Daphne's Sweet Pie Crust

much trial and error, and several stolen recipe bit have led me to the invention of this recipe. It is sweet from a touch of sugar, flaky like a pastry, tender chew, but still fairly easy to roll out and work with

ENJOY!

(makes 3 good sized crusts)

2 and 2/3 cups organic unbleached all purpose flour, sifted
1 cup shortening, room temp
5-6 Tablespoons butter, cold, cut in small chunks

by hand, mix together until you have small pea sized crumbs
-yes, I actually put my hands in the fat and flour and work them
- it is fun!

then, make a slurry of:

6 Tablespoons flour
2 teaspoons salt
2 Tablespoons organic sugar
5 oz very cold water

add slurry to the flour mixture
again, mix by hand until it comes together, add a touch more flour if necessary

divide into 3 disks, wrap each in plastic and refrigerate until ready for use

be sure to roll out on flour

these are insanely easier than they look!

Apple Butter Pumpkin Pie

makes 2 pies!

2 refrigerated roll out pie crusts
4 eggs
1 can evaporated milk (12 oz)
1 cup apple butter
1 can organic pumpkin pie filling (15oz)
http://www.naturalgrocers.com/pumpkin_pie_mix_org_by_farmers_market_15_ounces_item_140887-p-14255.html

preheat oven to 425
unroll crusts and place in pie dishes
wisk all the rest of the ingredients in a big bowl
and pour into the crusts
fold over excess crust however you want to look pretty

bake at 425 for 15 minutes
then lower oven to 350 and continue baking for 35-40 minutes (mine took 35 min in my gas oven here at 7000 ft) until set but not dry

best served while still a little warm with sweetened vanilla whipped cream

enjoy!

Honey Pumpkin Bread with Spiced Honey Whipped Butter

Bread:

cream 1 stick organic butter with 1 cup honey (preferably raw)
add 1 can (15 oz) of organic pumpkin (not pie filling)
4 eggs
then add 1 T vanilla, 1 T Baking Soda, 1 T cinnamon, 1 t nutmeg, 1 t ground ginger, 1 t salt
and 4 cups organic whole wheat flour

divide between 2 buttered loaf pans
and bake for 45-60 min at 350 (clean toothpick)

serve with

Butter:
cream 1 stick butter with 1/2 cup honey (to taste) and pumpkin pie spice (to taste) until light and fluffy, like icing.

I really really really want an In-N-Out burger right now.
Too bad I live so very far away from them....

Yummy Gnocci

With Bacon, Sun-Dried Tomatoes, Asparagus, Spinich, Pesto and Parmesean.

Genny's recipe for Spinich & Mushroom Soup

Genny used half and half instead of cream.

¼ cup butter
1 ½ cups freshly chopped spinach
1 lb. sliced button mushrooms
1 shallot, chopped
3 tbsp. flour
1 cup whipping cream
1 cup chicken stock
2 tbsp. Marsala wine
Salt and pepper to taste

Melt the butter in a 4 quart pan over medium heat. Add spinach, mushrooms, and shallot until mushrooms are browned.

While there is still some of the mushroom liquid in the pan, sprinkle in the flour and cook until slightly thickened, stirring constantly.

Gradually stir in cream and stock and heat through.

Stir in wine; add salt and pepper to taste.

Makes 1 quart.

Slow Brisket

1 brisket
1 packet onion soup mix
1 qt chicken broth
steak seasoning
w-sauce
1/2 bottle tangy tomato bacon dressing

put it all in the slow cooker and let it go all day on low or most of the day on high then low
serve with roasted veggies

Yummy
will have to make this again when brisket is on sale around St Patrick's day