Saturday, November 26, 2011

Bon Appetit: Cranberry and Wild Blueberry Pie

My mom is a nurse and often has to work on holidays, as was the case this Thanksgiving.  So, we usually have our celebrations later.  Today we had after Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving.  I made this pie along with two others and it was a huge hit!  Try it out!  Because it uses frozen fruit, you can make it any time of the year.


Cranberry and Wild Blueberry Pie



A perfect Thanksgiving treat for berry pie lovers.

8 servings



  • PREP: 1 hour

  • TOTAL: 4 hours (includes baking and cooling time)

November 2010


Cranberry and Wild Blueberry Pie



Ingredients



Filling

  • 16 ounces frozen organic wild blueberries (do not thaw)
  • 12 ounces fresh or frozen cranberries (do not thaw; about 3 cups)
  • 1 1/4 cups sugar
  • 3 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 2 cinnamon sticks
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • 1/2 teaspoon finely grated lemon peel



Crust 

2 Pie Crust dough disks

Heavy whipping cream (for brushing)

Freshly grated nutmeg (for sprinkling)


  • The Technique: Lattice Top

    To create a lattice top, roll out the dough, then cut it into strips. Make the lattice by draping half the strips in one direction across the filling, then draping the other half in the opposite direction, or weave the strips over and under for a classic basket-weave pattern. Master this and you'll end up with a professional-looking dessert that's sure to impress your guests.



Preparation



Filling


Combine all ingredients in large saucepan. Cook over medium heat until mixture thickens and begins to boil, stirring occasionally, 12 to 14 minutes. Continue to boil 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Transfer berry mixture to glass or ceramic dish; cool completely (mixture will thicken). DO AHEAD Can be made 3 days ahead. Cover; chill.



Crust


Position rack in center of oven; preheat to 400°F. Roll out 1 dough disk on floured surface to 12-inch round. Transfer crust to 9-inch-diameter glass pie dish; trim dough overhang to 1 inch. Remove cinnamon sticks from filling; spoon into crust. Roll out second dough disk to 13x10-inch rectangle. Cut dough lengthwise into 3/4-inch-wide strips (11 to 12 strips). Arrange half of dough strips across top of filling, spacing evenly apart. Form lattice by arranging remaining dough strips at right angle to first dough strips and weaving strips, if desired. Trim off excess dough from strips. Brush edges of bottom crust lightly with whipping cream. Press dough strip ends to adhere to bottom crust edges. Fold edges of bottom crust up over strips, pinching to seal. Crimp edges decoratively. Brush edges and lattice lightly with cream. Sprinkle lattice strips lightly with nutmeg. Place pie on rimmed baking sheet and bake until crust is golden and filling is bubbling thickly, about 1 hour 10 minutes. Cool pie on rack. DO AHEADCan be made 8 hours ahead. Let stand at room temperature.


  • Serve pie at room temperature.

Hungry for More? If you have a question about this recipe, contact our Test Kitchen at askba@bonappetit.com. To see more recipes like this one, check out our Thanksgiving Desserts Slideshow.


Nutritional Information
  • One serving contains:
    Calories (kcal) 504.8
    % Calories from Fat 40.0
    Fat (g) 22.4
    Saturated Fat (g) 10.1
    Cholesterol (mg) 34.0
    Carbohydrates (g) 73.0
    Dietary Fiber (g) 3.5
    Total Sugars (g) 42.8
    Net Carbs (g) 69.5
    Protein (g) 3.8
    Sodium (mg) 257.7

28 Things by 28

Today is my 27th birthday and logically a year from now, I will be 28.

I loved the idea of making a list of 28 things to do and accomplish by the time I am 28... when I saw Beantown Baker do a similar thing.

So here it goes, my list of 28 things to do by the time I am 28 years old:

