So Good You'll Goo Yourself

It happens in the parking lot.
It happens on the front deck.
It happens in the store.

You told us about it. We gave it a name.

So Good You'll Goo Yourself

Two Bakers, One Oven

We are now in the heart of summer and I would like to address a question we are asked quite frequently this year.

"Will you have this item on this day?"

Our response: "We don't know." And here's why.

The Little Tart is not your typical pastry shop. We have two bakers, one oven. Nothing we do comes from a bucket, package, or a can. It is not premade, par-baked (I didn't even know ...that was a term until recently) or pre-baked. From crust to crumble, it is all from scratch. We prep every day, all day, and we bake every morning. Quality and customer service is our number one priority.

Because we are a drive-to business, we realize most of our customers are coming from a distance. Some of you have driven anywhere from ten minutes, to an hour and a half out of your way to visit our little store. We are not only appreciative, but grateful and that is why we would never want to misinform you. We do our best not to disappoint.

Until an item is fully baked, cooled, and on the shelf, there when you come through the door, we can not say we will have it. finally, here's why:

Anything can happen:

We plan for the day, but just couldn't work it in.
We ran out of that one ingredient to finish.
The power went out.
The oven died. (I know, eh?)
We have to learn to use our new oven because no two ovens bake the same. (Every baking time and temperature is now different.)
And finally, (and this has happened, more than once I'm sad to say), we made it, it baked perfectly, but on the way to the shelf, one of us dropped it. (Have you ever seen a baker cry? Poor Bill.)

Anyhoo, it's a long winded explanation, but it's the best one we have. We hope you understand. We truly are doing our best to keep the store stocked and hope you find something here you enjoy.

In my next post, I will address that cute children's game "Patty Cake", why it is misleading, inaccurate and why we should stop teaching it to our children!

Have a great day!

 

Our Recipe for Stealing a Bit of Summer

Home Made Ice Coffee

Bill and I loving refer to this time of the year as, "lock down". Operating The Little Tart seven days a week leaves little time for "summer" and so we have to sneak it in here and there when we can. Our day often begins somewhere between 4am - 5am (depending on the day's menu) and ends anywhere from 9pm - 12am (depending on the next day's menu). The work goes on even when The Little Tart is closed and so it's nice, when we can, to take a fifteen minute break, sit on the back deck, and soak up some vitamin D.

This afternoon we closed the doors, looked at the mess, the dishes, and the amount of prep remaining as we head into this busy Canada Day weekend and decided to indulge in a pick-me-up glass of home made iced coffee.

What I like about making our own ice coffee is knowing what's in it and it's so easy (not to mention tasty) I want to share it with you.

Now keep in mind this recipe can be tweaked and twisted and turned into whatever tickles your taste buds. We like to taste the coffee in our iced coffee and so we use a dark roast instant coffee. The amount of sugar might seem a little much, but trust me, it's not overly sweet. And by all means, try whatever dairy (or non dairy) works for you. I happened to have 35% cream in the house.

So, whether you're lazing on a deck chair on the dock, or, if you're like us, just trying to steal a bit of summer, enjoy! 

Ice Coffee

1/4 cup boiling water
2 tbsp. instant coffee (more or less, depending on taste)
2 tbsp. sugar (more or less depending on taste)
1/4 cup cream (10%, 35%, your choice)
3/4 milk (1%, 2%, soya, almond, your choice)
4 or 5 ice cubes

Add the instant coffee and sugar to boiling water and stir until all melted. Add cream and milk. Stir. Pour over ice. Add straw. Enjoy!

The Summer Season Begins Today!

 

Ontario Tourism Week

The Little Tart's "Ooey Gooey Butter Tart"

It is Ontario tourism week and if you're celebrating here in cottage country's Haliburton Highlands, come on by for a visit and try one of our "Ooey Gooey" butter tarts or maybe one of our other tasty pastries.

Haliburton county is a beautiful place to explore and you never know what hidden gems you'll find as you ride the highlands.

Motor, pedal powered, or on foot, we hope you'll find us at The Little Tart on your travels through Haliburton county.

See you soon!

The Little Tart's tasty pastries.

Home and Cottage Show Weekend

 

It is the Haliburton Home and Cottage Show weekend and once again... we're not there. But that's because we're here and so we were thinking (as we so often do), if you plan on attending the Haliburton Home and Cottage Show this weekend, perhaps you'll visit The Little Tart afterwards, OR, perhaps you'll visit The Little Tart after attending the Haliburton Home and Cottage Show. Either way is fine with us.

 

We'll be here from 10am to 5pm all weekend.

 

Waiting.

 

With delucious home baked goodness to tempt your tastebuds.

 

(Just saying.)

 

Yep. 

 

Have a great weekend!

 

 

May Showers Wake Sleepy Flowers?

Koshlong Lake

It certainly doesn't feel like spring these days here in cottage country Haliburton. Bill and I took a short drive to Koshlong Lake a few days ago and were happy to see the ice has finally melted and the lake is completely open!

Sleepy Flowers

Yes, we have had fall-like weather this spring, but it's like that old saying, "April snow, May showers, wake up all you sleepy flowers."

Well, it could be an old saying if we all say it for the next... let's just hope for warmer days to come because we can't wait for the season to begin. We're looking forward to seeing everyone again!

Welcome to May!