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Cheddar Bacon & Onion Tarts and a Giveaway!

Aged cheddar, crispy bacon in a flaky pastry shell

Not only I am sharing this delicious recipe for savory tarts today, I am also hosting not one, but two giveaways thanks to the good folks at Gay Lea!  But first a little story and a delicious recipe!

As an ambassador for Gay Lea I have been giving a lot of thought about the farming industry, dairy farmers in particular!  

I am no stranger to spending time on a farm, but when I failed miserably at trying to milk a cow I got to move on to more fun farm activities like jumping from the loft into piles of hay! And, I lived to tell about it. Looking back now I am not sure it was a such a great idea.

Life on the farm

I spent many summers on my cousins farm in Dunnville, Ontario and know just how hard farmers work. The family (kids included) and farmhands were up before dawn getting to work a the very long list of daily chores.  Once my cousins chores were done, us kids got on with the business of having fun on the farm while the adults were busy well into the evening.

We would ride the bales of hay up the conveyor to the barn loft, take the peddle boats out onto the huge pond, and sometimes we would get a wagon ride way out to the back pastures to check on the horses.

I loved being around the animals.  The horses were beautiful and so big to this little city girl.  I got to see colts right after they were born, one very ornery goose who chased my mom whenever she got to close, and checking the chicken coups for eggs every day was a favourite!

Life on the Farm Gay Lea

Did you know that if you chew a handful of wheat long enough it would turn into chewing gum?  Just one of the many things I learned on the farm.  

The farm is where I learned to make butter by filling mason jars with cream skimmed off the milk and shaking it until our arms would fall off. It thickened into a creamy sweet butter!

A savory tart made with Ivanhoe Cheese and crispy bacon

No matter how much fun I had on the farm, I am so grateful to all the local farmers who get up at the crack of dawn to milk those cows so I can bake things like these delicious Cheddar, Bacon & Onion tarts.

When I am preparing a recipe where cheese is the key ingredient, I always make sure to buy the best quality, and usually choose a sharp aged cheddar to ensure the richest flavour.

Ivanhoe’s line of quality cheeses is a favourite.  The oldest cheese company of its kind in Canada, they have been producing award winning cheeses since 1870!  Still in the little town of Ivanhoe, Ontario, they have a factory store where you can experience the art of fine cheese making.  You can read more about the Ivanhoe experience and their cheeses here. 

Ivanhoe Old Sharpe Cheddar

Their Old Sharpe cheddar is so rich and creamy it really is the star of these savory tarts that are just as delicious cold as they are hot from the oven making them the perfect thing to serve as an appetizer, pack for a picnic or as compliment to a cheese tray.

This savory tart made with cheddar and bacon are perfect for a picnic

Now on to those giveaways!

Courtesy of Gay Lea, I will award one lucky winner from Red Cottage Chronicles with 12 coupons for free Gay Lea products.  That is a whole year of Gay Lea!  A random winner will be chosen at the close of the contest, April 30th, 2016. 

As a Grand Prize,  Gay Lea will award one lucky winner from all entries received from Gay Lea Ambassadors across Canada, a Kitchen Aid Stand Mixer! (May not be exactly as shown – approx retailer value $450).  Gay Lea will choose a winner.

Christmas Gift Guide - Kitchen Edition

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

For both giveaways:

  • Readers may enter across many blogs, they may only win on a single blog 
  • Entrants must be a resident of Canada, however those in Quebec are unfortunately unable to enter the giveaway. 
  • Winner(s) can expect their prize in approximately 4-6 weeks!

“Disclosure: I am part of the Gay Lea Ambassador Campaign and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own.”

