This time of year makes me want to bake. Even though it isn't cold I still like the smell of banana bread in my kitchen. However, while I do make good banana bread (my biscotti was good last year too) I should probably not be allowed to use my oven for anything else.
I have been trying to learn to make bread. My first loaf a few weeks ago was kneaded by hand after I almost broke my mixer with the lump of dough that never did "window pane". It turned out with a good flavor but was very very dense.
My second try was the dutch oven method where you let the dough rise overnight and don't knead it at all. This was really easy and the finished bread was very pretty with nice big holes inside. Unfortunately it was sticky inside. So much so that it was difficult to cut.Last year I bought these fabulous leaf cookie cutters in the after thanksgiving sales. I was very excited to practice for thanksgiving, try a new crust recipe and make a beautiful, crisco free pie. The pie is beautiful don't you think? Unfortunately the crust is hard and slightly crunchy and my apples were dry and also slightly crunchy. So, if anyone has a good crust recipe that doesn't involve crisco I would love to have it.
4 comments:
That pie crust is so pretty! If anyone does have a no-shortening recipe for you, I want it too!
Here's the recipe we use for pie crust (my mom's recipe):
3 3/4 cup flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp sugar
3 sticks butter - COLD, cut into small pieces
3/4 cup ice water (we usually put ice cubes in it)
Combine the flour, salt and sugar. Add butter until it looks like coarse meal (you can do this with a food processor, a mixer, or with an old-school pastry blender. OR, you can use your fingers - that's how I had to do it growing up :)
Add about 1/2 the water and combine. Then slowly add more while mixing until the dough just holds together. If you squish a little piece of dough together and it still crumbles - add more water. If it holds together, you're good! Form the dough into a ball and wrap in plastic. Chill for an hour or more before using.
Hope that's helpful!
:)Tanya J.
Here's the recipe we use for pie crust (my mom's recipe):
3 3/4 cup flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp sugar
3 sticks butter - COLD, cut into small pieces
3/4 cup ice water (we usually put ice cubes in it)
Combine the flour, salt and sugar. Add butter until it looks like coarse meal (you can do this with a food processor, a mixer, or with an old-school pastry blender. OR, you can use your fingers - that's how I had to do it growing up :)
Add about 1/2 the water and combine. Then slowly add more while mixing until the dough just holds together. If you squish a little piece of dough together and it still crumbles - add more water. If it holds together, you're good! Form the dough into a ball and wrap in plastic. Chill for an hour or more before using.
Hope that's helpful!
:)Tanya J.
I defer to Tanya's baking prowess. I am trying her recipe tonight and I really hope it works because I don't know if I can bring myself to buy lard!
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