GREAT article and recipe on HOW to make the best pumpkin pie.Pumpkin PieFor the best of both worlds — pumpkin pie with smooth, delicious filling and a crisp crust — precook both before baking.Challeng... View MoreGREAT article and recipe on HOW to make the best pumpkin pie.Pumpkin PieFor the best of both worlds — pumpkin pie with smooth, delicious filling and a crisp crust — precook both before baking.Challenge: A pumpkin pie is no more than a variation on custard pie, and it presents the baker with the same challenge -- making the crust crisp while developing a filling that is firm but still tender. After baking countless pumpkin pies, we found it necessary to take a threefold approach.Solution: First, we began baking our crusts almost completely before filling them; that way we knew they started out crisp. Next, we made sure that both shell and filling were hot when we assembled the pie, so the custard could begin to firm up almost immediately rather than soaking into the pastry. Finally, we baked the pie quickly, in the bottom of the oven, where the bottom of the crust is exposed to the most intense heat. But baking at high heat has its perils -- when overbaked, custard will curdle, becoming grainy and watery. No matter what the heat level, however, curdling can be averted if the pie is taken out of the oven immediately once the center thickens to the point where it no longer sloshes but instead wiggles like gelatin when the pan is gently shaken. Residual heat will finish the cooking outside the oven. Furthermore, as with many older recipes, this recipe calls for heavy cream as well as milk and a goodly quantity of sugar. These ingredients not only improve the flavor, but they also protect the texture, since both fat and sugar serve to block the curdling reaction.For Good MeasureFresh pumpkin is so difficult to use that few modern cooks go down this road. Canned pumpkin is surprisingly good, and, given a little special treatment, it can be as tasty as fresh. One problem with canned pumpkin is its fibrous nature, which is easily corrected by pureeing it in a food processor. You can freshen the taste of canned pumpkin by cooking it with the sugar and spices before combining it with the custard ingredients. As the pumpkin simmers, you can actually smell the unwelcome canned odor give way to the sweet scent of fresh squash.THE BEST PUMPKIN PIEServes 8If you do not have a food processor, the pumpkin may be put through a food mill or forced through a fine sieve with the back of a wooden spoon. Alternatively, you can cook the pumpkin, sugar, and spices together before pureeing, then whir the mixture in a blender, adding enough of the cream called for in the recipe to permit the pumpkin to flow easily over the blades. In either case, heat the pumpkin with the (remaining) cream and milk, as indicated, then slowly whisk the mixture into the beaten eggs.Flaky pastry can be successfully produced using any all-purpose flour, but a low-protein brand (such as Gold Medal) produces a more tender crust. Doughs made with low-protein flours are also easier to handle, and, perhaps most important, they are less likely to buckle and shrink out of shape during baking. If you wish to blend the fat and flour with your fingertips or with a pastry tool instead of using a machine, decrease the butter to six tablespoons and add two tablespoons of chilled vegetable shortening. The pie may be served slightly warm, chilled, or — my preference — at room temperature.Flaky Pastry Shell1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, measured by dip-and-sweep1/2 teaspoon salt1/2 teaspoon sugar10 tablespoons (1 1/4 sticks) unsaltedbutter, chilled and cut into 1/4-inch pats3–3 1/2 tablespoons ice waterSpicy Pumpkin Filling2 cups (16 ounces) plain pumpkin puree, canned or fresh1 cup packed dark brown sugar2 teaspoons ground ginger2 teaspoons ground cinnamon1 teaspoon fresh grated nutmeg1/4 teaspoon ground cloves1/2 teaspoon salt2/3 cup heavy cream2/3 cup milk4 large eggsBrandied Whipped Cream1 1/3 cups heavy cream, cold3 tablespoons confectioners’ sugar1 tablespoon brandy1. For pastry shell, mix flour, salt, and sugar in a food processor fitted with steel blade. Scatter butter over dry ingredients; process until mixture resembles cornmeal, 7 to 12 seconds. Turn mixture into a medium-sized bowl.2. Drizzle 3 tablespoons of water over flour mixture. With blade side of a rubber spatula, cut mixture into little balls. Then press down on mixture with broad side of spatula so balls stick together in large clumps. If dough resists gathering, sprinkle remaining water over dry, crumbly patches and press a few more times. Form dough into a ball with your hands; wrap in plastic, then flatten into a 4-inch disk. