Tag: Pie

Waldorf Salad Pie

Waldorf Salad Pie

by Andi Cohen-Rabiner ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

A Recipe from Pillsbury’s Bake Off Cook Book prize winning recipes from the 21st Bake Off (1970)

About the Recipe

If you’re a fan of apple pie, but prefer something a little more savory than the traditional (or really want to impress some friends) than this is the apple pie recipe for you! One bite of this tender pie and you understand why Mrs. Anne Atkinson of Canton, OH won the runner up prize for it.

As good as the pie on the whole is, as always a great pie is driven by a great crust, and this one is really good. The added egg gives a little bit more structure and crunch to the pie overall. It would work well for a quiche or tart as well.

For more recipes in the Pillsbury Challenge, click here!

About the book

As we turn the page into a new decade, the contest becomes more exciting. The forward expresses a rigorous testing and is by the Editor this time around. Also of note – Bob Barker hosted the rewards luncheon pre-Price-Is-Right days!

The Recipe!

Ingredients:

2 cups flour
1 T sugar
1 t salt
2/3 cup solid shortening
1/4 cup cold water
1 egg
2 T butter or margarine if desired

Filling:
1-2 cups (1-2 medium) sliced cooking apples
1 cup (8.5 oz can) drained, crushed pineapple
3/4 cup sugar
1/3 cup (1 small stalk) chopped celery
1/3 cup raisins
1/4 cup chopped nuts
2 T flour

Directions:

Prepare filling; set aside. (No need to sift flour; measure by lightly spooning into cup and leveling off.)

In large mixing bowl, combine flour with sugar and salt. Cut in shortening until crumbly. Combine water with egg; add to flour mixture, stirring lightly with fork until dough holds together. Divide dough in half. Roll out 1/2 of dough on floured surface to a circle 1″ larger than inverted 9-inch pie pan. Fit loosely into pan.

Pour filling into unbaked bottom crust. If desired, dot with butter. Roll out remaining dough for top crust; cut slits for steam to escape. Place top crust over Filling. Fold top crust under bottom crust. Seal; flute edge.

Bake at 400*F for 30-35 minutes until light golden brown. Serve warm or cold.

Filling:
In large mixing bowl, combine all ingredients. Mix well.

Berry Pie

Berry Pie

by Andi Cohen-Rabiner ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

A Recipe from Praise for the Cook (1959)

About the Recipe

Okay, so technically this is berry pie and not specifically strawberry pie. The good news is, that means I have plenty of opportunity to make it again this summer as different berries come into season. The better news is that – oh my goodness, this pie is amazing. I’ve included the recipe for the fail-proof Crisco Crust below as well so that you can make the whole thing from scratch. It’s well worth the extra effort.

This recipe is part of the Strawberry Season collection.

About the Book

Praise for the Cook was released in 1959 by the Proctor and Gamble company specifically to promote the use of Crisco. I found this little gem hiding on a shelf in my favorite antiques barn, and it’s been in regular rotation.

Keep the recipe for this crust and use it liberally. It’s so easy to make and spot on when it comes to the bake… just like most other things in this handy booklet.

The Recipe!

Ingredients:

3 cups drained canned berries OR 4 cups fresh fruit
2/3 cup berry juice or water
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 t salt
4 T flour OR 3 T minute tapioca

Crisco Pastry for 9″ double crust:
2 cups sifted enriched flour
1 t salt
3/4 c Crisco
4 T water

Directions:

Combine berries and juice in saucepan and bring to boil. Stir in sugar, salt, and flour. Cook over low heat until thickened. Cool while making pastry. Line 9″ pie plate with bottom crust and pour in filling. Place top crust over filling, trim and seal. Prick to allow for escape of steam. Bake in hot oven, 400*, about 30 minutes or until crust is nicely browned.

Crisco Pastry for 9″ double crust:
Combine flour and salt in mixing bowl. Cut in Crisco with pastry blender or two knives until mixture is uniform. Sprinkle water over the mixture, a tablespoon at a time, tossing lightly with a fork. When all water has been added and mixed, work dough into a firm ball with the hands.

Down East Crabmeat Pie

Down East Crabmeat Pie

by Andi Cohen-Rabiner ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

A Recipe from 100 Prize Winning Recipes from Pillsbury’s 4th Grand National Recipe & Baking Contest (1953)

About the Recipe

What an absolutely delightful way to kickoff my Pillsbury Challenge. This recipe was a bit like eating a crab cake pie. It made me think of afternoons picking crabs and drinking beer in the Baltimore Inner Harbor – basically a perfect afternoon.

It took some looking around to find the right “chili sauce” which nowadays means any sauce made from a chili and can range from sriracha to habanero sauce to regular old Heinz. Research notes that in the ’50s this would have been a plain old jar of Heinz so that’s what I went with. Quick note here – I would definitely sub out half of the plain chili sauce for something a little bit more spicy and exciting to give it more of a kick. While this pie is far from bland, it would be served well by a little something extra.

For more recipes in the Pillsbury Challenge, click here!

About the book

Published in 1953 for Pillsbury’s 4th Grand National contest, this book was one of my first, and is still one of my favorites. The recipes are so indicative of the time – lots of “pre-bake” or “freeze for later” notes from the cooks. If you ever see one of these books in the wild, grab it. You won’t be sorry.

About the glassware

Unfortunately, this pie pan is a fraud – a modern pan to accommodate a large pie. With the pandemic, I’m separated from my vintage pie pans, but this one is still lovely and was a gift from a close friend.

The Recipe!

Ingredients:

1 cup flour
1/2 t salt
1/3 cup Homogenized Spry (Crisco)
3-4 T water
2 cups (two 6.5 oz cans) crabmeat or other seafood
2/3 cup chili sauce
1/2 cup cooked green pepper, chopped
1/2 cup cooked celery, chopped
1/4 t salt
1 1/2 t grated onion

For the Cheese Sauce:
3 T butter or margarine
3 T flour
1/4 t salt
1/2 t Worcestershire sauce
1/2 cup milk
1 cup grated processed cheese

Directions:

Sift together the flour and salt. Cut in the Spry until particles are the size of small peas. Sprinkle water over mixture, tossing lightly with fork until dough is moist enough to hold together. Form into a ball.

Roll out on floured pastry cloth or board to a circle 1 1/2 inches larger than inverted 9-inch pie pan. Fit pastry loosely into pie pan. Fold edge to form standing rim; flute. Prick crust with fork. Bake in hot oven (450*F) for 10 minutes.

Combine crabmeat, chili sauce, green pepper, celery, salt, and onion. Blend well. Turn into partially-baked pie shell. Pour cheese sauce on top. Bake in moderately hot oven (400*F) for 25 to 30 minutes. Serve hot.

CHEESE SAUCE:
Melt butter or margarine in top of double boiler over boiling water. Blend in flour, salt, Worcestershire sauce, and milk. Cook until mixture begins to thicken, stirring constantly. Blend in processed cheese.