recipe

KNR, p. 262 “Reduced-Gluten Cheesy Rustic Pie Crust”

 

 

We have been moving toward a gluten-free diet in our house – not completely, but definitely reduced. Sheila has experimented with flour combinations and this flavor-packed crust is a soft version that stands up to hearty veggie fillings. The flavor in the crust complements all veggie and some meat fillings. We have a Savory Tomato-Squash filling that when combined with this crust, is delicioso! Give the crust a try.  🙂

 

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"Reduced-Gluten Cheesy Rustic Pie Crust"
Author: 
Recipe type: Pie Crust
Prep time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 1
 
Ingredients
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour + 1 Tablespoon for roll-out
  • 1/2 cup white rice flour
  • 1/2 cup brown rice flour
  • 1/2 cup fine ground almond flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1 cup butter (straight butter, or butter with canola oil added)
  • 1/4 cup shredded thin, cheddar mix
  • 1 Tablespoon grated parmesan cheese
  • 4-5 Tablespoons cold water
  • Plastic wrap
  • Parchment paper, 15” wide
Instructions
  1. Place all flours (except 1 Tablespoon) and sea salt in large mixing bowl, and whisk to combine.
  2. Dice butter into 1/4 inch pieces and add to bowl.
  3. Add cheddar and Parmesan cheeses to the bowl.
  4. Use pastry blender and cut butter and cheeses into the dry ingredients, until well blended and resembles pea sized clumps.
  5. Make a well in the center of the mixture and pour in water.
  6. Use hands to combine water and the rest of the mixture until dough comes together.
  7. Form into a disk (about 1 to 1.5 inches thick), then cover in plastic wrap and refrigerate for no more than an hour.
  8. Prep your chosen pie filling while waiting for the dough to chill.
  9. When ready to roll out the dough, get two large pieces of parchment paper ready, one to place under the dough and one to place on top. Sprinkle small amount of all-purpose flour on the bottom paper, center the disk on the sheet, and sprinkle small amount of flour on the disk.
  10. Roll out the dough between the papers until 12” in diameter, keeping it centered.
  11. Remove the top paper and trim the extra dough from the 12” circle.
  12. Place the circle of dough (still centered on the paper) onto a disposable aluminum cookie sheet.
  13. It is ready to receive the savory filling of your choice.
  14. Place the filling in the center, leaving a 1.5 to 2 inch edge all around.

This dough can be folded and pleated easily to create the rustic look, and will hold in the moisture from the filling. 

*Tips:

Bake on bottom oven rack after filled for ‘no-soggy-bottom.’

Time and temperature depends on your chosen filling, but between 350 and 400 degrees for 50-60 minutes are the target ranges.

Enjoy!

 

 

 

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KNR, p. 295 “Blueberry Pie”

Here in the Eastern United States, the fresh blueberry season has come to a close, but if you’re an avid blueberry lover, you have plenty stockpiled in the freezer. Chin’s recipe takes advantage of the frozen blueberries available most of the year and is an easy go-to pie without a lot of fuss. Dress it up with ice cream (the photo shows Breyer’s Very Berry Cobbler ice cream) or whipped cream if you like, but nobody ever turned down his blueberry pie. I’ve even been known to have a slice for breakfast. Or as an afternoon snack with ice cream. It doesn’t last long at our house, and even better, nobody has keeled over yet after devouring a second helping. Enjoy!

Blueberry Pie

Chin Bawambi
Print Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 6

Ingredients
  

  • pie crusts for lattice top pie
  • 5 cups frozen blueberries
  • 1/3 cup flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1/3 cup real maple syrup

Instructions
 

  • Prepare bottom crust and lattice pie crust strips and set aside.
  • Place frozen blueberries in large bowl.
  • In separate bowl, mix flour and sea salt together.
  • Add flour mixture to blueberries and toss together until blueberries are well-coated.
  • Add maple syrup and toss again.
  • Evenly spread pie filling mixture in bottom pie crust.
  • Place lattice strips on top of pie filling and weave together in lattice pattern, leaving a one inch overhang at both ends of the strips.
  • Tuck each of the lattice strips overhang under the edge of the bottom crust and crimp to seal.
  • Place pie protectors around the edges to keep the crust from over-browning.
  • Bake at 375 on center oven rack for 60-70 minutes or until crust is golden brown and juice is bubbling.

Notes

Makes 9" lattice top blueberry pie.
We used amber maple syrup from northern New York.
Prep time listed does not include time for making the pie crusts.

 

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KNR, p. 286 “Puttanesca Sauce” (Staten Island Gravy)

Our good friend and enthusiastic cook, Chin Bawambi, sent us a recipe for Puttanesca Sauce. Sheila and I followed the recipe and it’s a WOW! We took the photos before and after taste-testing and tried it with pasta as well as beef and chicken dishes. We can honestly say it’s a truly versatile sauce. Guarantee: no bodies were found anywhere on the premises while cooking. Sheila tells me that I did fall asleep on the couch with a satisfied smile after dinner, though. I believe her.

Puttanesca Sauce (Staten Island Gravy)

Chin Bawambi
5 from 1 vote
Print Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 2 hours 15 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 30 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine Italian

Equipment

  • Crock-pot

Ingredients
  

  • 1 28 oz can crushed tomatoes with basil
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon powdered or minced garlic
  • 1 14 oz can diced tomatoes with basil, garlic, oregano
  • 1 heaping Tablespoon capers
  • 1/4 cup sliced Kalamata olives
  • 1 2 oz can anchovy fillets in olive oil
  • 2 Tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon Montreal steak seasoning (or to taste)

Instructions
 

  • Turn crock-pot on high.
  • Place crushed tomatoes, sea salt, oregano, and garlic in crock-pot.
  • Drain diced tomatoes and add to crock-pot.
  • Drain and mince capers, add to crock-pot, and blend.
  • Finely chop olive slices, add to crock-pot, and blend.
  • Pour olive oil from the anchovy can, plus the two Tablespoons of olive oil, into the crock-pot, keeping the anchovies in reserve.
  • Finely chop anchovies and add to crock-pot, blending in.
  • Add Montreal steak seasoning.
  • Stir all ingredients thoroughly.
  • Cook on high for 30 minutes, stir and drop temperature to low.
  • Cook an additional 45 minutes, stir again and check for flavor. If needed, add more steak seasoning to taste.
  • Cook for an additional hour.
  • Serve while hot or let cool for a bit and refrigerate up to a week in glass jars.
  • Serve with pasta, poultry, veggies, or meats.

Notes

Yields 48 ounces. We pour the sauce into Ball/Mason jars and refrigerate up to a week if not serving it right away.
Keyword Sauce

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