Cheddar and Bacon Tart
Serves 12
A delicious savory tart perfect for any occasion.
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Prep Time
20 min
Cook Time
30 min
Total Time
50 min
Prep Time
20 min
Cook Time
30 min
Total Time
50 min
Ingredients
  1. 12 3 inch prepared individual tart shells
  2. 6 slices bacon, chopped
  3. 1/2 cup chopped onion
  4. 1 tablespoon Gay Lea butter
  5. 1/2 cup light cream
  6. 1 1/4 cups shredded Olde Sharp Ivanhoe cheese
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees
  2. Arrange tart shells on a baking sheet, prick the bottom of each with a fork and bake at 450 degrees for 8 minutes. Remove from oven and set aside.
  3. Reduce oven to 350 degrees.
  4. Meanwhile, in a large skillet cook bacon until crispy; drain and divide evenly between the prepared tarts.
  5. Melt 1 tbsp butter in the same pan and cook onions until golden, about 5 minutes.
  6. In a large mixing bowl combine the cheese, cream and cooked onions; divide evenly spooning over the bacon crumbles in each tart shell.
  7. Return tarts to oven and bake for 22 minutes at 350 degrees.
  8. Serve hot or cold.
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Comments

  3. as a family we love to enjoy a big turkey dinner with stuffing and mashed potatoes. We also love to play fun board games or interactive games like Heads Up to keep us all smiling! Memories forever 🙂

    Reply

  4. Yum! These look delicious. In fact, I’d add that old saying, “Bet you can’t eat just one!” I’m sure these only go down the hatch in multiples.

    The recipe only calls for items regularly found in my fridge, other than the tart shells and they’re easy enough to pick up. I actually read through the recipe twice to check for an egg. No egg required?

    Thanks Maureen! I’ll definitely try these out.

    Jan

    Reply

  5. Yum! This recipe looks so good – will have to try it! I love a good, rich, old cheddar too!

    I WANT THAT KITCHEN AID MIXER!!!! 😉

    The Giveaway Tools form asks for my fav holiday tradition – opening stockings on xmas eve!

    Reply

  7. These look delicious! My favorite holiday tradition is a new(er) one. We host an Easter open house for our family and friends and we have the best time doing it!

    Reply

  10. My favourite family tradition is every Christmas morning making cinnamon rolls for breakfast, they are so good to eat while opening gifts!!

    Reply

  11. My favourite holiday tradition is at Christmas time when my mom, sister and I do a lot of Christmas baking: cookies, candy, fudge…

    Reply

  16. Our favorite holiday tradition is at christmas when we make a night of decorating the tree and the room

    Reply

  23. My favorite holiday tradition is our BIG family snack we have prepared by my parents each Christmas Eve and watch movies 🙂

    Reply

  30. My favourite holiday tradition is watching my grandchildren open their Christmas presents – their eyes sparkle with joy. 🙂

    Reply

  39. All winter long I get cravings for a broccoli cheddar soup, so thats usually what I make every weekend (I make so much that I have enough to take to work each day (Some one might think that much soup all winter long is icky but I just love it)

    Reply

  40. For any kind of holiday I bake cakes from scratch and only from scratch, including the frosting. And hopefully soon my kids will help me with that tradition 🙂

    Reply

    • I refreshed the page and the question has changed?!
      O well, this one is even easier – I bake with cheese a lot – twice baked potato, cheese sticks and a million more cheese recipes that I have.

      Reply

  58. I love making garlic shrimp with melted cheese on top had it at a restaurant and have been making it at home ever since.

    Reply

  65. My most favourite way to use cheese is in lasagna! I love comfort food and cheese is definitely the most comfort you can get…

    Reply

  72. My favorite thing to make with cheese is FONDUE! I love how the cheese becomes the central masterpiece of this social meal, everyone gathered around dipping veggies, french bread & other delights into the smooth bubbling cheese!

    Reply

  83. I love cheese in everything. I don’t use it much in baking because I’m cheap. I use it in eggs, in salad just to name a few places.

    Reply

  88. My favourite way to use cheese is in omelettes. It’s fun experimenting with different cheeses, or waiting tillt hey are done and melting the cheese overtop afterwards. Delicious

    Reply

  109. I love to use cheese in a melted form as in potatoes gratin, grilled cheese sandwiches or simply on crackers 🙂

    Reply

  113. I like to cook with cheese in omelettes, casseroles, sauces, lasagna, cannelloni, & grilled cheese.

    Reply

  119. My favourite thing to bake I think is bread, I love the smell that fills the house when it’s baking. 🙂

    Reply

  123. My favorite way to cook with cheese is mac and cheese. I use 3 different kinds of cheese !

    Reply

  143. I love melted cheese, grilled cheese sandwiches, potato gratin, shredded cheese added to mashed potatoes, lots of cheese on a pizza, cheese scones. I do however also love cheese on crackers too and in my salads.

