Butter tarts are akin to pecan pie and are basically butter, sugar and eggs in a pastry shell. This is one of those few distinctly Canadian foods - one that was a staple of pioneer Canadian cooking, and is indeed delicious. Sent in by Sharon Jan 07

PASTRY	1 egg
2 Cup flour	1/2 Cup brown sugar
1 Cup shortening	1/2 Cup corn syrup
teaspoon salt	1 Tbl melted butter
1 egg	1 Tsp vanilla
1 Tbl vinegar	1 Cup raisins (optional, or can be
2 Tbl cold water	-replaced with chopped pecans o
FILLING

PREPARATION:
Pastry

Blend the shortening and the flour with a pastry cutter, or two knives, until you've created a uniform mixture that is crumbly and about the size of frozen peas.

In a separate bowl, mix 1 egg, 1 tbsp white vinegar and 2 tbsp cold water.

Add to shortening and flour mixture.

Mix all ingredients together, but only until just mixed and no more.

The key to flaky pastry is not to overhandle the dough.

For ease of handling, make a ball of the dough, wrap in cellophane and place in freezer for 10-15 mins. Roll out dough onto floured surface to about the thickness of a CD case.

Using either a cookie cutter or something like a jar lid, cut out circles from the dough. Press dough circles into a muffin pan.

Filling

In another bowl, mix well corn syrup, brown sugar, melted butter and egg. Add vanilla and stir in raisins.

Spoon filling into pastry shell to just below the rim.

Bake at 400 for about 10 mins until golden brown.

Makes about a dozen tarts.

Decoration time: 15 min. Baking time: 25-30 min. Prep time: 15 min. the perfect chocolate indulgence for Valentine's Day Sent in by Sharon, Jan 07

1 bag 3 MUSKETEERS® Brand	1 container chocolate or fudge
-Miniatures for	-frosting
-Valentine’s Day, chopped	1 Pkg chocolate cake mix

Prepare cake according to package directions, using two 9-inch round cake pans and let cool.
Frost the bottom layer of the cake round and sprinkle with 1/2 of the chopped 3 MUSKETEERS Brand Miniatures for Valentines Day.
Place second layer of cake onto the top and frost.
Decorate with remaining 3 MUSKETEERS Brand Miniatures for Valentines Day.
Makes 8 servings.

Recipe Source: http://www.everydaycelebrations.ca/recipes/bc274.asp. Sent in by Sharon Jan07

1 Pkg (510 g) Betty Crocker*	2 Can canes, unwrapped
-SuperMoist*	2 flat-bottomed ice-cream cones
-Cake Mix (any flavour)	3 Cup (750 mL) flaked or shredded
water, vegetable oil and eggs,	-coconut
-called for on ca	5 large black gumdrops
large tray or cardboard covered	1 large red gumdrop
-with	7 small black gumdrops
-foil	2 pretzel sticks
1 tub (340 g) Betty Crocker*	1 Betty Crocker* Fruit by the Foot*
-Whipped	-Chewy Fruit Snack Roll
-Fluffy White Frosting	2 cream-filled chocolate sandwich
1/4 Cup (50 mL) white chocolate	-cookies
-chips, melted

Method:
Heat oven to 350°F (180°C) for shiny baking sheet or 325°F (160°C) for dark or nonstick baking sheets.
Make and cool cake as directed on box for two 8-inch (20 cm) or 9-inch (23 cm) round pans, or use one 8-inch (20 cm) round pan and one 9-inch (23 cm) round pan.
Cover large flat tray or piece of cardboard with foil. Attach candy cane to open end of each cone, using melted chocolate chips to make ice skates; let stand until set. Arrange cake rounds with sides touching on tray. Frost top and sides of cake with frosting. Sprinkle with coconut, pressing gently so it stays on frosting.
Use large black gumdrops for eyes and buttons, large red gumdrop for nose and small black gumdrops for mouth. Arrange pretzel sticks for arms and cones for feet with ice skates.
Decorate with cookies and Fruit By the Foot* Chewy Fruit Snack Roll for earmuffs and scarf as shown.
Store loosely covered at room temperature.
Makes: Makes 16 servings
Tip: Make this cake the star of a skating and tobogganing party! The morning of the party, bake and frost the cake. Save the rest of the decorating for when you and your party guests come in from the cold. Decorate the smiley snowman as you sip hot chocolate and enjoy Christmas cookies.