[HPforGrownups] Re: Rejoice, for another candy debate cometh!

[Penny & Bryce Linsenmayer]

No: HPFGUIDX 13007

Hi --

Amanda Lewanski wrote:

> Amy Z wrote:
>
> > What is treacle anyway?  This is not a term we use in the US.  My
> > Annotated Alice says it's molasses.  Is it *exactly* the same as
> what
> > we call molasses (thick syrup that is produced during the process of
>
> > refining cane sugar)?  Or some other kind of syrup?  I've been
> trying
> > to picture treacle tart for some time now, without success.
>
> I've gotten the impression that treacle is thicker than our molasses.
> Picture cold molasses.

It is actually what we would call "Blackstrap Molasses."  It is darker &
alot less sweet than the typical molasses.

> > And while we're at it, what's spotted dick?  (I'm trying to imagine
> > serving something with that name in a US school.  The students would
>
> > die of the giggles.)
> >
> > Mod Squad, is this off-topic?
>
> I hope not, because I was going to ask this very thing. I was flipping
>
> through my GoF last night, and came across the scene where Ron is
> trying
> to entice the elf-indignant-Hermione to eat. Aha, found it (p. 183
> US):
>
> " 'Treacle tart, Hermione!' said Ron, deliberately wafting its smell
> toward her. "Spotted dick, look! Chocolate gateau!' "
>
> I have no idea what any of these are. Treacle tart has treacle in it
> and
> so I probably wouldn't like it,

Actually, treacle tart (and treacle pudding) (Yes, Neil, we're back to
treacle again!) do NOT use *treacle* (what we call blackstrap
molasses).  They use golden syrup (which is sort of between light corn
syrup & dark corn syrup).  Unlike treacle (which is really quite
bitter), golden syrup is very sweet & quite good in these desserts.  I
made the mistake of making my first treacle pudding with treacle -- my
husband pronounced it inedible!  It wasn't truly horrible IMO, but it
was definitely not all that sweet.  Once, I made it with golden syrup,
*then* it was a hit!  Now, *why* they are called treacle tarts & treacle
puddings when they use golden syrup and not treacle ... well, maybe our
British friends can answer that.  :--)

Penny


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]