Free Toe Pie Recipes

FREE-FORM FRUIT AND NUT PIES

Steps:

• Toast all the pine nuts in a dry skillet over medium-low heat, stirring, until evenly brown and fragrant, about 2 to 3 minutes. Cool.
• Pulse the 3/4 cup cool pine nuts and sugar in a food processor until finely ground, about 15 times. Add the flour, cornmeal, salt, and butter and pulse until combined, about 10 more times. Add the egg and pulse until mixture comes together in a soft dough, about 5 times.
• Lay out an 8 by 11-inch sheet of waxed or parchment paper. Divide dough equally into 6 balls and place on the paper, leaving at least 4 inches between each. Press down lightly to make even disks, and cover with another sheet of paper. With a rolling pin lightly roll over the entire sheet to make rounds about 5 inches in diameter. Slide paper onto a baking sheet and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or up to 3 days.
• Remove top sheet of paper and cut the parchment into 6 squares (around the dough circles). Place 2 heaping tablespoons of jam on each circle and spread it evenly with the back of a spoon over the crust, leaving a 1 1/2-inch border around the edges. Fold and loosely pleat the dough over the edge of the jam, to make a rustic free-form pie. (Use the edge of the parchment or a bench scraper to lift the edges of dough over; it's easier that way. See photo.) Repeat with the remaining disks.
• Whisk the egg yolk with a teaspoon of water and brush over the edges of the crusts with it. Sprinkle remaining pine nuts onto the egg wash. Refrigerate pies for 30 minutes.
• Position a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 375 degrees F. Bake pies until golden brown, about 30 minutes. Let set for 5 minutes before transferring with the paper onto a rack to cool.
• Serve warm or at room temperature, with ice cream, whipped cream or yogurt, if desired.

TOMMY TOE PIE

Steps:

• The day before, slice 3 to 5 tomatoes and drain on paper towels.
• Refrigerate.
• Bake deep-dish pie shell according to package directions.
• Cool.
• Mix cheeses, mayonnaise and basil. Set mixture aside.
• Spread the bottom of the pie shell with Dijon mustard. Place one layer of tomatoes, and then sprinkle with salt and pepper.
• Layer ½ of the cheese and mayonnaise mixture.
• Sprinkle with chopped green onions. Repeat layers. End with ½ cup of shredded Parmesan cheese on top.
• Bake at 375 degrees for 35-40 minutes. Enjoy!

" FREE-TOE" PIE

Steps:

• Start with loaf or casserole dish (I prefer the loaf pan because it doesn't dry out the ingredients).
• Layer the ingredients as listed. Build 3 or 4 layers, depending upon the pan size.
• Finish with even more cheese on top.
• You can add hot sauce or other spices between the layers but DO NOT add salt, as the corn chips have plenty!
• Cover and bake for 15 to 20 minutes at 350°F.
• Uncover and bake 5 minutes more to brown cheese on top.
• Serve promptly with sour cream and salsa on top.
• Can be made up to 24 hours ahead and stored the the fridge.