Aunt Margies Strawberry Pie Recipes

CLASSIC STRAWBERRY PIE

Steps:

• Add the flour, sugar and salt to the bowl of your food processor (or a large bowl if your making the dough by hand).
• Turn the food processor on low speed and add the chunks of cold butter one at a time while the food processor runs until all the butter is added and the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.If making by hand, use a pastry blender or your hands to work the butter into the dough until the mixture is crumbly. Try not to handle the butter too much (the heat from your hands will soften it) - use quick movements and don't worry if some larger chunks of butter still remain.
• Add the lemon juice and the water slowly as the food processor runs on low, just until the dough comes together and pulls away from the sides of the bowl. Depending on the weather and even on the brand of flour, I use anywhere between 5 and 8 tablespoons of water. If making by hand, use your hands to form the dough gently and quickly using just enough water for the dough to come together.
• Dump the rough dough onto the counter and divide the dough into two disc shapes and wrap each one separately in plastic wrap, placing it in the fridge to chill for 45 minutes or overnight.
• Add the sliced strawberries to a bowl, along with the cornstarch, sugar, salt and lemon juice. Toss just until combined.
• Set the filling aside while you prepare the crust for baking.
• Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. If your oven runs hot, set it to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. (Use an oven thermometer to ensure the correct temperature)
• Remove the chilled pie dough from the fridge and let it sit for about 10 minutes before rolling. Roll out one of the balls of dough into a large circle using a rolling pin. Add a generous amount of flour to the rolling surface and to the rolling pin, to prevent sticking and cracking.
• Peel the rolled out dough off the counter surface gently by rolling it backwards onto the rolling pin.
• Transfer it to a 9-inch pie plate and gently press the dough into the bottom of the pie plate and over the edges (try for a 1-2 inch overhang if possible).
• Add the strawberry filling to the pie crust and smooth out the top.
• Repeat the rolling out process with the second ball of dough, this time slicing it into about 10 long, thin slices using a pizza cutter (or a pastry cutter, if you have one).
• Create a lattice pattern using the strips of dough, overlapping every second vertical strip with every second horizontal strip.
• Trim any dough that hangs over the edge of the pie to 1-2 inches past the edge (try to keep the overhang amount even all the way around). Tuck any overhanging dough under and into the pie plate to create a clean edge.
• If your pie plate has a wide edge, seal the edge of the pie by creating a fluted pattern - press into the edge of the pie from the outside with your left thumb and index finger while pressing into the edge of the pie from the inside with your right index finger. Do this all the way around the edge of the pie to create a fluted pattern (and see my tutorial HERE for how to create a beautiful fluted edge to your pies!)
• Beat the egg and 1 tablespoon of water and brush it lightly onto the unbaked crust. Use a light hand while brushing - too much egg wash creates an eggy texture after baking.
• Dust the crust with the coarse sugar and bake at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for about 10 minutes, and then reduce the heat to 375 (350 if your oven runs hot) and bake for an additional 35-45 minutes or until the crust is evenly browned and the filling is bubbly.
• Let cool to room temperature before slicing and serving with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

STRAWBERRY PIE

Steps:

• Quarter 2 pounds of the strawberries and set aside. Dice half of the remaining pound, then slice the remainder.
• Stir 1 tablespoon granulated sugar together in a bowl with the elderflower liqueur until the sugar dissolves. Toss with the diced berries and set aside to macerate at room temperature.
• Place the quartered strawberries in a medium pot and gently stir together with the jam, cornstarch, lemon juice, a pinch of salt and the remaining 1/3 cup granulated sugar. Bring to a simmer over medium heat and cook, stirring often, until the strawberries begin to break down and the mixture is thick and jammy, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool about 10 minutes, then stir in the reserved macerated berries.
• Pour mixture into the baked crust and allow to chill in the refrigerator until set, at least 3 hours.
• Decorate the top of the pie with the sliced berries in concentric circles. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
• Whip the cream along with the confectioners' sugar, vanilla and cream of tartar until it holds medium stiff peaks. Serve alongside the pie.

AUNT MARGIE'S STRAWBERRY PIE

Steps:

• 1. Put berries in crust. Combine remaining ingredients and melt together. Pour over strawberries and bake 40 minutes at 425 degrees.

AUNT MARTHA'S CREAMY STRAWBERRY PIE

Steps:

• Combine cream cheese and sugar.
• Add vanilla and strawberries, mix well.
• Pour into pie shell.
• Mix whipped cream and confectioner's sugar and spoon over top of pie.
• Chill for one hour.
• Serve.

AUNT MARGIE'S BLUEBERRY PIE

Steps:

• Put blueberries in crust, combine remaining ingredients and when warm and melted, cover berries. Bake 40 minutes at 425 degrees.

AUNT MARGIE'S APPLE PIE

Steps:

• 1. Bake at 425 degrees for 50 minutes.

