Goody's Two Shoes

Sometimes I purchase accessories without a plan for wearing them. At first glance, yellow, orange, and green shoes seemed impractical, but I knew they'd get worn more than a sensible pair, Eventually. The trouble with buying out-of-season items is forgetting them when the appropriate time rolls around. Knowing I have a tendency to "lose" my items, this pair have been sitting beneath my piano bench since December. I didn't forget about them! There's a method to the madness.

 The garden is coming along. Our weather finally warmed, and the tomato plants are responding. The peas are finishing up, and the purple sprouting broccoli should be ready shortly. The tall green plants at the rear of the photo are Yukon Gold potatoes growing in our deep bag bed. I didn't think they would work-shows how much I know!

Here's how I wore the dress in August of 2015.

 I forgot to unpack this dress last year, so I kept it under the piano all winter...just kidding! I did unpack it well ahead of the season though, just to have it ready. 

 Outfit Particulars:

Vintage Tanner of North Carolina dress-defunct costume shop
Belt-came with a dress
Ferragamo shoes-Goodwill
Handbag-Jenerations (in the abandoned mall)
Fragrance-Courreges 2020 (meh)

There's something so endearing about a doll that signs, "I love you" with one hand whilst forming her other fingers into the shape of a gun. We've all felt that.  I brought her home because she sat in the 1/2 price room at Hand-Me-Ups for so long I felt sorry for her.

Retro food! I hadn't seen a tin of Veg-All since I was a child, so of course I had to see if it was as bad as I remembered. Turns out, it wasn't bad at all. Maybe it was a mood thing, but I rather enjoyed it. I wouldn't want a steady diet of tinned veg, but times being what they are, I'll consider buying some more when I stock the fallout shelter. I don't really have a fallout shelter. I live so close to Stratcom if WWIII breaks out, our city is going to get it first (sometimes it feels like we live with a giant bulls eye over Omaha on the map) so why bother? Still, if the end of civilisation is at hand, a few tins of Veg-All would make a convenient meal. You don't want to spend nuclear Armageddon peeling and chopping vegetables.

 Mmmm, tastes like apocalypse. And sodium. Lots and lots of sodium. Ignore the burnt burners on the hob-they're getting replaced.

Here's a peek at another dress headed to the Vintage Hospital. The last owner sewed the sleeves up under the shoulders, but appears to have left the fabric intact. It looks like a bunched-up mess now, but I think I can fix it. The skirt also has a wildly unevenly sewn hem with a good five inches of fabric in the hem. I don't think it was done too long ago and it likely won't leave a line. At least the fabric is all there, but I still can't understand what in the world happened here.

The fabric is nice enough to justify doing the restoration work. I'll feature more of the vintage, "Patients" as they recover (or less optimistically, die).

This dress is a frequent patient in the critical ward of the vintage hospital. It was originally sewn together with that awful clear, plastic thread. Bit by bit I've re-sewn it, but a seam I overlooked unraveled yesterday. I'll keep fixing it, and I think I'll restore the hem a few inches lower and see how it looks-there's plenty of the border print tucked up in the hem. 

This week's pie was blueberry. I tried out a new crust recipe that seems to be the best so far. All shortening, egg, and a tablespoon of vinegar are the features and yes, it makes a very flaky crust. Personally, I still prefer a butter crust, but flakiness is so prized in the fair judging, I think this will be the way to go. After a few days the bottom crust is still firm, so sogginess isn't an issue. I used tapioca as a thickener instead of flour or cornstarch, and that proved to be a good decision. 

 I'll leave you with Danny's handiwork arranging the stacks of magazines in the dentist's waiting room. I have no idea where he gets that sense of humour from. 

Late Spring in Omaha

I spotted this Great Blue Heron at where else...Heron Haven. Strangely enough, this was the first time I've seen a heron there! It was such a beautiful evening, we decided to take a detour on the way to the market to have a short walk along the trails. I love this time of year when there's more hours of sunlight, but the evenings are still cool enough to enjoy a walk.

