
Co-host, April 2013 A-Z Challenge Blog
@TinaLifeisGood, #atozchallenge

Lisa said...

I absolutely LOVE Lyle's Golden Syrup! We had it on pancakes this weekend during our Sunday brunch. I can't wait to try Treacle tart. I've heard about it but never tried it. Guess I'll have to change that!

saniya said...

This is torture! You make it sound soooo good! And the pics look absolutely delicious!

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Looks like a pumpkin pie. I'm sure I'd have to get that thought out of my head before taking a bite though.

M Pax said...

I just finished watching Monarch of the Glen on Netflix and this tart was mentioned in one of the episodes. Looks yummy. Is it like a pecan pie without the pecans? A syrup pie? My husband would love that.

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

@ Val - oh yes .. a good tart to make - it is so yummy!

@ Su-siee - it's easy to make .. and I gather if you look further down the post Jo says you can get golden syrup in the States!

@ Ros - oh dear not a household for treacle tart then .. quite understand ... thankfully I don't have to worry!

@ Ida - it's whole cream left to cool very slowly which thickens as it does - leave clotted cream - it is very delicious!

I don't know if Orwell mentions food in his books - but the essays he certain does - per the link underneath ..

@ Melanie - it is very good and such a treat .. even though it's so cheap to make!

@ Lynn - you missed out on the treacle tart .. clotted cream with the treacley tart is yummy!

Golden syrup is produced in the process of refining sugar cane - and yes from the cane in the Caribbean - it has an interesting history ...

@ Clarissa .. it's a failproof dessert ... too good to leave any!

@ Rhonda - I'm sure you would have had a treacle tart here in one the pubs somewhere ..

@ Keith - possibly like transparent pie .. as it's made with golden syrup rather than molasses ..

@ JL - yes sadly not for someone needing to be careful for health reasons ..

@ Bob - sorry you too are on restrictions - your wife is looking after you = a good thing!

Hope you enjoy the Orwell link ..

@ JoJo - possibly the treacle tart does ... no condensed milk and not toffee like ..

@ Ghadeer - isn't treacle tart just delicious!! I agree.

@ Jo - thanks for the note re Tate and Lyle golden syrup being available in the States via Amazon of all places!

Mrs Beeton was a good standby ... yet I'm sure we used the Kenwood recipe book! Before that - I guess my mother had her recipes from the preWar days ...

Maple syrup or molasses seem to be the equivalent - but nothing like golden syrup ...

Clotted cream - I definitely do not like to be without it .. I have it on high days and holidays!

@ Teresa - it is just the most wonderful dessert - so I'll join you!!

It is strange, but our products and produce is slightly different to yours .. so I guess it's not so strange the dishes we offer are similar, but just slightly different.

@ Yvonne .. yes childhood and adulthood I can tell you!!

@ Julie - it's worth trying .. and then trying again! Give it a go ..

@ Lee - I've no idea re Treacle Tart and Alice in Wonderland ... and I'm wondering who would know that I could ask .. my uncle would have known! I'll try and find out - and keep a memory bank open ..

@ Tina - I am truly sorry .. The Engineer would confirm how delicious it is!!

Creams: clotted is slowly cooled cream that forms an extra thick crust - the clot part of clotted cream.

Double cream - we use to whip up or use as a thick pouring cream ..

Single cream - is a pouring cream ..

Variations along the way - Jersey cream rich cream from the Jersey cow ... sour cream .. etc etc ..

@ Lisa - Did you have golden syrup instead of the expected (to me) maple syrup .. I prefer golden syrup I must say. Great that you're going to be trying a treacle tart - the family will love it .. enjoy!

@ Sania - delighted that I've tempted your palate .. I hope you get a chance to try it soon.

@ Alex - possibly looking like pumpkin pie - tasting somewhat different though - very rich.

@ Mary - I can believe they'd have had Treacle Tart on the menu ... if they were filming a lunch scene at the Monarch of the Glen -I enjoyed that series.

It's golden syrup without any nuts ... whereas pecan pie uses pecan nuts, molasses or maple syrup .. so yes a golden syrup pie

Thanks everyone - so delighted I've tempted your palates .. enjoy!

Cheers Hilary

Deniz Bevan said...

