Foolproof Pie Dough

 

Cook's Illustrated Foolproof Pie Dough

I know this sounds STRANGE.... but this is SUPPOSED  to be a FOOL proof (maybe proof is the word!) pie dough....I am trying it today.... and will let you know!

Hope

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 cups (12 1/2 ounces) unbleached all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon table salt
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/4-inch slices
• 1/2 cup cold vegetable shortening, cut into 4 pieces
• 1/4 cup cold vodka
• 1/4 cup cold water

Procedures

1. 
   

Process 1 1/2 cups flour, salt, and sugar in food processor until combined, about 2 one-second pulses. Add butter and shortening and process until homogeneous dough just starts to collect in uneven clumps, about 15 seconds (dough will resemble cottage cheese curds and there should be no uncoated flour). Scrape bowl with rubber spatula and redistribute dough evenly around processor blade. Add remaining cup flour and pulse until mixture is evenly distributed around bowl and mass of dough has been broken up, 4 to 6 quick pulses. Empty mixture into medium bowl.

2. 
   

Sprinkle vodka and water over mixture. With rubber spatula, use folding motion to mix, pressing down on dough until dough is slightly tacky and sticks together. Divide dough into two even balls and flatten each into 4-inch disk. Wrap each in plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 45 minutes or up to 2 days.

Lemon Ice Box Pie

Lemon Ice Box Pie!

Such and easy Pie...but I was surprised the number of people who asked "What kind of Pie?" I always hated the Meringue in a Lemon Pie.... just the texture of the meringue always was off putting to me! Don't know why! But when I first had a slice of Lemon Ice Box Pie I thought...'Now, this is a PIE!'

So I dug around until I found a recipe that is as close as I could get to my first bite about 47 years ago!

So here goes!

INGREDIENTS:

*1 (one) 9" graham cracker pie crust

*2 (two) cans of Sweetened Condensed Milk

*1/2 cup of Lemon Juice (I really cheat I use Realemon Juice out of a bottle)

*1/8 cup of Countrytime lemonade mix or NOT it's up to YOU

*4 large egg YOLKS! ( I know some people will use the whites to make a meringue - yuck not me!)

*Topping of choice ! I like Whipped Cream out of a CAN!
Some people like Cool Whip - whatever!

DIRECTIONS:
*Preheat oven to 325 F
*Mix yolks, condensed milk, juice, and dry lemonade mix -
*Beat until nice and evenly blended together
*Pour into pie crust
*Place pie pan on cookie sheet for stability

Bake for 25 min.
*Remove from oven let cool for 30 min
*Cover with inverted pie shell plastic top
*Refrigerate ...

Cut into slices.... top with your preference of topping and
ENJOY!

Chicken Broccoli Bacon Quiche

We needed comfort food today ! We attended the local Murfreesboro Christmas Parade and got chilled... so we came home and decided to make a Quiche.

Robyn had just been to the grocery store and had brought home fresh broccoli and heavy cream.

I found a great recipe that I "doctored" and it turned out fantastic.

INGREDIENTS:

1 - 9" pie crust
1 - cup of heavy cream
3 - eggs
1 - Teaspoon minced garlic
2 - Tablespoons of lemon juice
1 - cup of shredded cheese ( I used a "casserole blend" of shredded cheese - just use what you like best !
1 - chicken breast
1 - part of a head of broccoli
1 - cup of Hormel Real Bacon Bits ( great taste )
Seasonings - I used Tony's and onion powder

METHOD:

preheat oven to 350

• boil 1 chicken breasts ( or a three frozen tenderloins )
• This only takes a few minutes.... chop them up into bite size morsels.and put to the side to cool
• DON'T dump the chicken water !
• Place a couple handfuls of the broccoli florets into the hot water... bring to boil and boil for a few minutes until slightly tender.

• Remove from water and chop

• Beat the eggs
• Add the cream
• Add cheese, garlic, and lemon juice
• Beat
• Add seasonings (onion powder and Tony Chachere's Cajun Seasonings) to taste
• Beat
• Add bacon, chicken, and broccoli
• Stir
• Pour into unbaked pie crust
• Place pie on cookie sheet into oven
• Set timer for 1 hour
• Go take a hot soaking bath

Remove promptly from the oven slice and eat.... YUM



.

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Pie

1 9" Pie Crust

• 1 cup packed dark brown sugar
  
• 1 cup light corn syrup
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted
• 1 cup of oats -quick rolled
  
• 1 teaspoons vanilla
  
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
• 1 cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips
  
• 2 tablespoons of all purpose flour
  
• 1 cup chopped pecans

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 325°F
2. Combine brown sugar and eggs, flour, vanilla, syrup, butter, salt, and whisk seriously
   
3. Add the nuts, oatmeal, and chocolate chips.
   
4. Bake for at least 45 minutes or until the center is set. Cool completely. You may have to cook the pie longer... don't stress! It is a very resilient pie but not more than an hour in total. It should set up nicely. Mine did!
   
5.