Scrumptious Apple Pie
Ingredients
Pastry
2 cups Gold MedalTM all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon salt, 2/3 cup plus 2 tablespoons shortening, 4 to 6 tablespoons cold water Filling
1/3 to 1/2 cup sugar, 1/4 cup Gold MedalTM all-purpose flour, 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1/8 teaspoon salt, 8 cups thinly sliced peeled tart apples (8 medium), 2 tablespoons butter or margarine
Directions
1 In medium bowl, mix 2 cups flour and 1 teaspoon salt. Cut in shortening, using pastry blender (or pulling 2 table knives through ingredients in opposite directions), until particles are size of small peas. Sprinkle with cold water, 1 tablespoon at a time, tossing with fork until all flour is moistened and pastry almost cleans side of bowl (1 to 2 teaspoons more water can be added if necessary).
2 Gather pastry into a ball. Divide in half; shape into 2 flattened rounds on lightly floured surface. Wrap in plastic wrap; refrigerate about 45 minutes or until dough is firm and cold, yet pliable. This allows the shortening to become slightly firm, which helps make the baked pastry more flaky. If refrigerated longer, let pastry soften slightly before rolling. 3 Heat oven to 425°F. With floured rolling pin, roll one pastry round into round 2 inches larger than upside-down 9-inch glass pie plate. Fold pastry into fourths; place in pie plate. Unfold and ease into plate, pressing firmly against bottom and side.
4 In large bowl, mix sugar, 1/4 cup flour, the cinnamon, nutmeg and 1/8 teaspoon salt. Stir in apples until well mixed. Spoon into pastry-lined pie plate. Cut butter into small pieces; sprinkle over filling. Trim overhanging edge of pastry 1/2 inch from rim of plate.
5 Roll other round of pastry into 10-inch round. Fold into fourths and cut slits so steam can escape. Unfold top pastry over filling; trim overhanging edge 1 inch from rim of plate. Fold and roll top edge under lower edge, pressing on rim to seal; flute as desired. Cover edge with 2- to 3-inch strip of foil to prevent excessive browning.
6 Bake 40 to 50 minutes or until crust is brown and juice begins to bubble through slits in crust, removing foil for last 15 minutes of baking. Serve warm if desired.
Rhubarb Custard Pie
Ingredients
1 sheet refrigerated pie dough (from a 14.1-ounce package), 1 1/4 pounds rhubarb (about 6 medium stems), trimmed, halved lengthwise and cut into 1-inch pieces (about 4 1/2 cups), 3/4 cup granulated sugar, 1/2 teaspoon finely grated orange zest, preferably Valencia, 2 tablespoons orange juice, preferably Valencia, 2 large eggs 2/3 cup heavy cream, 1/4 cup all-purpose flour, Confectioners’ sugar, for serving
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Fit the pie dough into a 9-inch pie plate, fluting the edges, and chill until set, about 15 minutes. Prick the bottom and sides with a fork, and then line the crust with aluminum foil. Fill with pie weights or dried beans and bake until the edges of the crust are just golden, 20 minutes. Remove the foil with the pie weights and continue to bake until the bottom of the crust is dry and lightly browned, another 10 to 15 minutes. Cool completely.
Toss the rhubarb with 1/4 cup granulated sugar and the orange zest and juice until well combined. Transfer to the crust and spread to form an even layer. Place the pie on a rimmed baking sheet. Whisk the eggs with the cream, flour and remaining 1/2 cup granulated sugar until smooth, and then pour over the rhubarb. Bake until the pie is lightly browned, puffed and no longer wet in the center, about 1 hour 15 minutes. Cool completely on a wire rack. Before serving, lightly dust with confectioners’ sugar.
Pumpkin Pie
Ingredients
Pumpkin:
1 medium sugar pumpkin (about 3 pounds), Canola oil, for oiling pumpkin
Easy Pie Crust:
2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for flouring, 1/4 teaspoon salt, 2/3 cup (11 tablespoons) cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
Filling:
One 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk, 1/2 cup whipping cream, 2 tablespoons cornstarch, 2 tablespoons molasses, 2 tablespoons canola oil, 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon, 1 teaspoon ground ginger, 1/4 teaspoon salt, 3 large eggs
For the pumpkin: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
Directions
Remove the stem from the pumpkin and scrape out the insides, discarding the seeds. Cut the pumpkin in half and lay the pieces cut-side down on a rimmed baking sheet lined with aluminum foil. Rub canola oil all over the skin and bake until fork-tender, about 1 hour. Let cool.
For the easy pie crust: While the pumpkin is cooking, make the crust. In a large bowl, combine the flour and salt. Add in the butter and work into the dough with a fork until the mixture is crumbly. Stir in just enough cold water (4 to 5 tablespoons) with a fork just until the flour is moistened. Divide the dough in half, shape each half into a ball and flatten slightly. Wrap one ball in plastic wrap and refrigerate for another use.
Roll out the remaining dough ball on a lightly floured surface to a 12-inch round. Transfer to a 9-inch-diameter glass pie dish. Fold the overhangs under and crimp decoratively. Pierce the dough all over with a fork. Chill in the refrigerator for 15 minutes.
Line the crust with foil, fill with dried beans or pie weights and bake until the sides are set, about 12 minutes. Remove the foil and beans. Reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees F.
For the filling: Scoop out the pulp from the roasted pumpkin and puree in a food processor until smooth (you should have about 4 cups). Add the condensed milk, cream, cornstarch, molasses, canola oil, cinnamon, ginger, salt and eggs and combine thoroughly.
Pour the filling into the crust and bake until the filling is set in the center, about 1 hour. Transfer the pie to a rack and cool for 30 minutes. Serve at room temperature or chilled.