Yum!
I always enjoyed Orwell's essays on how to make a proper cup of tea and what a proper pub should be like :-)

MorningAJ said...

Treacle tart hurts my teeth! ;)

Friko said...

No, no taker here, I’m afraid. Sticky and far too sweet for my palate.

Puddings are a very English thing. We are usually served a choice of two or three at parties and people pile ‘a bit of everything’ on their plates. As you do, given the choice.

Janie Junebug said...

I've always wondered what treacle was. The tart looks good.

Love,
Janie

Sue McPeak said...

What a Treat Treacle Tart must be from your description and the 'YumYums' from your commenters. I'd give it a TRY, but I'm pretty sure it's not going to be on any Texas Cafe menus. I'll have to pass on clotted cream, too. I think I might have skip dessert in England...do you have plain ole vanilla ice cream?

Thanks for your visits today!
My Letter 'T'...Only In Texas Towns
Sue CollectInTexasGal
AtoZ LoneStar Quilting Bee

Julia Hones said...

I am not fond of tarts, but I wouldn't mind trying that one.

Julie Jordan Scott said...

I have never heard of such a tart. I am not even sure how to pronounce it. Tree - Ack - le?

It sounds very comfort foody to me... which I love, love, love!

Glad to be back from my gallavanting so I can read along again!

Happy A to Z-ing!
Julie Jordan Scott
Our Literary Grannies from A to Z:
T is for Thea Astley

tweet me - @juliejordanscot


Trisha said...

I am beginning to drool here! That looks amazing.

Susan Flett Swiderski said...

That looks delicious! (I believe it's time to have a bit of dessert now...)

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

@ Deniz - interesting to read about your having read and enjoyed Orwell's essays on British food - I had no idea!

@ AJ - yes, it is very sweet isn't it!

@ Friko - beloved by many, over-sweetened for a few!

Love the word 'pudding' - perhaps you're right they are an English dish .. I hadn't thought about it .. Usually we're offered a choice - well certainly we do ..

@ Janie - now you know - and it is a very good sweet! tart ...

@ Sue - I hadn't had some for a while, but we had at it at my mother's Memorial and it was just wonderful to taste again - I did have clotted cream on it.

Yes - we do make icecream too -with clotted cream if you'd like some?!

@ Julia - I don't have them that often, but love them when I do - a savoury tart, or a sweet one ..

@ Julie - "treecle" - two syllables only.

It is wonderfully comforting especially on cold winter days ...

I've been enjoying reading about all your Literary Grannies - each post has been so interesting ..

@ Trisha - that's the reaction I like: thanks!

@ Susan - looking at the time you posted dessert might be on the cards ...

Cheers to you all and thank you for visiting .. Hilary

Laura Eno said...

And hunger strikes again! I shouldn't read posts like these before breakfast. ;) It looks yummy.

MunirGhiasuddin said...

Th filling looks like it was mad with "Karo" syrup a brand of corn syrup. It thickens very fast.

Silvia Writes said...

The tart looks very good ... wonder if it tastes as good as it looks. Luckily I just had lunch. :)

Amanda Trought said...

Now this looks yummy, Treacle tart is one of my favourites, perhaps I'll be able to rustle one up before tea time!

Anonymous said...

I've actually heard of Treacle tart, but have never tasted it. Thanks for sharing a picture of it. Looks yummy.

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

@ Laura - sorry about your hunger attacks .. I know coming on some blogs at the wrong time of day is very testing!

@ Munir - I've never heard of Karo ... but I guess it has its uses for tarts ...

@ Silvia - it does taste as good as it looks ...!!

@ Amanda - now we know what treacle tart tastes like ... did you manage to make before your tea-time? I might come up next time you make one!

@ Susanne - if you get a chance to have a taster .. it is delicious ..

So pleased you've all enjoyed the idea of the treacle tart .. cheers Hilary

Sara said...

This is definitely my kind of post. I love desserts, but can't have them very often. That said, some of the best I've had have been while visiting in England:~) That picture my tummy growl:~)

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Sara .. thankfully I'm a savoury starter person .. but I do love a good dessert occasionally - and we do do good puds! Next time you're over I expect you'll have a slice of treacle tart ..

Cheers Hilary