Mile High Apple Pie, aka deep dish apple pie can be such a disappointment.  Sure, there are tons of apples in the pie, but the only thing that is “Mile High” is the crust, with the cooked apples typically 1-1 1/2″ below the cooked crust.  And with all those apples in there, just about guaranteed that the bottom crust is soggy with apple juice.  Not to mention my own pet peeve about apple pies, in that I like the apples to be cooked, but still have some firmness to them; not just a pile of apple mush in a crust.

With those problems in mind, I’ve stayed away from making this type of pie…until I was browsing through my old collection of Cook’s Illustrated (before I went digital and subscribed online) and came across this recipe in the Sept/Oct 2005 edition.

Their solution to the domed top crust and soggy bottom crust was to precook the apples, to remove some (just some) of the juice and so the apples would shrink while they precook.

The resulting pie is what a mile high apple pie should be: tons of apples that still have some firmness to them, a crust that is only 1/4-1/2″ above the apples, and a bottom crust that is just as tasty (and flaky) as the top crust.

Mile High Apple Pie, aka Deep Dish Apple Pie

12 1/2oz/355 grams  (2 1/2 cups) flour
1 tsp salt
1 tbsp sugar
16 tbsp (2 sticks) butter, cold, cut into 1/2-inch cubes and frozen for 10 minutes
3 tbsp sour cream
1/3 cup ice water , or more if needed

3 1/2oz/100 grams (1/2 cup) sugar
1 3/4oz/50 grams (1/4 cup) packed brown sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1 tbsp lemon juice
1/2 tsp grated lemon zest
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
2 1/2 pounds tart apples (firm), about 5 medium, peeled and cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices
2 1/2 pounds sweet apples (firm), about 5 medium, peeled and cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices
1 egg white , beaten lightly

  • Process flour, salt, and sugar together in food processor until combined, about 3 seconds. Add butter and pulse until butter is size of large peas, about ten 1-second pulses.
  • Using fork, mix sour cream and 1/3 cup ice water in small bowl until combined. Add half of sour cream mixture to flour mixture; pulse for three 1-second pulses. Repeat with remaining sour cream mixture. Pinch dough with fingers; if dough is floury, dry, and does not hold together, add 1 to 2 tablespoons ice water and process until dough forms large clumps and no dry flour remains, three to five 1-second pulses.
  • Turn dough out onto work surface. Divide dough into 2 balls and flatten each into 4-inch disk; wrap each disk in plastic and refrigerate until firm but not hard, 1 to 2 hours, before rolling. (Dough can be refrigerated for up to 24 hours. Let thoroughly chilled dough stand at room temperature for 15 minutes before rolling.)
  • For Pie: Mix 1/2 cup granulated sugar, brown sugar, salt, zest, and cinnamon in large bowl; add apples and toss to combine. Transfer apples to Dutch oven (do not wash bowl) and cook, covered, over medium heat, stirring frequently, until apples are tender when poked with fork but still hold their shape, 15 to 20 minutes. (Apples and juices should gently simmer during cooking.) Transfer apples and juices to rimmed baking sheet and cool to room temperature, about 30 minutes. While apples cool, adjust oven rack to lowest position, place empty rimmed baking sheet on rack, and heat oven to 425 degrees.
  • Remove 1 disk of dough from refrigerator and roll out between 2 large sheets of parchment paper or plastic wrap to 12-inch circle, about 1/8 inch thick. (If dough becomes soft and/or sticky, return to refrigerator until firm.) Remove parchment from one side of dough and flip onto 9-inch pie plate; peel off second layer of parchment. Working around circumference, ease dough into plate by gently lifting edge of dough with one hand while pressing into plate bottom with other hand. Leave dough that overhangs plate in place; refrigerate until dough is firm, about 30 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, roll second disk of dough between 2 large sheets of parchment paper or plastic wrap to 12-inch circle, about 1/8 inch thick. Refrigerate, leaving dough between parchment sheets, until firm, about 30 minutes.
  • Set large colander over now-empty bowl; transfer cooled apples to colander. Shake colander to drain off as much juice as possible (cooked apples should measure about 8 cups); discard juice. Transfer apples to dough-lined pie plate; sprinkle with lemon juice.
  • Remove parchment from one side of remaining dough and flip dough onto apples; peel off second piece of parchment. Pinch edges of top and bottom dough rounds firmly together. Following illustrations 1 through 4, trim and seal edges of dough, then cut four 2-inch slits in top of dough. Brush surface with beaten egg white and sprinkle evenly with remaining teaspoon sugar.
  • Set pie on preheated baking sheet to catch drips and prevent the bottom crust from baking too quickly; bake until crust is dark golden brown, 45 to 55 minutes. Transfer pie to wire rack and cool at least 1 1/2 hours. Cut into wedges and serve.

