cape breton 'pork pies'
categories:  Desserts   

recipe from "cape breton pictorial cookbook"
a gift from my aunt babara

a unique cape breton sweet that is traditional at family gatherings

Ingredients:

• 1 cup butter
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 4 tsp. vanilla
• 2 cups flour

• 2 cups dates, cut up
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 cup water
• 1 tbsp. lemon juice
• 1 tsp. lemon rind
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 2 tbsp. butter

Preparation:

• base:
  cream butter, sugar and vanilla until light and fluffy.
  gradually add the flour combining well to form a dough.
  press small amounts of dough in mini-sized tart tins.
  bake in a 350^of oven for 10 - 12 minutes.
  remove from tins.
  cool and top with date filling
  
  
• date filling:
  combine dates, sugar, water, lemon juice and rind in sauce pan.
  cook over medium heat until dates are soft, stirring frequently.
  remove from heat, add the butter and vanilla.
  fill the tart shells with a small amount of date filling.
  ice with butter icing.