The garden is doing well. We had fresh strawberries for breakfast last weekend and it was a true delight. The first borage flowers bloomed and the bees are spending their days gathering pollen. Over the past few years the borage has blown through the neighbourhood re-seeding itself, and I was pleased to see people leaving it. The dianthus are happy as well.

 The summer wardrobe is getting worn. This Marimekko set isn't a playsuit, but rather shorts and a matching top I bought at Target last year during their designer collaboration. The pattern is supposed to look like orange slices. Very, very underripe orange slices! The macrame shoulderbag was made in Iowa in the 70's. I have several of these bags, and they've become indispensable summer bags for me. As a bonus, they're washable which makes them the perfect tote for days at the park.

 I've been busy perfecting my pie baking skills in time for the State Fair. Today, I baked a peach and nectarine pie, though in hindsight, a few raspberries would have been welcome. I'm keeping tasting notes from everyone I'm forcing pie on-so far no one is complaining they're sick of pie. The fair isn't until September, so I have plenty of time to practise.

I spotted this over Mr. ETB's shoulder. He was supposed to be checking the local library website for a few Canadian titles I want to use for class next year-but he was obviously sidetracked. The internet didn't have an opinion, but cultural generalisations don't occur in a vacuum so yeah, they probably are polite. You can be characterised as worse things than polite-take it from an American 😁

 Okie dokie,. moving along then..,.

 This top had an inaugural wear. I can't decide if I like it. The shoulders make my posture look worse than it already is, and the open lacework makes it challenging to find just the right bra. Maybe I'm lazy, but that just seems like more complicated than a summer blouse ought to be. I'll move it to the, "Maybe" pile and give it another wear before deciding, but I'm leaning towards, "Discard."

I'm keeping the celluloid necklace though-that was a lucky find.

Thrifting is hard work! It was nice of the Goodwill to put these headless mannequins out to lean on. Prudish American that I am, I was tempted to put some clothes on it.  You can't just leave an undressed mannequin in the window-that's positively scandalous. We had a housekeeper that was very religious and would get upset if my dolls were unclothed. She didn't like posters where the eyes followed her around either, but she might have just been suspicious of Jimi Hendrix. Anyway, Goodwill, put some damn clothes on your mannequins before they catch their death from cold!

 This is my, "Holly Hobbie" dress. I haven't worn it in nearly three years! The barkcloth fabric gets uncomfortably hot, so most years by the time I can wear a summer dress, it is already too warm. This year, the weather behaved and I hurried to unpack and wear the dress before it gets too hot. It will get too hot-Friday is expected to be 90 degrees F. The pool opened today though, so I know where I'll be!

I'm off to replace my pastry cutter as you can't make a lattice crust without a fluted edge. I don't know where they keep disappearing to. Probably ran off with the odd socks.

The Judgement of Plaster of Paris

Sorry, had to. 

You can't take me anywhere. 

I'm confident I'm not the first person to take advantage of a photo-op in the statue area of Mulhall's garden centre. Now give me my golden apple and I'll just be on my way.

What is it about statues that encourage silliness?  

Memorial Day is the official point (in the US) where it is considered acceptable to wear white. I don't give a toss about that rule (or most others for that matter) but it has been far too cold for a gauze/cheesecloth. We finally had a nice day with sun and temperatures in the 60's, so I broke out the white and headed to Mulhall's. Mulhall's is my "Happy Place."  I never leave there in a bad mood. I never leave there with any money, but still-you can't put a price on happiness. They have a rewards membership programme, but that just encourages more spending. I came home with a few more pepper and tomato plants, as well as yet another bay laurel. I keep killing them. This one is already Christened, Apollo III. I also purchased a jelly-feeder for orioles. Less than 24 hours after hanging it, the orioles started coming to our balcony. I didn't think we had orioles, but I guess I was wrong! 

I bagged up sorrel and set it out by the sidewalk with a note to help yourself-no one took any! I have pounds and pounds of sorrel and there's only so much schav I can eat. I might need to start leaving it at people's doors. Our cool weather resulted in the bumper crop from hell. We're about to be overwhelmed with peas as well, but

I can freeze those. Ah well, I guess you can have worse problems. Sorrel makes a nice sauce for fish, so I can always do that.