Source: Cook’s Illistrated, September 2005

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Peanut Butter and Chocolate Rice Krispy Treats

Rice Krispy treats are about the easiest thing in the world to make, especially  if you use the microwave.  With the reception I always get when I make them, you would think that it takes hours to make them, not the 10 minutes (if that).

I’ve tried making peanut butter Rice Krispy treats before by adding peanut butter to the butter/marshmallow mixture, but while they taste great, they are a little tough, and one of the things I love about Rice Krispy treats is the texture, the almost melt-in-your-mouth softness.  Texture won out over taste, so if I wanted peanut butter Rice Krispy treat, I’d just smear peanut butter on the top.  Not very sophisticated, but it got the job done….somewhat….

One of the food blogs I like to read when I have the chance, Brown Eyed Baker, had a recipe for peanut butter Rice Krispy treats, which included both peanut butter, AND peanut butter cups!

I tried Michelle’s recipe, but as she said in the notes, store them in the refrigerator if your house runs warm (or it’s August, as in my case).  Well, Rice Krispy treats become bricks when refrigerated, so that wasn’t going to cut it.

I tried melting some peanut butter chips with the peanut butter to make it firmer, but the artificial taste of the “peanut butter” chips made the topping taste gross.  Using chocolate with the peanut butter, worked, but by the time I got enough chocolate in with the peanut butter to make it firm enough, the chocolate overpowered the taste of the peanut butter.

What I wanted was a ganache-like consistency for the peanut butter topping.  Then it hit me: make a peanut butter ganache.  Well, easier said than done, as I was quickly back to the problem of the chocolate overpowering the taste of the peanut butter and getting the right consistency.  Finally, I got the right quantities of peanut butter, chocolate, cream, and butter for both the taste and the consistency I wanted.

Peanut Butter Cup Rice Krispies Treats

6 cups Rice Krispies
10oz (1 bag) marshmallows
4 tbsp (2oz) butter

12oz bag miniature peanut butter cups, quartered
1/2 cup heavy cream, scalded
2 tbsp butter
3/4 cup peanut butter
8oz semi-sweet chocolate

3oz dark/bittersweet chocolate

  1. Butter/spray with cooking spray, a 9×13″ pan.
  2. Measure the cereal into a large mixing bowl and set aside. Melt the marshmallows and butter together in a medium saucepan over medium heat (or in the microwave for about 3 minutes, but keep watch so the marshmallows don’t puff over the sides of the bowl!). Pour the melted marshmallow mixture over the cereal and mix well so the cereal is coated. Pour into the prepared pan and use a buttered piece of wax paper (or a buttered spatula) to press evenly into pan.
  3. Once the marshmallow mixture is cool, evenly distribute the chopped peanut butter cups over the marshmallow mixture.
  4. In a small saucepan, bring the heavy cream to scalding temperature. In a large bowl, place the chocolate chips and butter. Once the cream is scalding, pour over chocolate and let sit for about 30 seconds. With a spatula, slowly stir the chocolate from the center until melted. Immediately add the peanut butter and stir until smooth Pour and evenly the peanut butter ganache over the marshmallow mixture.
  5. Melt the dark/bittersweet chocolate in the microwave at 50% power for about 1-2 minutes; stir until smooth. Using the tines of a fork, drizzle the melted chocolate across the top. Allow to cool, cut and serve.

Notes:

  • Unlike every other recipe here, do NOT use natural peanut butter, or the ganache won’t set properly.
  • Put the peanut butter cups in the refrigerator for 20-30 minutes and they will be easier to open.
  • Don’t use a wire wisk when making the ganache, or you’ll end up with a ball of peanut butter in the center of the wisk
  • A small offset spatula works great for spreading the ganache around and into the corners.

