Saturday, June 15, 2013

Blueberry Chiffon Pie



















1 3/4 cup graham cracker crumbs
1/2 cup butter (1 stick), melted
1/4 cup sugar
2 cups whipping cream
1/4 cup sugar

16 ounces fresh or frozen blueberries, pureed
2 envelopes unflavored gelatin
1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk


Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees if you wish to bake your crumb crust.  Baking helps hold the crust together but is not necessary. 
  1. In a 9-inch springform pan, mix the graham cracker crumbs and sugar. Make a well in the center of the crumbs and pour in the melted butter. Using a whisk mix together the crumbs and butter until moistened. Shape the crust with the edge of a cup pressing the crumbs against the bottom and sides of the pan. If you choose, bake the crust for 6 to 8 minutes or until the edges are barely browned. Set aside to cool.
  2. In a mixer, beat the whipping cream until soft peaks form. Add the sugar and continue to beat until stiff peaks form. Set aside.
  3. In a small saucepan over medium heat, mix the pureed fruit and gelatin until dissolved. Remove from heat. Stir in the sweetened condensed milk. Allow to cool slightly.
  4. Fold the fruit mixture into the whipped cream until smooth using a whisk if necessary.  Pour filling into the crumb crust. Refrigerate until set for at least 45 minutes. (You can speed up the process by putting it in the freezer for 15 to 20 minutes.)
Serve cold with whipped cream and fresh berries for garnish.

Cream Cheese Variation
Whip only 1 3/4 cup of cream, instead of 2 cups, and add 8 ounces of softened cream cheese. Continue beating until fluffy. Continue with the recipe.


Pecan cobbler


easy recipe: Pecan Cobbler
For the filling:
One 16 oz. bottle of Karo light corn syrup
2 cups of sugar
4 large eggs
1 stick butter, melted
1/2 tablespoon Vanilla
10 oz. bag or 2 cups of finely chopped pecans
For the "crust":
1 cup oatmeal
1 1/2 cup self-rising flour
1/2 stick butter, very cold in small chunks
1/2 to 3/4 cup ice water
Filling:
In a mixing bowl, put together all of the ingredients except pecans and blend with a mixer until mixed very well. It's going to be a syrupy mess, but it will come together and be smooth. It helps if your eggs are room temperature.
Crust:
In a food processor, put in the oatmeal and pulse until it is a powder similar to flour. Once you have the oatmeal ready, add in the flour and pulse again to mix together. Next, add in the butter pieces and pulse again until it's lightly incorporated. Last, slowly pour in the water (not the ice) until the mixture is thick, yet spreadable (think like peanut butter.)
Let's put it all together!
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Butter an 11x17 baking pan, then spread the crust mixture on the bottom of the dish. Sprinkle the pecans evenly over the top of the crust. Then pour the filling all over the top of the pecans. Bake for 45 minutes to an hour, or until golden and bubbly.
Cool for at least 30 minutes before serving - it is like lava when it first comes out of the oven.

Sunday, June 2, 2013

Pineapple-Blueberry Cream Tart

Pineapple-Blueberry Cream Tart

 

Crust
 
box Pillsbury® refrigerated pie crusts, softened as directed on box 
 
Filling
 
1
  box (4-serving size) lemon pudding and pie filling mix
1/2 
cup granulated sugar
1/4 
cup water
egg yolks
2/3 
cup canned crushed pineapple with juice
1 1/3 
cups water
teaspoon grated lemon peel
cups fresh blueberries, or frozen blueberries, thawed, drained on paper towels
1/2 
cup blueberry preserves, heated 
 
Topping
 
1 1/2
  cups whipping cream
1/3 
cup powdered sugar
1/2
  teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 
teaspoons grated lemon peel
  1. Heat oven to 450°F. Make pie crust as directed on box for One-Crust Baked Shell using 10-inch tart pan with removable bottom or 9-inch glass pie pan, but do not prick crust. Trim edge if necessary.
  2. Bake 9 to 11 minutes or until light golden brown. If crust puffs up during baking, gently press crust down with back of wooden spoon. Cool while making filling.
  3. In 2-quart saucepan, mix pudding mix, granulated sugar, 1/4 cup water and the egg yolks until smooth. Stir in pineapple, 1 1/3 cups water and 1 teaspoon lemon peel. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture boils. Remove from heat; cool slightly.
  4. In small bowl, mix blueberries and preserves. Spread in bottom of cooled baked shell. Spoon pudding mixture over blueberry mixture. Refrigerate until cold, about 30 minutes.
  5. In another small bowl with electric mixer, beat whipping cream, powdered sugar and vanilla on high speed until stiff peaks form. Spoon or spread over pudding mixture; sprinkle with 1 1/2 teaspoons lemon peel. Serve immediately. Store in refrigerator.