This is my first wear of this beautiful Judith Leiber belt. I was so happy to find it at New Life Thrift. If I ever find a Judith Leiber handbag I'll probably fall into a coma from the shock. I'm happy with the belt. White accessories can look naff, but not this belt! It is heavy, and well made but not adjustable. It is a bit large, but I don't care. 

Outfit Particulars:

Gauze blouse-K Mart

Gauze skirt-Hand-Me-Ups

Vintage Air Step handbag-Can't remember

Judith Leiber belt-New Life Thrift

Gold shoes-Goodwill

Shell earrings-Sears

Whiting and Davis vintage panel bracelet-Goodwill

Damascene bracelet-Goodwill

Gold bangles-various places

Fragrance-Vintage formulation Diorissimo

 My skin is finally healing with the multiple salves I'm using now. I'm happy it wasn't my wrists as that would impair my ability to wear bracelets and that would be like running around stark naked (or as we say, "Starkers.").  What do you call it when you walk down the stairs naked? Starkness descending."

 Want to know how much the ointment cost? With insurance, it was $2.00. That's the price our insurance company negotiates for it. Without insurance a tube of generic ointment would have cost $869.00. I often wonder if the people screaming about being forced to buy insurance have ever had a serious case of allergic eczema? The second salve cost $35.00. I have no idea what that would have cost without insurance and a coupon from the drugmaker. This isn't some rare disease people are unlikely to contract-everyone gets a rash at some point in their life. I don't know about you, but I don't have eight hundred bucks sitting around to pay out of pocket for a rash ointment. Yes, our premiums are high, and yes there are co-pays, but if rash ointment costs this much I shudder to think what it would cost if I broke a leg. Young, healthy people have accidents too.
*Steps down off soapbox*

On a happier note, I baked my first cherry pie of the season. These are sweet Bing Cherries from California. I used instant tapioca as a thickener.

 I also made vanilla ice cream because you can't have cherry pie without ice cream-not at my house anyway.

I didn't wear white to bake the pie!

I'm finishing up the syllabus writing this week and next. The paperwork for next year needs to be in by 15 July, but I feel better having it done by June. We homeschool year-round, but I build in breaks during the summer. Half-days in July gets our work out of the way by the time the pool opens. The teacher needs a holiday too.

I wonder if a fish and sorrel pie would be good? If you live in Omaha and need some sorrel, drop me an email!

The Pool Is Sad

Bi-Poolar?

When the pool weeps, we all weep.

I'm not mocking the Bi-Polar, but I am definitely mocking the person that worded the sign. Anyone living in the US that's seen the absurd television ads for psychiatric medications knows enough to avoid the phrase, "Chemical Imbalance" particularly since the FDA called bullshit on it, and made them start saying, "May be due to a chemical imbalance" because you know...science! Personally, I think the pool is suffering from chemical ambivalence, and isn't willing to work with the chlorine.Today. Tomorrow might be different. Perhaps. The pool doesn't care one way or the other.  

We did just have a series of heavy rains, so I suspect that is the problem. 

 With the pool closed, Danny decided to stay home and work on his kolache recipe for the State Fair contest. He tried both prune and apricot fillings that came out beautiful. We now have several dozen pastries in the freezer from all his various attempts. I might not need to bake again. Ever.

I worked on my blueberry pie recipe for the fair. I now have a crust that stays firm on the bottom for three days without being heavy. The boys really liked the filling made with tapioca instead of cornflour. 

I made certain to dot it generously with butter before securing the top pastry. I'm a bit worried that the good blueberries will be gone by the first week of September when the fair rolls around, so I'll be freezing several pints carefully now. I don't take chances with State Fair pies. 

There was also cherry jam being made.

