December 24, 2008

Christmas Eve EATS! and a recipe! and more ornaments!

Tonight we're gonna MANGIA!!! Alaskan King Crab, mashed taters, green beans, Cabernet, aaaaand....

My FAH-BU-LOUS Apple-Cranberry Streusel Pie!

PASTRY FOR SINGLE-CRUST PIE
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
Dash of salt
1/4 pound COLD butter-NOT margarine
1/4 cup VODKA. Yup. You read me, vodka. ~Hic.

FILLING
1 cup cranberries
1/4 cup dried cranberries
1/4 dried tart cherries
5 large apples -- peeled, cored and
sliced, 6 cups
1 cup granulated sugar
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
4 teaspoon apple pie spice-which is basically cinnamon and nutmeg.
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup half-and-half or light cream
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/3 cup toasted finely chopped pecans
or walnuts-BLECH!!! I HATE nuts! Keep em out, I say!
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
5 tablespoons margarine or butter

VANILLA ICING- optional. We don't bother cuz it makes the pie too sweet.
1 cup sifted powdered sugar
1 tablespoon milk
1/4 teaspoon vanilla
milk -- as needed

PREPARE PASTRY FOR SINGLE CRUST PIE:
Using a pastry cutter, cut in the COLD butter with the flour and salt until nice and crumbly. Make a little "bowl" in this mixture and pour in the vodka. Using your hands, gently fold together and combine until the dough can form into a ball. Form the ball into a disk shape and sprinkle flour on top. Using a floured surface-preferably marble-roll out the dough, occasionally flipping the dough and re-flouring the top.


When you've achieved the desired size, place in a deep 9 inch pie dish. Don't be a hero-spray it with Pam first. Roll under the excess edges of dough and pinch/flute a design all around. The design is both pretty and functional-it seals the crust.

FOR FILLING:
Mix granulated sugar, apple pie spice, and salt together in a bowl. Set aside. Boil dried cranberries and cherries in water for a couple minutes then add the apples and frozen cranberries mixed with 1/2 of the bowl of granulated sugar, apple pie spice, and salt. Boil for a couple more minutes. Drain. Mix 3 tablespoons of flour and the rest of the sugar and spice bowl with the cranberries and apples. Stir in half-and-half or light cream. Pour over fruit. Place in pastry shell.

FOR TOPPING:
Combine the 1/3-cup flour, brown sugar, and nutmeg. Cut in margarine or butter with a pastry blender till the pieces are the size of small peas. Sprinkle over filling.
BAKE:
Bake in the 350ºF oven for around 45 minutes. Bake till internal filling seems to come to a boil -it'll start oozing out the top. Cool 45 minutes on a wire rack. Drizzle with Vanilla Icing, if desired. Serve warm or cool. Makes 8 servings.

VANILLA ICING:
Combine 1 cup sifted powdered sugar, 1-tablespoon milk, and 1/4 teaspoon vanilla. Stir in additional milk, 1 teaspoon at a time, till icing is of drizzling consistency.

Mangia! Hit the gym Friday.....

My favorite Santas. My BFF gave me the little one

A trio of ornaments of our x-mas lists that Dea and I made in 2001.

Peace, ass wipe, and duct tape. What more does the world need?

The epitome of the females in our home-both feminine and strong.

An Homage to Huz's years as a pastry chef.

Dea's cute handmade ornaments and "baby's first year".

3 comments:

timekpr said...

The pie sounds sooo yummy, too bad I dont like cranberry or apples cooked:-( Those list were so fun! wish we could do them again with Lo. your missing the little sheep?

Sharon said...

I've never heard of putting vodka in pie crust.

Merry Christmas!

Anonymous said...

Merry Christmas! I would totally make that dessert for Thanksgiving too. That "Don't be a hero-spray it with Pam first" cracked me up!