My family is my muse for basically everything in my life,they are the reason I laugh,the reason I write and mostly the love behind my cooking. What is the secret to cooking,for my own personal journey in the kitchen it has been about the people I am cooking for. Growing up I remember with fondness my Grandfather whipping up a batch of what he called Taffy Tarts,they were bite size little wonders of delicious. It wasn’t the end product now that I miss since my Grandfather has passed,it that he made them for me,and they were special and made with love.
Taffy Tarts
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup shortening
1/2 tsp salt
5 tbsps ice water
1 cup brown sugar (packed)
1 egg
1/2 tbsp butter
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 tbsp hot water
1/2 cup flaked coconut
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
Fill a cup with ice and water. Sift the flour and salt into a bowl. Cut in the shortening to make pea-size pieces. Add the tablespoons of ice water from the cup until dough holds together. Form the dough into a ball. The dough is now complete. Put it into a plastic bag or wrap it up and refrigerate for at least 15 minutes.
Roll the dough between two sheets of waxed paper. Cut the shells using a large glass or your smallest pot. You should have about 12 shells when finished. Put these shells into a greased muffin or tart pan.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Put walnuts and coconut on baking pan and roast for 5-10 minutes,until brown. Remove from oven and set temperature to 450 degrees F
Whisk together sugar,egg,butter,vanilla and hot water. Add coconut and walnuts. Pour mixture into tart shells,filling 2/3 full and no more.
Bake in 450 degrees F oven for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool before attempting to remove. Makes 12 tarts.
Written by Jill Q