I couldn't remember if this skirt ever made an appearance on the blog. I've had it for ages, and I wear it loads in the summer, but somehow it seems to have escaped the camera. The photo doesn't show them well, but there's sequins sewn on the feather designs. Made in India, the skirt is a heavy sort of cotton that never requires pressing, and stays cool in most weather. It isn't lined, and over the years I've lost sequins as the stitching on the inside catches on everything. I really should wear a slip with it, but I'm resigned to losing most of the sequins eventually. I should just pull them off, and start over.

Outfit Particulars

                                                              Cotton skirt-Can't remember!

Blouse-K Mart

Woven belt-Hand-Me-Ups

Bracelets-both Goodwill

Shoes-K Mart (yes, another pair of cork heel wedges)

Vintage macrame shoulderbag-Goodwill

Earrings-Gordmans, about 15 years ago

Vintage silver and turquoise necklace-Mum's from the 60's

Fragrance-Rive Gauche

I seem to be doing quite a bit of aqua and purple this summer-no idea why, and it isn't deliberate. The top is made of the heavy, old 60's polyester. There's a half zip at the neck (so you don't disturb your bouffant pulling it over your head) which is a feature I'd love to see return on modern tops. It would be a terrible fabric on a very hot day, but otherwise it is a very wear-able material (and super-easy to launder). 

The skirt is a silky rayon from the 80's that seems to defy static cling (unlike so many other rayon skirts) which is a definite bonus. I'm certain it had a matching blouse or jacket at one time but when I found it sitting lonely in the Goodwill for .49 cents, I figured there would be something at home to match it. 

Outfit Particulars:

80's pleated rayon skirt-Goodwill

1960's polyester sleeveless top-Thrift World

Margaret Smith of Gardiner Maine vintage handbag-Hand-Me-Ups

Lucite bangles-both Goodwill

Vintage clip earrings-New Life Thrift

Naturalizer shoes-Goodwill

Fragrance-Marni (Okay, a little too woody for summer)

What's on this weekend? 

Saturday and Sunday in Omaha the annual Railroad Days celebration takes place. $15.00 per family gets you admission to several great museums, the botanical gardens, free transportation to the sites by bus, and the admission is good for two days, so you don't need to exhaust yourself on the first day. With the heat we've been experiencing, it wouldn't be a bad idea to see the exhibits early in the day, over two days. By the afternoon, it can get unpleasant on the bus. 

Hopefully, the pool will be feeling better, and I can get in a swim over the next few days. 

Run-Up to Thanksgiving Recipe Post-Pie Edition

I thought this would be a good time to re-post some of my favourite Thanksgiving recipes from years gone by on the blog. You don't need to celebrate Thanksgiving to enjoy these recipes, and if you live in the UK you can celebrate getting rid of us-so everyone wins! I'll start with the part of the meal everyone likes. Who wants pie?

Pumpkin pie is a love it or hate it thing. I'm not a fan of evaporated milk which the recipes all seem to call for. This recipe is adaptable, and even works as a savoury by changing around a few spices and cutting the sugar. Squash can easily be substituted for pumpkin.

No-Fail Crust (perfect for pastry beginners)

3 cups flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 ¼ cups shortening
1 egg, beaten
1/3 cup cold water
1 tablespoon white vinegar

Mix flour and salt. Cut in shortening. Combine water, egg and vinegar. Mix well into flour mixture. Let rest a bit before rolling out.

For the Pie:
1 ½ cups cooked, mashed pumpkin (I roast it, but if you boil, make sure to drain it well before using to bake). 
1 large egg
½ cup warmed milk (I use 2%, but whole is fine)
½ cup warmed heavy cream cream
1 tablespoon flour (I use Wondra sauce flour for this as it dissolves quickly)
1 tablespoon molasses or treacle (Sorghum is a big agricultural product around here and you could certainly substitute it)
¾ cup sugar (you may prefer more)
1 teaspoon mixed spice. "Pumpkin pie spice" is cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves, which I'm less a fan of. Use what you prefer. 
1 tablespoon browned butter
pinch of salt


Combine everything and pour into an unbaked pie crust (it helps to build the sides up pretty high for this pie). Cut out shapes from leftover pie crust.

