Lard

[jayt90]

I'm looking for non-hydrogenated lard in the Toronto area. I don't need much, just 1lb to 5lb.

[Phrizzie]

Turns out The Healthy Butcher in Toronto carries organic lard. And I'm off ...

[Mila]

I don't know what you need it for jayt90, but Tenderflake is now non-hydrogenated.
http://www.mapleleaf.com/ConsumerProd...

Making your own is definitely worth it, but if you don't want to go to the trouble.

[jayt90]

Thanks for all the tips. I'm just trying to replicate my Mom's apple pie, with northern spies. I won't use hydrogenated fat, and am glad there are more natural sources. If Tenderflake is non-h, that is encouraging.

[Full tummy]

I have bought non-hydrogenated vegetable shortening at the Big Carrot, if that helps.

[ishmael]

Brandt meats in Mississauga had some last time I was there. If not there then try Starsky a little further east on Dundas

[mikeb]

Brandt's does indeed have lard. So does Blue Danube Sausage on Chauncy in Etobicoke. http://www.bluedanubesausagehouse.com/

[Dean Tudor]

I've searched before -- no can do very well. St. Lawrence was dry.. So was Kensington, Bloor Meat Market, etc. The best you can do is make it yourself. It is easy to do, just stick pork fat into the oven at 225 degrees or so. Keep pouring it off until the resideu is left. Any basic book like Joy of Cooking has a recipe. Best organic pork fat is about $2 a pound (maybe $5 a kilo) from Butcher By Nature, Beretta, etc. Anything organic -- AND you get to keep the cracklings for corn bread, or any other bread...

[Full tummy]

I also recently purchased lard at Fresh from the Farm. Dean, have you tried either of these places?

[Dean Tudor]

No I have not, thanks for the tip. I know about the new Tenderflake, but I am still leery of anything commercial. The best pie crust I know has a fat component of 50% lard and 50% butter, and I use organic sources for both.

BTW, I've checked with the organic butchers and suppliers in town. They don't have any lard at all, which surprises the hell out of me. But they will order pork fat for you -- it takes two weeks or more, since it is a special, and it seems to raise some eyebrows at the order station ("why would you want pork fat?...etc.)

[Full tummy]

The lard from Fresh from the Farm came in a recycled yoghurt container, so I think it really is... fftf. The non-hydrogenated vegetable shortening I bought at The Big Carrot is quite possibly "Earth Balance", as on this page:

http://www.earthbalance.net/product.html

And, btw, you should call Fresh from the Farm, to check if they have it in stock; I added it to my order, placed a week or so before I pick it up at the store.

[Full tummy]

A couple of years ago, I bought real lard at Royal Beef on Danforth, just west of Woodbine.