Monday, October 19, 2009

Mmm... Berry Pie!


Here's another favorite Taste of Home recipe I've been making for what feels like 100 years! Dave would have me make this pie every week, but no, gotta keep 'em begging! The original name was Ozark Mountain Berry Pie-but we changed it to a more appropriate name and always sing our little song that goes with it.

Mmm Berry Pie Mmm Berry Pie, put it in the oven and it comes out hot! Can't get enough of that Mmm Berry pie... Thanks a lot!


Call me if you want to hear it in person!

Favorite Butter Pie Crust
Adapted from Martha Stewart

This pie crust can also be made using a food processor: Simply pulse in the butter for 8 to 10 seconds and add 1/4 to 1/2 cup ice water through the feed tube with the machine running.

Makes two 8- to 10-inch crusts
1 cup (about 2 sticks) cold butter
2 1/2 cups flour, plus more for rolling out dough
1 tsp salt
1 tsp sugar

Cut each stick of butter into eight pieces. Place the flour, salt, and sugar in a large mixing bowl, and mix to combine.
Add the chilled butter. Using a pastry blender, incorporate the butter into the flour mixture; the mixture should resemble coarse meal with small pieces of butter, the size of small peas, remaining visible.
Drizzle 2 tablespoons ice water over the flour-butter mixture, and blend. Repeat with an additional 2 tablespoons water. At this point, you may have to add more water: When a handful of dough squeezed together just holds its shape, you’ve added enough; if the dough crumbles, continue incorporating water, 1 tablespoon at a time, checking the consistency after each additional tablespoon.
Turn the dough out onto a clean work surface. Divide into two equal pieces, and place on two separate sheets of plastic wrap. Flatten, and form two disks. Wrap, and refrigerate at least 1 hour. I don't usually do this.

Berry Pie Filling:
1 1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup plus 2 TB cornstarch
1/2 tsp cinnamon, optional
Dash salt
1/4 cup water
1 bag of frozen mixed berries
1 cup frozen blueberries
1 Tb fresh lemon juice
2 Tb butter

In a large saucepan, combine the sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon if desired, salt and water and lemon juice until smooth; add the fruit. Bring to a boil; cook (I mash up the strawberries a little) and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Set aside to cool slightly.

Line a 9-in. pie plate with bottom crust; trim pastry even with edge. Pour into pastry; dot with butter. Roll out remaining pastry. Trim, seal and flute edges. Pour 2 Tb 1 % or higher milk in bowl. With pastry brush, spread milk across crust. You just want the surface wet. Lightly sprinkle sugar over entire crust. Cut a few slits in the top crust and bake at 400° for 10 minutes. Reduce heat to 350°; bake for 45-50 minutes or until the crust is golden brown and filling is bubbly. Cool on a wire rack. Store in the refrigerator. Serve with vanilla bean ice cream. Mmmm Good!