strawberry pie

My mother-in-law is an amazing pie maker.  I can't remember eating strawberry pie until I started dating Derek, and boy- was I missing out!  This is pretty much how she makes it, I think.  The Danish Dessert was another trick up her sleeves.  The "Can't Fail Pie Crust" is from my sis-in-law, Mindy.  I am so grateful that I married into such a delicious family!  Mmm... good work, fam. xo



"Can't Fail Pie Crust" RECIPE:
Ingredients:
2 1/2 c. flour
1 c. shortening
1/2 tsp salt
1 beaten egg
1/4 c. water
1 Tbsp vinegar

Directions:
Mix flour and salt in a large bowl.  Cut in shortening.  Mix remaining ingredients {I did this in the 1-cup measuring cup} and add to shortening/flour mix.  Knead until blended, **as little as possible.  Roll out dough and place in a pie tin.  Trim off the excess and make pretty edges if you want.  Bake at 350F for 30 minutes or until golden. *

Remove from heat and let cool while you make up the filling (recipe below).

*Note: You will likely have excess dough.  You can toss it if you'd like, or you can cut it with a cookie cutter and make little pie crust cookies.  Just sprinkle/rub sugar on top and bake with your crust.  Kids love these.  You can serve them plain or topped with frosting.


Strawberry Pie Filling RECIPE:
Ingredients:
1 1/2 - 2 lb strawberries
1 pkg strawberry-flavored Danish Dessert
1 3/4 c cold water

Directions:
Remove tops from strawberries, rinse and quarter/slice.  Put in a medium mixing bowl. Set aside. Whisk the Danish Dessert in a medium sauce pan with the cold water.  Bring to a boil, and boil for 1 minute, stirring constantly {be careful: it splatters and stains}. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.  Fold into strawberries.

**  Put the pie filling into the pie crust. Let cool until firm (3 - 4 hrs in the fridge) if you're patient.  Serve with fresh whipped cream, and enjoy!

angel toast with homemade maple syrup, fresh berries, and cream

We had a loaf of angel food cake that needed to be eaten. But it was only breakfast time. So I improvised. And it was delicious!! At least there were fresh berries involved. That makes it kiiinnda healthy, right? ;)

RECIPE: Angel Toast (Angel Food Cake French Toast)

Serves: 3

Ingredients:

6 1-cm slices of angel food cake

2 eggs

1-2 Tbsp milk

1/2 tsp sugar

1 tsp vanilla

Directions:

Mix eggs, milk, sugar and vanilla together in a pie tin or plate with a good ledge, etc. Dredge the cake slices through the egg mixture, getting both sides and letting it soak in a bit. Heat a skillet over medium heat. Place the prepared cake slices in the pan and cook (flipping half way) until golden on both sides and the egg mixture is cooked through. 

Serve with Homemade Maple Syrup, fresh strawberries and cool whip. And enjoy!! Mmm.

RECIPE: Homemade Maple Syrup

Ingredients:

1 c water

1 c sugar*

1/2 tsp maple extract

Directions:

In a small sauce pan, bring the water to a boil.  Then add sugar and whisk over medium heat until sugar is dissolved.  Remove from heat, whisk in maple extract.  Serve warm.

*Note: You can do 1 cup water with 2 cups sugar as per the original recipe.  But I think 1 cup of sugar makes it plenty sweet and delicious.  And it's maybe a tad bit better for you.  You know, as far as sugar water goes.

homemade vanilla ice cream topped with sugar-glazed strawberries... and sprinkles

I'm not a very festive person. I suppose I am with Christmas, but anything else seems not worth my while. Perhaps it's that I'm too lazy {we'll say "likely"}. Perhaps it's just that I get overwhelmed by the pomp of it all. Or perhaps it's the fact that I feel crafts, etc, must be practical to be worth their weight. Either way, we don't do much for holidays.

But this Independence Day we went all out.... and made the above treat. :) I know. Somebody contain the festivities. Homemade vanilla ice cream topped with sugar-glazed strawberries topped with {at my 4-yr-old's request and in attempt to be a bit more festive} pretty blue sprinkles. It was pretty tasty, although I think I prefer the dish sprinkle-less. Pretty, though, no?

A few pre-prep instructions:

1) This recipe uses an automatic ice cream maker {ours is Cuisinart, and we love it- thanks K&B!!}. You'll need one to do it our way.

2) Make sure your freezer bowl {part of the ice cream maker} is totally frozen; I believe the manufacturer suggests freezing it for 24 hrs ahead of time {just checked; it's 6-22hrs... how's that for vague?}. Your creamy mix won't freeze otherwise. Though ice cream soup doesn't sound entirely bad...

And 3) Prepare the strawberries before you start on the ice cream. They need the full time to sit in the sugar if they're to be syrupy and delicious. They'd be fine otherwise, but trust me; they're better this way.

Okay, that's it! Now get crackin! Your taste buds will thank you!

RECIPE: Sugar-glazed Strawberries

Ingredients:

strawberries

sugar

Directions:

Slice/dice the strawberries. Sprinkle liberally (some might say "dump") with sugar (maybe 1/4 c. sugar for a reg-sized carton of strawberries?). Mix well. Refrigerate for a while (20 min-ish minimum). The sugar draws out the juices, and together it makes for some fantastic, sweet, syrupy strawberries to go on top!

RECIPE: Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream

Ingredients:

2 c. milk (2% or whole)

2 c. whipping cream

3/4 c. granulated sugar

2 tsp. vanilla extract (the good stuff, if you've got it)

Directions:

Put all above ingredients in the blender. Blend well until sugar is dissolved. (This can also be done with a whisk and in a medium bowl, but the blender produces slightly better results.) Turn on the ice cream maker, making sure the stirring part is in already and the lid is on. Pour mixture into freezer bowl through ingredient spout and let the machine work its magic! You'll know it's done when the ice cream resembles ... well, ice cream ... and is nice and thick (about 25-30 min).

Dish up the delicious ice cream immediately (it is super soft-serve and will melt quickly) and top with the pre-prepared strawberries! Then add some blue sprinkles if you're feeling particularly American that day. :) Enjoy. It's yum.

chicken nuggets... with yogurt and strawberries

No, not together. :) Separate, preferably in their own little compartments in an adorable little kiddie dish. No recipe needed. Just bake chicken nuggets according to package instructions, add a dollop of yogurt and a few fresh strawberries, and BAM! Dinner is served! Happy children, happy mom. :) Can't argue with that.