Most of my favourite recipes come from the old time cookbooks. Good 'ole farm recipes, time tested and classic. In 1980, my Mom was the President of the Whiteman's Creek Women's Institute in Paris, Ontario. This was originally a group of farm women whose motto "For Home and Country" resulted in many contributions of money and service over the years. Although my mother was not a member during the Second World War, I found it interesting reading how they worked diligently on the home front packing parcels for the boys overseas and making over 100 quilts and over 400 articles of clothing.
Most of their fundraising came from Euchre and Pie socials, plant and bake sales, catering and silent auctions and of course, this recipe book featuring favourite recipes from all the members of the WI...
One of the recipes that I have made many times over the years, are these delicious raspberry coconut tarts. Seems like a fitting dessert in honour of Mother's Day. They are very easy to make when using store bought tart shells and raspberry jam. Of course, back then, there would have been no question of using anything "store bought".
Raspberry Coconut Tarts
Pastry shells
Raspberry jam
Filling:
2 eggs, beaten
3/4 cup white sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
3 Tbsp. melted butter
1 1/2 Tbsp lemon juice
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 cups coconut
Place a spoonful of jam in the bottom of each tart shell. Mix together filling and spoon on top. Bake at 350F for 30min.( I adjusted the temperature and the time. It was orginally higher and longer but I found my tarts started to brown quickly so keep an eye out)
Happy Mother's Day. I hope you all get to sample your favourite treats.