AUNT BARBARA'S STRAWBERRY PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Combine graham cracker crumbs, 1/4 cup sugar, and melted butter in a mixing bowl; mix until evenly moistened and press into the bottom and sides of a 9-inch pie pan.
• Bake in the preheated oven until the crust is lightly browned and smells toasted, about 12 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool.
• Soak gelatin in cold water for 3 minutes. Heat the water and gelatin in the top of a double boiler set over simmering water, stirring frequently, until gelatin is completely dissolved.
• Beat whipping cream in a chilled glass or metal bowl until soft peaks form.
• Stir strawberries and 1/3 cup sugar together in a bowl. Pour gelatin mixture over strawberries. Gently fold in whipped cream until incorporated. Pour filling into baked pie shell and chill in the refrigerator until set, at least 2 hours.

AUNT FRANCIE'S STRAWBERRY PIE

Steps:

• 1. Ingredients, prep and cook time do not include the pie crust!
• 2. Put 1/2 of the strawberries plus water into a pot and cook 3 minutes. Mix sugar and cornstarch or arrowroot together and add to strawberries. Mix and let come to a boil (about 5 minutes) until it starts to thicken. Remove from head and add lemon juice (this helps to maintain the bright color of the fruit). While strawberries are cooling, bake pie shell. (Be sure to use pie weights or dried beans to hold the shell down) Allow shell to cool
• 3. Take the balance of fresh strawberries and spread over bottom of the pie shell. Pour cooked strawberry mixture over the strawberries. Chill thoroughly (about 1 to 2 hours)
• 4. While strawberry mixture is chilling, in a medium bowl add heavy cream and confectioners sugar together. Whip at high speed until firm and fluffy. Put in refrigerator to chill.
• 5. When pie mixture is chilled remove pie and whip cream from refrigerator. Spread whip cream over top of pie. Garnish top if you like with several left over perfect berries in the center, sliced berries, or however you wish to garnish if at all. Return to the refrigerator until ready to serve.

OLD-FASHIONED STRAWBERRY PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450°. Unroll crust into a 9-in. pie plate; flute edge. Line crust with a double thickness of foil. Fill with pie weights, dried beans or uncooked rice. Bake on a lower oven rack until edge is lightly brown, 8-10 minutes. Remove foil and weights; bake until bottom is golden brown, 3-6 minutes longer. Cool on a wire rack., In a small saucepan, combine pudding mix, water and lemon juice. Cook and stir over medium heat until mixture comes to a boil. Cook and stir 1-2 minutes longer or until thickened. Remove from the heat; set aside., In a large bowl, dissolve gelatin in boiling water. Gradually stir in pudding. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes or until thickened. Fold in sliced strawberries. Transfer to crust., For topping, in another bowl, beat the cream cheese, 1/2 cup whipped topping and vanilla until smooth. Fold in remaining whipped topping. Cut a small hole in the corner of a pastry or plastic bag; insert a medium star tip. Fill with topping. Pipe topping around edges of pie; garnish with whole strawberries. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour.

EASY FRESH STRAWBERRY PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450°. Unroll crust into a 9-in. pie plate. Trim edge. Line unpricked crust with a double thickness of heavy-duty foil or parchment. Bake 8 minutes. Remove foil; bake 5 minutes longer. Cool on a wire rack., In a small saucepan, combine the sugar, cornstarch and water until smooth. Bring to a boil; cook and stir until thickened, about 2 minutes. Remove from the heat; stir in gelatin until dissolved. Refrigerate until slightly cooled, 15-20 minutes., Meanwhile, arrange strawberries in the crust. Pour gelatin mixture over berries. Refrigerate until set. If desired, serve with whipped cream.

PIEROGIES - AUNTIE MARY'S RECIPE

Steps:

• Dough- combine all ingredients and knead well. (Elaine's method: Mixed moist ingredients quickly in food processor then added the flour to knead until it formed a ball. Put in fridge to rest up to 2 days,) Roll out and cut with a 2 inch round cookie cutter. Fill with potato, sauerkraut or fruit fillings. Place 1 tsp. filling on each piece, fold over and pinch edges together. Drop into boiling water for 7 to 8 minutes or until Pierogies float to the top. Remove from pot. Place in a large bowl and top with melted butter.
• Potato-Cheese Filling: Combine all ingredients and mash well together. Yield 4 dozen.
• Sauerkraut Filling: Cook sauerkraut approximately 20 minutes. Drain and press out water. Saute onion in butter until golden. Add sauerkraut, salt and pepper. Fry for 10 minutes. Cool before putting fillings into Perogies. Yield: 4 dozen
• Prune or Plum Filling: Boil fruit for 20 minutes. Drain and cool. Remove seeds and chop finely. Sprinkle with sugar. Put one plum or prune per pierogy.
• You can freeze the pierogies before boiling or after boiling. Freeze the pierogies on parchment in a single layer on a cookie sheet. After freezing put them in a container. Put parchment between layers so they don't stick together. Boil or fry them after thawing. Serve with sour cream, applesauce or gravy.