Bake at 450 degrees F. for 15 minutes, then reduce the heat to 350 for 45 minutes.
Cool the pie on a rack until completely cold-about 2 hours. Lightly cover with cling film, and store in fridge. I like it served at room temperature, but if you like it warm, give it a few seconds in the microwave.


Maple Pie

This pie requires an entire cup of maple syrup, which can get expensive. Grade B syrup is really better for this pie as the flavour is stronger, but if you can't find it and money is no object, go ahead and use the extra fancy stuff.

For the Crust:

1 1/2 cups finely crushed graham crackers
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup soft butter

Mix well and press into 9 inch pie plate. Bake in pre-heated 375 degree F. oven for 8-10 minutes. Cool before filling.

For the Pie:

2/3 cup sugar
1/4 cup cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups milk
1 cup maple syrup
3 egg yolks, beaten(keep in a large bowl)
1 tablespoon butter
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Combine sugar, cornstarch, and salt in a large, heavy pot. Gradually add the milk and syrup. Whisking briskly and constantly, keep mixture moving until it thickens and boils. Gradually add the mixture to the eggs. Replace it in the original pot and return to heat cooking over low heat and whisking until the mixture becomes very thick. Stir in the butter and extract. Cool slightly before pouring into prepared crust. Chill. When cool, top with whipped cream.


Shoe-Fly Pie

Crumbs:
1 Cup Flour
1 Tablespoon Crisco
2/3 Cup Light Brown Sugar

-Work together with pastry cutter until crumbly. Remove half and set aside.

Bottom of Pie:
-1 Egg slightly beaten
-1 Cup Molasses
-1 Cup boiling water
-1 Teaspoon baking soda
-1 Nine inch pie shell

Crust:
-3 Cups Flour
-1 Teaspoon Salt
-1 1/4 cup Crisco
-1 Egg, beaten
-1/3 cup cold water
-1 Tablespoon vinegar

Mix flour and salt. Cut in crisco. Combine egg, water and vinegar-stir into flour mixture and let stand before rolling out.

To half of crumb mixture add egg and molasses. Add 3/4 cup of the boiling water. Dissolve the soda in remaining 1/4 cup water and add last. Pour into unbaked pie crust. Sprinkle reserved crumbs on top. Bake at 425 degrees F. for 15 minutes. Reduce heat to 350 and bake an additional 40-45 minutes.


Ohio Shaker Lemon Pie

 You should slice the lemons thinner than I did here.

You Will Need:

2 lemons
1 ¾ cups sugar
pate brisee
4 large eggs
¼ teaspoon salt

(For the pate brisee)
1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
9 tablespoons cold unsalted butter
3 tablespoons cold vegetable shortening
½ teaspoon salt
3-tablespoons+-ice water

The day before:

In a large pot, blanch the lemons for 30 seconds in boiling water. Run under cold water and drain. Slice as thinly as possible and place in a bowl. Cover with sugar and let sit 1 hour. Stir once and then let sit 8 hours or overnight.

The next day:

Make pate brisee by cutting shortening/butter into the flour and salt. Add water until it comes together in a ball. Wrap in waxed paper and chill 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.

Roll out bottom crust and place in pie pan. Arrange lemon slices in crust. To the sugar, add the eggs and salt, whisking until well mixed. Pour over lemons. Place top crust on and make slits for steam. Place in the centre rack of the oven and bake for 25 minutes. Then reduce heat to 350 degrees F. and bake 20-25 minutes more. Serve warm or at room temperature.


Cranberry Apple Pie

Pastry for a 2 crust pie (I used an all-butter variety)
3/4 cup sugar
3 tablespoons cornstarch
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup light corn syrup
1/4 cup water
1 1/2 cups raw cranberries (frozen is OK)
2 teaspoons orange peel, grated
1 1/2 cups chopped, peeled apples (Mine were tart varieties)
1 cup raisins (optional)
2 tablespoons butter

Mix sugar, cornstarch, and salt in a saucepan. Add corn syrup gradually. Add water. Stirring constantly bring to a boil over medium heat. Cook until mixture thickens slightly.

