javamonkey insights into the world of caffeinated monkeys

Saturday, August 09, 2008   County Fair Time The Sheridan County Fair has come and gone, and I won 2nd place in the Pie Competition. I made a berry tart, similar to Aud's berry tart, but with a few variations. Here's the recipe: Crust: 4 T sour cream 4 T iced water 2 cups all-purpose flour 1/2 cup cornmeal 4 T sugar 1 t salt 1 and 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, very cold and cut into cubes splash vanilla extract Mix sour cream, iced water (strain out all ice cubes), and splash of vanilla. Refrigerate until needed. In the bowl of a food processor, mix all other ingredients, until butter is incorporated and looks like oatmeal. Add sour cream mixture until dough starts to form a ball. Remove from the food processor, and refrigerate until needed. Filling: 16 ounces strawberries, stems and leaves removed 6 ounces raspberries 6 ounces blackberries 1 pint of blueberries 1/2 cup sugar 3 T cornstarch pinch of salt 1 T fresh lemon juice 1 t vanilla extract Mix berries together, removing stems and leaves and any mushy berries. Puree half of the berries in a food processor until smooth. Pour puree into a saucepan, adding sugar and cornstarch. Cook over medium heat until the fruit becomes the consistency of pudding; stir frequency. Remove from heat and mix in lemon and vanilla. While filling cools, roll out crust into a pie tin (9" diameter). Pour berry puree into the pie crust. Spread the remaining berries over the top of the pie, gently pressing them into the pie. Bake in a 400 degree oven for 20-25 minutes, until crust is golden brown. Let pie cool to room temperature, then refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before devouring. I add vanilla and strawberries to my pie; Aud leaves those out. I think the strawberries add texture and another layer of berry flavor to the pie, and the vanilla smooths out the pie. I'm not sure what pie won 1st place, but the judge comments state that they thought the crust was "too doughy." I think they were expecting a traditional pie crust for this, but with all of the berry goodness in this pie, a traditional dough can't hold up. I'm happy with 2nd place at the fair, and I can't wait to enter another creation next year. posted by jaime | 8:44 PM 3 comments

- Archives - November 2002 December 2002 January 2003 February 2003 March 2003 April 2003 May 2003 June 2003 July 2003 August 2003 September 2003 October 2003 November 2003 December 2003 January 2004 February 2004 March 2004 April 2004 May 2004 June 2004 July 2004 August 2004 September 2004 November 2004 December 2004 January 2005 February 2005 March 2005 April 2005 May 2005 June 2005 July 2005 August 2005 September 2005 October 2005 December 2005 January 2006 February 2006 March 2006 April 2006 June 2006 August 2006 September 2006 October 2006 November 2006 December 2006 January 2007 February 2007 March 2007 April 2007 May 2007 June 2007 July 2007 August 2007 September 2007 October 2007 November 2007 December 2007 January 2008 February 2008 March 2008 April 2008 May 2008 July 2008 August 2008 September 2008 October 2008 November 2008 January 2009 February 2009 March 2009 April 2009 May 2009 June 2009 August 2009 September 2009 December 2009 January 2010 February 2010 March 2010 July 2010 September 2010 artichokes Those Other Internet Crackwhores Not An Original Monkey Princess Francheska Ronaldi, Demigoddess of Small Woodland Creatures Who Are Horny The Goddess at the Crossroads The Crossroads The Lack of Elvin Ears Makes Me Sad Can Pants Be Sexier? King of the Slackers She Intimidates Me In A Good Way It's a Katie! It's a Becky! Everyone Else Is Doing It He's Got A Big Gay Pony Proof That Kansas Exists Fetish Faerie Ketchup Tits Her Fingers Are Weird-Looking Soon To Be Minion of Satan Your Local Bacchus