Apple Pie!

After working with several different recipes, I feel like I have found a good combination!  Even my picky brother likes it!  Enjoy! ~ Haley

Crust

2 cups flour (1 c. wheat, 1 c. white)

1 ¼ tsp salt

1 cup butter (2 sticks)

1 ½ tsp vinegar

1 egg

1/3 c. cold water

Using a food processor, mix flour and salt.  Then add COLD butter, chopped into large pieces and pulse until mixture is coarse and crumbly.   Mix water, egg and vinegar and then slowly pour into food processor as you pulse the mixture and a dough forms.  Take out, wrap in saran wrap and put in fridge to chill for 20-30 min while you prepare filling.  (Note:  Using half wheat flour makes for a more forgiving and pliable crust.)

Filling

8-9 large apples, cored and sliced (Good to mix Granny Smith, Golden Delicious, JonaGold, etc.)

1-2 TB lemon juice

2/3 cups granulated sugar

1/3 cups brown sugar

1/3 cups flour

2 ½ tsp cinnamon

Cut and prepare apples and toss with lemon juice.  Then add sugar, flour and cinnamon and gently mix.  (I love using Jonagold, Granny Smith, fresh Golden Delicious, etc.)

After dough has chilled and filling is made, take out and divide dough in half.  Using flour or two sheets of saran wrap on top and bottom, gently roll out dough until it is big enough to drape over the sides of pie pan.  Gently place in bottom of 9 in pie pan.  Pour in filling.  Roll out other half of dough and drape over the top.  Cut overhanging dough until a quarter inch remains hanging.  Then fold edges under and gently press together to form a seal.  Finish crust by fluting edges or pressing all around the edge with a fork.  Cut slits in the top for air to escape during cooking.  Brush entire crust with egg whites or milk and sprinkle with sanding sugar and cinnamon.  Cook at 350 for 1 hour 15 minutes and let cool 1-2 hours.  ENJOY!

Strawberry Hand Pies

I made these hand pies last weekend and loved them!  They were delicious!  Since I love rhubarb, I used strawberry-rhubarb jam instead of regular strawberry jam and it was great!  I saw the recipe in Country Living magazine and had to pass it on!  

Strawberry Hand Pies by Patti Davis, featured in Country Living

2 1/3 cup(s) (plus more for dusting) All-Purpose Flour

1 teaspoon Baking powder

1 1/4 teaspoon(s) salt

1 stick(s) cold, unsalted butter, cut into small pieces

2 large Egg Yolks

1 teaspoon(s) Vanilla Extract 

3/4 pound(s) Strawberries cut into 1/2-inch pieces 

1/2 cup(s) Powdered Sugar 

3 tablespoon(s) Strawberry Jam (I used Strawberry-Rhubarb jam!)

1 tablespoon(s) Sanding Sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a large bowl, combine 2 1/4 cups flour, baking powder, and 1 teaspoon salt. Using a pastry blender or 2 knives, cut butter into flour mixture until mixture resembles coarse sand. Add 1 egg yolk, 1/2 cup chilled water, and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla and mix until just combined. (If dough is dry or crumbly and doesn’t stay together, add up to 3 tablespoons more chilled water.) Transfer dough to a lightly floured surface and knead 2 to 3 times, just until dough comes together. Return dough to bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate until chilled, about 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, make filling: In a medium bowl, combine strawberries, confectioners’ sugar, and jam, plus remaining flour, vanilla, and salt. Set aside.

In a small bowl, beat remaining yolk and 1 tablespoon water for egg wash; set aside. On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to 1/2-inch thickness. Using a 3-inch round cookie cutter, cut dough into 6 rounds.

Roll 1 round into a 6-inch circle. Spoon a heaping 2 tablespoons filling onto half of circle, leaving 1/2-inch border. Brush the edges with egg wash, then fold dough over filling. Using a fork, crimp the edges to seal hand pie. Transfer to a parchment-lined baking pan. Repeat with remaining dough rounds and filling.

Using a toothpick, poke a few holes in the top of each pie. Brush with remaining egg wash and sprinkle each pie with 1/2 teaspoon sanding sugar. Bake until golden brown, 30 to 35 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.

Read more: Strawberry Hand Pies Recipe - Country Living 

Romulo Yanes

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Chicken Pot Pie

If you are looking for some good comfort food, this pot pie from my friend Cheer Anne is fabulous! 

Crust: 
1 2/3 c. flour
1 pkg cream cheese
1/3 c. cold margarine (I used butter)

Filling:
1/3 c. butter
1/3 c. flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1 1/2 c. water
2/3 c. milk
1 pkg chicken gravy (can use mushroom too)
2 c. chicken, cubed
1 c. frozen mixed vegetables

In saucepan, melt butter, stir in flour, salt and pepper.  Slowly stir in  water, milk, and gravy mix.  Bring to a boil.  Boil and stir for 2 minutes until thickened.  Stir in chicken and vegetables and set aside. 

For crust, mix flour, cream cheese and margarine.  Separate into 2 balls.  Roll one ball to fit a 9x9 pan.  Pour filling into bottom crust.  Roll last ball for top crust.  Pinch edges of crusts together.  Bake 30-40 min. at 425 degrees, or until crust is golden brown.