Add cranberries, and cook until skins break. Add orange peel. Add apples. Remove from pan and cool completely before filling pie crust.

Turn mixture into a lined, 9 inch pan. Dot with butter. Adjust top crust, cut vents, and flute edges. I brushed mine with half and half, and sprinkled it generously with granulated sugar for a crunchy topping.

Bake in a hot 425 degree F. oven 40-50 minutes.

Cranberry-Strawberry-Raisin Pie

For the pastry:

1 3/4 cup AP flour
1 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 teaspoon salt
11 tablespoons cold, unsalted butter cut into fine pieces
2 tablespoons cold shortening, cut small
(about) 3 tablespoons ice water

Combine flour, sugar and salt in a bowl. Cut in the butter and shortening until fine. Add water a tablespoon at a time and quickly gather together in a ball. Do not overwork. Divide in 2 parts. Roll each into a disk and wrap in cling film. Chill at least one hour until cold. 

For the filling:

12 ounces cranberries (fresh or frozen) chopped coarsely
1 cup raisins
A handful of strawberries, hulled and cut in half
3 tablespoons melted butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Grated zest of 1 orange
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup AP flour

Glaze-1 egg beaten with 1 tablespoon water

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Fit bottom crust into pie plate. Brush lightly with egg white. Sprinkle 1/4 cup of flour/sugar mixture in the bottom. In another bowl, combine cranberries, orange zest, melted butter, raisins and vanilla extract. Mix well. Pour into pie plate. Cover with remaining flour/sugar mixture. Place top crust on. If not doing lattice crust, cut slits to vent. Brush with egg wash. Place pie plate on a baking sheet and bake for about 1 hour or until top is browned and filling bubbles up through vents. Cool before cutting.


1950 Betty Crocker Cranberry Pie

You Will Need:

Pastry for a double crust pie
1-2 cups sugar
4 tablespoons flour
1/3 teaspoon salt
2 3/4 cups halved cranberries (this is tedious, so I recommend getting a child to do it. If you don't have one, get a neighbour's child, or I can send you mine)
1/2 cup water
Optional 1/2 tsp almond extract (I omitted this)
Optional-1/2 cup sultanas

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. 

In a large pot, combine the sugar, flour, salt, cranberries ,sultanas, and water. Mix well, and bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring until the sugar is dissolved. Once it boils, cook 5 minutes longer. Remove from heat, stir in extract if using. Cool slightly before filling crust. 

Cut vents in top crust, brush with cream, and sprinkle with coarse sugar (or just leave it plain, your pie, your rules). Bake (on a sheet, because we don't want to be scraping burnt cranberry sugar off the oven, do we?) 30-40 minutes, or until crust is golden, and filling is bubbling up through the vents. 

Sweet Potato Pie From Gourmet Magazine, 1973

This pie goes over well with the pumpkin pie haters.

Make pate brisee substituting 1 teaspoon sugar for the salt, and roll it out to an 11 inch circle on a lightly floured surface. Fit the dough in a deep 9 1/2 inch pie plate, crimp the edges, and chill it for 1 hour.

Remove pulp from 5 or 6 baked sweet potatoes and mash it. There should be 2 cups. In a bowl, cream together 1 cup butter, softened and 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar until fluffy. Beat in 4 eggs, one at a time, the mashed potatoes, 1/2 cup whiskey (I substituted 2 tablespoons brandy) the grated rind and juice of 1 lemon, and 1/2 teaspoon ground mace. Pour mixture into the prepared shell. Bake pie in the bottom third of the oven at 425 degrees F. for 20 minutes. Reduce heat to 350 degrees F. and move to centre rack baking another 40-45 minutes, or until set, and the crust is browned. Let pie cool on a rack and dust with confectioner's sugar.

Raisin Pie

You Will Need:

A shallow 9 inch pastry shell
1/2 cup dark raisins
2 1/4 cups water
1 cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons cornstarch
2 tablespoons butter

Topping:

1 cup plain flour
1 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 cup butter, softened

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Prick pie crust all over and blind bake 5 minutes. Remove from oven and set aside.