    Reply

  154. My favourite thing to bake is my Gluten Free Bread, cheesy onion bread! I’m GF so I bake a lot of my own breads and desserts. It’s a lot of work with the mixing and timing but so worth it. A Kitchen Aid would make my life so much easier and I would probably bake more often!

    Reply

  163. I really love anything made with cheese, scones, mashed potatoes, pasta dishes, bread anything at all really so I use it in a lot of different ways. Melted is often in the cards, as in French onion soup which I adore 🙂

    Reply

  164. Love using cheese for casseroles and cheesecake…everyone loves both here at home
    Thanks for the delicious chance c3

    Reply

  188. I love cheese, especially in melted form as in French onion soup, lasagna, grilled cheese sandwich, in mashed potatoes etc etc

    Reply

  199. My favourite way to use cheese in recipes is melted in one way or another: lasagna, French onion soup, in mash, grilled cheese sandwich etc etc.

    Reply

  200. I love baking breads, buns and scones with cheese. They are delicious and they go with just about everything!!

    Reply

  202. Whether I shred it, slice it, dice it, sprinkle it….every meal is tastier with cheese. I love adding and mixing different blends in my homemade macaroni. Thank you and good luck all!

    Reply

  211. My absolute favorite way is to make the cheese into a fondue! A family tradition since before I was born!

    Reply

  214. It’s often in a melted form. For example, cheese scones, French onion soup, grilled cheese sandwich, mixed in with mashed potatoes etc etc

    Reply

  225. Our family loves it in a fondue! Another great way is baked in and on top of a chicken & rice casserole.

    Reply

  229. I love to use cheese in a melted form as in potatoes gratin, grilled cheese sandwiches, cheese and onion pie, pizza, French onion soup, omelettes, cheese scones, cheese bread rolls, cheese fondue etc etc

    Reply

  244. My favourite way to cook with cheese is lasagna, omelettes, marinara sauces and grilled cheese.

    Reply

  246. There are so many things that I like to make with cheese, usually in a melted form. I like making a whole cauliflower covered with ham and with cheese, sitting in a white sauce. In the oven it goes and it tastes fantastic.

    Reply

  256. Fondue will always be my favorite way to cook with cheese. I also love making omelettes for breakfast or dinner, loaded up with meat, veggies & of course tons of cheese!

    Reply

  259. I love using cheese in allot of my cooking, burgers, lasagna, salad, bruschetta, my all time favourite is baked brie..daughter got me hooked on it!

    Reply

  264. I love to use cheese in a melted form as in potatoes gratin, grilled cheese sandwiches, cheese and onion pie, pizza, French onion soup, omelettes, cheese scones, cheese bread rolls, cheese fondue etc.

    Reply

  281. My fave is grilled cheese but the hubby loves adding cheese to most of our meals by sneaking it into the recipe one way or another. You won’t hear me complaining.

    Reply

  286. I love using cheese in my cooking whether it’s in mashed potatoes, on a pizza, on top of French onion soup or in cheese scones. Cheese adds a wonderful flavour to practically everything. 🙂

    Reply

  292. Loaded Baked potatoes topped with melted cheddar! Of course, cheese on top of almost anything makes it all better 🙂

    Reply

  297. and then there is Chicken Breasts sttuffed with broc and cheese… oh and noodles those long thing things…cannolli?

    Reply

  316. I am cheese fondue’s number one fan! Another way I love cheese is on special occasions we make hot cheesy bacon garlic dip in a bread bowl, it’s amazing!

    Reply

  320. I love using cheese in my cooking whether it’s in mashed potatoes, on a pizza, on top of French onion soup or in cheese scones. Cheese adds a wonderful flavour to practically everything. 🙂 I add cheese a lot.

    Reply

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