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Key Lime Pie

Key Lime Pie

After I made my 3rd key lime pie, I came to the conclusion that most people have never had *real* key lime pie.  What they thought was key lime pie was usually something made from Cool Whip and Jello, which has nothing to do with key limes.

The big surprise for most people was how tart a real key lime pie is, but that shouldn’t come as a surprise, as the name KEY LIME pie should give you some indication that is contains limes/lime juice.

This is an easy pie to make, and will be a huge hit with anyone who likes/appreciates real lime taste.

Key Lime Pie

Lime Filling
4 tsp grated lime zest
1/2 cup lime juice from 3 to 4 limes
4 egg yolks
1 (14 oz) can sweetened condensed milk

Graham Cracker Crust
1 1/4 cups graham cracker crumbs (about 11 graham crackers)
3 tbsp sugar
5 tbsp butter , melted

Whipped Cream Topping
3/4 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup powdered sugar

  1. Whisk zest and yolks in medium bowl until tinted light green, about 2 minutes. Beat in milk, then juice; set aside at room temperature to thicken.
  2. Adjust oven rack to center position and heat oven to 325. Mix crumbs and sugar in medium bowl. Add butter; stir with fork until well blended. Pour mixture into 9″ pie pan; press crumbs over bottom and up sides of pan to form even crust. Bake until lightly browned and fragrant, about 15 minutes. Transfer pan to wire rack; cool to room temperature, about 20 minutes.
  3. Pour lime filling into crust; bake until center is set, yet wiggly when jiggled, 15 to 17 minutes. Return pie to wire rack; cool to room temperature. Refrigerate until well chilled, at least 3 hours. (Can be covered with lightly oiled or oil-sprayed plastic wrap laid directly on filling and refrigerated up to 1 day.)
  4. For the Whipped Cream: Up to 2 hours before serving, whip cream in medium bowl to very soft peaks. Adding powdered sugar 1 tablespoon at a time, continue whipping to just-stiff peaks. Spread evenly with rubber spatula.
Source: Cooks Illustrated, March/April 1997

 

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Popovers - simple, easy, and delicious!

Popovers - simple, easy, and delicious!

I’ve tried a few popover recipes, but never had much luck.  They either didn’t have the right consistency, didn’t rise high enough, or deflated too quickly to be enjoyed.

It also seemed, that with every recipe, there was some strange new “catch” to ensure that the popovers would come out correctly (all of which were a bunch of BS).  Heating the popover tin before adding the batter,  making sure you don’t over beat the batter, and let the batter sit before making the popovers were some of the ‘tips’ I read.

None of them are needed.  The only ‘tip’ you need is to only open the oven door twice: one time when putting the popover tin in the oven, and a second time when removing the baked popovers.

Great popovers are simple: 5 ingredients (flour, butter, salt, milk, and eggs) mixed by hand, with a blender or an electric mixer.  It doesn’t matter what you mix them with, or how long you mix the batter.

No yeast is used in popovers, they rise by steam alone.  As such, when the popovers are done cooking, pierce the top of each popover with a sharp knife to let the steam escape or they will get soggy.

Make sure your oven door stays shut!  Open door == no steam == failed popovers.

Popovers

4 eggs, room temperature
1 1/2 cups milk (any type), lukewarm
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 cups flour
3 tbsp butter, melted

  1. Preheat the oven to 450°F. Position a rack on a lower shelf and place a baking pan on the shelf.
  2. Grease the popover tin (or standard size muffin tin), making sure to grease the area between the cups)
  3. Whisk together the eggs, milk, and salt. Whisk till the egg and milk are well combined, with no streaks of yolk showing.
  4. Add the flour all at once, and beat until frothy; there shouldn’t be any large lumps in the batter, but smaller lumps are OK. If using a KitchenAid, whisk at high speed for 20 seconds. Stop, scrape the sides of the bowl, and whisk for an additional 20 to 30 seconds at high speed, until frothy.
  5. Stir in the melted butter, combining quickly.
  6. Pour the batter into the popover tine, filling them about 2/3 to 3/4 full.
  7. Place the pan in the oven, on the baking pan.
  8. Bake the popovers for 20 minutes.  Reduce the heat to 350°F , and bake for an additional 10 to 15 minutes, until they’re a deep, golden brown.

Source: http://www.kingarthurflour.com/recipes/popovers-recipe

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