In a 2 quart saucepan combine raisins, 2 cups of the water (reserve rest), lemon juice,
and salt. Bring to a boil over medium high heat stirring occasionally. In a small bowl, combine cornstarch and remaining water, beating until smooth. Whisk it into the raisin mixture and boil until bubbling and thick-about 2 minutes. Beat in butter. Remove from pot and cool before filling pie. Meanwhile make the crust.

For the crust: combine flour, sugar, ginger, cinnamon, and soda. Cut in butter until you have crumbs.

Assemble and bake:

Pour filling into pie crust. Top with crumbs and bake 25-30 minutes or until top is golden. Cool, and store in the fridge.

Apple Pie

For the Pastry:

1/3 plus 1 tablespoon ice water (have more on hand in case you need it)
3/4 cup shortening (I used unsalted butter because we prefer it)
2 cups instant type flour (I used Wondra)
1 teaspoon salt.

Combine flour and salt in a large bowl. Cut in butter until fine. Add water slowly adding just enough so that the dough comes together in a ball. It should be pliable without being too wet or dry. 

This will make enough for 2 crusts.

For the Filling:

6 cups pared and sliced apples (I tossed mine with fruit fresh to prevent darkening)
3/4-1 cup sugar (I used the full cup as my apples were quite tart)
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
2 tablespoons plain flour
Dash of nutmeg and salt
2 tablespoons butter

Combine dry ingredients. Add apples and toss to coat. Pour into pie crust, dot with butter and affix top crust. I like to brush mine with cream and then scatter the top with coarse sugar, but that's just one of a million ways to decorate a pie. Cut vents, and place pie on a baking sheet (It WILL spill over) and bake 55-60 minutes. 


Caramel Apple Pie

For the All-Oil Pie Crust:

2 cups AP flour
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
4 tablespoons cold water (the recipe says 4 or 5, I used 4) or milk
1/2 cup salad oil

Sift together the flour and salt. Add the water or milk to the oil and do not stir. Add all at once to the flour and toss lightly with a fork. Gather into two balls, flatten and roll each out between waxed paper.
For The Caramel Apple Pie:

6-8 tart apples, pared, cored and sliced
1/4 cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons AP flour
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons melted butter
1/3 cup dark corn syrup (I used Golden Syrup)

For topping:
1/4 cup dark brown sugar
2 tablespoons AP flour
2 tablespoons softened butter
1/4 cup dark corn syrup (or golden syrup)
1/4 cup chopped walnuts (I used toasted coconut)

Arrange apples in a lined 9 inch pie plate. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.

Combine, sugar, 2 tablespoons flour, cinnamon, salt, melted butter and syrup. Mix well and spread over apples. Top with second crust and cut slits in it to vent. Bake 40 minutes or until crust is golden. Place pie plate on a baking sheet to catch drips and combine in a bowl the brown sugar, flour, butter and syrup. Mix well and spread on top of pie crust. Sprinkle with coconut or walnuts and return to the oven 5 more minutes, or until topping is bubbling.

Mock Pecan Pie

For the crust:

1 cup AP flour
1/8 tsp. salt
3 ounces cream cheese
1/2 cup (4 ounces) unsalted butter, cold and cut into small chunks

Combine flour and salt in a large bowl. Cut int cream cheese. Cut in butter until you have a fine meal. Gently knead until mixed and gather into a ball. Flatten into a disk and wrap in cling film. Chill at least 1 hour, but several is better.

Roll out dough and fit into a pie plate (I used a 9 inch, but an 8 would be fine, just higher on the sides). Cover with cling film and chill at least 1 hour. 15 minutes before baking (while the oven preheats) transfer crust to freezer to firm more.

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Line pie crust with foil and fill with beans or weights. Bake 15-20 minutes or until it is almost dry. Remove foil, prick all over and bake another 5-10 minutes or until crust is golden brown. Remove to a rack to cool while you make the filling.