1.  Have a successful first year of teaching Art... leading to a 2nd.

2.  Become a hip hop dance master.

3.  Run Carlsbad Half Marathon.

4.  Run La Jolla Half Marathon.

5.  Run America's Finest Half Marathon.

6.  Get my studio apartment in order for company.

7.  Be on top of my grading (I really do not like grading... at all... ever!)

8.  Go on dates.

9.  Blog regularly, without giving up on journaling.

10. Invest a lot of time in my friendships.

11.  Do something unique.

12.  Meet new people.

13.  Keep up with Baking GALS and Tell Them Thanks.

14.  Manage my time wisely.

15.  Focus on my art (photography, painting, sewing, scrapbooking).

16.  Lead by example.

17.  Become more involved at church.

18.  Stay on Budget and save what I don't spend.

19.  Start saving for Greece cruise.

20.  Have more fun.

21.  Read 30 books, without buying any of them (unless for book club).

22.  See the Cabazon Dinosaurs.

23.  Eat another date shake from Hadley.

24.  Meet my 'mean' neighbor and bring cookies.

25.  Go to the gym more.

26.  Get my students into art competitions (statewide/ national).

27.  Use time alone to better understand myself and where I want to go in life.

28.  Loose 10 pounds (or more).  Hey!  A girl can dream!

Friday, November 25, 2011

27 Years ago

Twenty- Seven years ago, tomorrow, my mom was 27, married and giving life to her second and last child, me.

Now that I am going to be twenty-seven myself, it is hard not to make comparisons of our lives.  I will be exactly half her age tomorrow.  That is wild!

At 24 my mom had my brother.  At 24 I was a college graduate, had traveled around the world, and had completed my teaching credential, but was still in need of a job.

At 27 my mom had done some college, had two children, and was most likely in an unhappy marriage.

At 27, I have finally secured a teaching job that I love, I am marriage-less... boyfriend-less for that matter and do not see husband, nor child in my immediate future.

I wonder often how lives turn out the way that they do.  My mom did not really make bad choices in her life, that I can see, and neither have I.  So, why then does one lifestyle lend itself to one, more than the other?

At 27 I am happy with my life, but am hoping to be married with children before I am 35.  This is not a request, but really and truly just a hope.  These are the only major things that I have yet to accomplish/ reach in my life.

You'll see tomorrow, that there are still many other things I would like to do in my life.  I am really looking forward to my 27th year.  I think it is going to hold many great things for me.

Monday, November 14, 2011

Words, words, words in Books!

I come from a family of readers.

All of us read, literally... every single one of us.

I'd like to say that I read more than I talk, but considering I learned how to talk when I was 1-ish, due to my brothers lovely assistance, from outside my crib... I think it is safe to say that I do talk more.

However, that does not make my love for reading any less, because I have been doing that since I was three!!  It's true, I just asked my mom!  This is all leading to something, I promise.

When I was in elementary school (the later years) my mom worked at an office in town and I would take the bus to her work after school.  Once there, I would do one of two things.  I would either go to Thrifty's and get and ice cream (chocolate malted crunch, medieval madness, rainbow sherbet, or mint chocolate chip) and hang out with my friend Jessica, or I would go to the library.

The library was an amazing place to me (still is).  I would do research in Encyclopedias!  I would use the card catalog, or find some books on the really slow and old computer.  I would make copies, so I could continue my research at home.  I used the library as a place to do my homework.  But, mostly I used it as a place to get amazing stories.  So many of my personal favorites were discovered at this time.  I cannot even begin to tell you how many books I read as a kid and of course that list has grown tremendously since then.

I wanted to carry on my love for the Library, so the other day I finally went to my local library and got a card!  Woo hoo!  I have yet to check anything out, but the time will come.  This is the first time that I have received a card outside of San Bernardino county.

I will be taking photos of my library soon, so stay tuned... it is pretty cool!  There is sod on the roof!

Happy reading!

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Which will I get to first?

Hello to my one reader... maybe 2.

Which do you think I will reach first, 100 posts or 1,000 page views?

I am thinking 100 posts.

If you guess right, I'll give you a long distance high five and maybe I'll send you some cookies (if you are the first to guess correctly!).

Good luck!

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Bisquick: Jam Dandies

These sound fabulous!  Thanks Bisquick!


Jam Dandies

2 cups Bisquick

1 large egg, beaten

1/3 cup cream or undiluted evaporated milk

1/4 cup sugar

1/2 cup thick strawberry jam

Heat oven to 400ยบ.  Mix Bisquick, egg, cream, sugar to stiff dough.  Roll around on board lightly dusted with bisquick.  Kneed to smooth up.  Divide in half.  Pat each to fit 8-inch layer pan.  Fit one piece into greased pan, pressing about 1/4-inch up sides.  Spread with jam.  Cover with other circle.  Mark with sharp knife into 6 wedges; prick tops.  Brush with cream or melted butter.

Bake 20 minutes.  Serve warm.  6 servings.

Look at the cool/ old Bisquick recipe card below!