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. (Can be refrigerated for 2 days or, if sealed airtight in a plastic bag, frozen for up to 6 months.)3. Generously sprinkle a 2-foot square work area with flour. Remove dough from wrapping and place disk in center; dust top with flour. (If it has been chilled for more than 1 hour, let dough stand until it gives slightly when pressed, 5 to 10 minutes.) Roll dough in all directions, from center to edges, rotating a quarter turn and strewing flour underneath as necessary after each stroke. Flip disk over when it is 9 inches in diameter and continue to roll (but don’t rotate) in all directions, until it is 13 to 14 inches in diameter and just under 1/8-inch thick.4. Fold dough in quarters and place the corner in the center of a Pyrex pie pan measuring 9- to 9 1/2-inches across top. Carefully unfold dough to cover pan completely, with excess dough draped over pan lip. With one hand, pick up edges of dough; use index finger of other hand to press dough around pan bottom. Use your fingertips to press dough against pan walls. Trim dough overhanging the pan to an even 1/2-inch all around.5. Tuck overhanging dough back under itself so folded edge is flush with edge of pan lip. Press double layer of dough with your fingers to seal, then bend up at a 90-degree angle and flute by pressing thumb and index finger about 1/2-inch apart against outside edge of dough, then using index finger (or knuckle) of other hand to poke a dent through the space. Repeat procedure all the way around.6. Refrigerate for 20 minutes (or freeze for 5 minutes) to firm dough shell. Using a table fork, prick bottom and sides — including where they meet — at 1/2-inch intervals. Flatten a 12-inch square of aluminum foil inside shell, pressing it flush against corners, sides, and over rim. Prick foil bottom in about a dozen places with a fork. Chill shell for at least 30 minutes (preferably an hour or more), to allow dough to relax.7. Adjust an oven rack to lowest position, and heat oven to 400 degrees. (Start preparing filling when you put shell into oven.) Bake 15 minutes, pressing down on foil with mitt-protected hands to flatten any puffs. Remove foil and bake shell for 8 to 10 minutes longer, or until interior just begins to color.8. For filling, process first 7 ingredients in a food processor fitted with steel blade for 1 minute. Transfer pumpkin mixture to a 3-quart heavy-bottomed saucepan; bring it to a sputtering simmer over medium-high heat. Cook pumpkin, stirring constantly, until thick and shiny, about 5 minutes. As soon as pie shell comes out of oven, whisk heavy cream and milk into pumpkin and bring to a bare simmer. Process eggs in food processor until whites and yolks are mixed, about 5 seconds. With motor running, slowly pour about half of hot pumpkin mixture through feed tube. Stop machine and scrape in remaining pumpkin. Process 30 seconds longer.9. Immediately pour warm filling into hot pie shell. (Ladle any excess filling into pie after it has baked for 5 minutes or so — by this time filling will have settled.) Bake until filling is puffed, dry-looking, and lightly cracked around edges, and center wiggles like gelatin when pie is gently shaken, about 25 minutes. Cool on a wire rack for at least 1 hour.10. For whipped cream, beat cream at medium speed to soft peaks; gradually add confectioners’ sugar then brandy. Beat to stiff peaks. Accompany each wedge of pie with a dollop of whipped cream.November, 1993Original article and recipes by Stephen Schmidt
https://www.recipeoftoday.com/2019/11/tater-tot-casserole.htmlYou can use cream of chicken instead of cream of mushroom if you want.
Tater Tot Casserole
Tater Tot Casserole Ingredients: 1 pound ground beef 1 1-pound package tater tots 2 10-ounce cans condensed cream of mushr...
Spanakopita Grilled CheeseIngredients:2 Tbsp olive oil1 spring onion chopped225g spinach1/2 cup bunch mint chopped1/2 cup bunch dill200 g feta cheese, crumble125 g cream cheesepepperbuttersour dough b... View MoreSpanakopita Grilled CheeseIngredients:2 Tbsp olive oil1 spring onion chopped225g spinach1/2 cup bunch mint chopped1/2 cup bunch dill200 g feta cheese, crumble125 g cream cheesepepperbuttersour dough bread 8 slicesDirections:Put a nonstick pan over medium to high heat.Add the olive oil to the pan followed by the green onions and spinach and cook until wilted and all the liquid is gone.Add to a bowl. Then add the mint, dill, feta cheese, cream cheese, Freshly ground pepper. (don't Forget it like me 🙂Mix wellAdd you non stick pan back to the heat med temp.butter one side of all the bread and add on slice butter down on to the pan.Add a generous amount of the filling to each sandwich and top with the other slice of bread.cook until bread is golden brown and flip and cook until its golden on the other side.Place in a 400F oven for 5-10 min until cheese is melted.Remove from oven and ENJOY!
I have not tried this but it looks good and sounds SOO much easier to eat.
Don't follow me for more great recipes. LOL
I haven't tried this, but I am going to.
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