For the filling:

4 large egg yolks
1/3 cup golden syrup
1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
4 tablespoons unsalted butter cut in chunks
1/4 cup heavy cream
Pinch of salt
1 cup toasted coconut

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Place coconut in bottom of pie crust. In a saucepan, over low heat mix together the egg yolks, syrup, sugar, butter, cream and salt. Mix well and stir until wooden spoon is coated on the back or it reaches a temperature of 160 degrees F. (Be really careful not to scramble the eggs).

Strain (to catch any eggy bits) and pour over coconut into pie shell. Bake 20-25 minutes (mine took closer to 35, but ovens vary) until puffed. The filling will still move a bit, but will set when cooled.

Cool on a rack before removing from pie plate.

Cider Pie

Note-in the US, "Cider" is an unfiltered apple juice, not a fermented alcoholic drink.

Blind bake a pie shell. Cool on a rack (I like to slip mine out of the pan to cool-it keeps it from getting soggy, but if your crust is fragile, skip it). Make the filling.

For the filling:

10 tablespoons cornstarch (not a typo)
1 1/3 cups sugar
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
5 cups apple cider

Combine all dry ingredients in a heavy pot and whisk in the cider in a stream. Over medium heat, whisk until dissolved. Increase heat, bring to a boil and switch to a wooden spoon. Cook until mixture is clear, and thick stirring constantly. Reduce heat to low, cover and cook for 15 minutes. Pour filling into a bowl, cover with a piece of buttered wax paper and cool until lukewarm. Return crust to pie plate, fill with filling and chill until firm. Top with sweetened whipped cream.

Sour Cherry Pie

You Will Need:

Pastry for a 1-crust pie (two, if you do a lattice)
1 1/3 cups sugar
4 cups frozen sour cherries
5 tablespoons all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon cinnamon (I know that sounds odd, but trust me)
2 tablespoons butter, for dotting top
Cream and sugar for brushing crust

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. In a large bowl, mix dry ingredients and then toss in cherries. Mix well to coat. Pour into prepared crust, dot with butter and top as desired. Brush crust with cream and sprinkle with sugar. Bake 35-40 minutes. You may need to cover the edge with foil if it browns too quickly.

Plum Pie

You Will Need: 

9 inch single crust pastry, unbaked (My recipe follows below) 

1 3/4 pounds fresh plums, pitted and quartered (4 1/2 cups) 
1/3 cup water 
3/4-1 cup sugar (I used 3/4) 
3 tablespoons cornstarch 
1/4 teaspoon salt 
1/3 cup AP flour 
1/3 cup sugar 
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon 
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg 
3 tablespoons butter 

Crust for single 9 inch shell: 

1 1/2 cups AP flour 
1/2 teaspoon salt 
1/2 cup butter 
4-5 tablespoons ice water 

Toss flour and salt together. Cut in butter. Add water slowly until dough comes together. Roll. 

Make filling ahead: 

Combine plums and water. Cook until boiling, then cook 3 minutes. Reduce heat. Mix together sugar, cornstarch, and salt. Add slowly to plums, stirring constantly (a heat-proof spatula works well here). Cook slowly stirring constantly until it thickens and becomes clear-about 5 minutes. Remove to a bowl and cool before using. 

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line dish with pastry building up the sides. I like to chill my crust in the plate before filling, but you don't need to. Fill with plums, then make topping by combining dry ingredients and cutting in butter until crumbly. Scatter on top of filling. Bake 30-35 minutes or until crust is baked. 

Fluffy Grape Pie

1 cup grape puree, thawed enough to measure
1/4 cup water
1 3 ounce package lemon gelatin
3/4 cup sugar
1 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream, whipped
1 baked 9 inch pie shell

Bring grape puree and water to a boil. Stir in gelatin until dissolved. Add sugar and mix well. Chill until mixture mounds when dropped from the spoon, stirring occasionally. Beat until fluffy. Fold in whipped cream. Pour into pie shell. Chill at least two hours or overnight. Serve topped with additional whipped cream.

Have I forgotten your favourite pie? Feel free to ask, I've probably baked it at some point, or I can locate a recipe from my cookery book collection. 

What are you baking (if you are) for Thanksgiving?