Butter Tarts & Mincemeat Tarts

Butter Tarts are my favourite Christmas treat.  I have always used my mom`s basic recipe.

2/3 cup   melted butter or margarine
2   cups  packed brown sugar
2   cups  raisins - i use sultana raisins
2         beaten eggs
2   tsp   vanilla
4   Tbsp  milk
30        tart shells

1. mix all ingredients together
2. spoon into tart shells
3. bake at 375 degrees until pastry becomes light brown - usually 10 to 12 minutes depending on your oven.

All the yummy ingredients!

Tart shells waiting to be filled

I filled them a little too full.  Always remember to line your cookie sheets with tin foil or parchment paper when making tarts to catch the spillage.

Nothing better than a warm butter tart fresh out of the oven

Had some filling left after making 90 tarts so I decided to try making a pie!

Mincemeat tarts are not my favourite thing to make or even eat but my husband and grandfather love them so I make them.  It is the simplest Christmas tart I make.  I am not one to even attempt to try and make my own mincemeat filling...by the way why is it called mincemeat?  I know it has lard in it....gross!  I just buy a jar of it and scoop it into shells and bake til the pastry is brown.  The oven is set at 375 just like the butter tarts.