I am very blessed to have two weeks off at Christmas!
I felt so spoiled to be able to be home all day today.
I finalized my wrapping this morning. Except for my stocking stuffers, I am finished!
I spent half the day baking. Well, more like pre-baking. I never actually turned on the oven. I made pie shells and tart shells and put them in the freezer to later fill and bake. Pies are so easy once the shells are already done and I prefer to make them myself. I found an easy basic recipe early in our marriage and I've always stuck to it.
Basic Pie Crust (single crust)
1 1/4 cups flour
1/4 tsp salt
1/3 cup Crisco shortening
3 to 4 TBSP cold water
1 1/4 cups flour
1/4 tsp salt
1/3 cup Crisco shortening
3 to 4 TBSP cold water
In a mixing bowl stir together flour and salt. Cut in shortening till pieces are the size of small peas. Sprinkle 3 TBSP water over mixture, gently tossing with a fork. Add one more TBSP of water if needed. Mixture needs to all be moistened. Form dough into a ball.
On a lightly floured surface flatten dough with hands. Roll dough into a 12-inch circle. Easy pastry into a 9-inch pie plate. (Do not stretch.)
Trim pastry to 1/2 inch beyond edge of pie plate. Fold under extra pastry and flute edge. Prick bottom and sides with tines of a fork. Bake in a 450 oven for 10-12 minutes or until golden.
For double-crust pastry prepare as above, except use 2 cups all-purpose flour, 1/2 tsp salt, 2/3 cut shortening and 6-7 TBSP cold water. Divide dough in half.
My mom taught me to roll out my pastry on a clean tea towel. After you're done you just shake the loose flour into the garbage and throw the towel into the laundry. Makes for a quick clean up.
I'll be making blueberry and pumpkin pies for Christmas and coconut cream for Christmas Eve. These are all of my husband's favourites. The sure way to a man's heart is through his stomach!
My mom will make raspberry pie. It's her specialty and she's famous for it.
I used miniature tart tins for the tart shells. Mini tarts are great to put out with cookies and squares and so easy to fill. My daughter Sarah loves jam tarts - fill your unbaked tart shell with raspberry jam and bake. When I make butter tarts I always have to fill at least one shell with jam to keep her happy.
What are your favourite desserts for Christmas?
5 comments:
Oooh...red velvet cake! And pecan pie. And Granny's coconut cake. And my other Granny's lemon icebox pie. And...well, I think you get the idea!
Great idea about making the crusts ahead of time. I never thought about doing that and saving time later.
Xandra
i made 120 butter tarts this year and I think Mike has polished off 100 of them-- and he hates butter tarts!! Or atleast he did until I started baking!! I find him hiding out in the laundry room searching for tarts late at night..too funny!!
can you come and bake for me???!!!!
Sure Tammy. What do you need??
Rhonda, I have two weeks off, too! Love the cheeriness and warmth of your blog, esp. these Christmas posts. Be blessed, friend. Jesus loves us!
Post a Comment