Serves: 10

• Ingredients

1 9-inch pie crust and more for lattice top
4 cups cooking apples, peeled and sliced
2 teaspoons butter
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 cup sugar
4 ounces Calvados or Brandy

for custard:
1/3 cup sugar
2 teaspoons flour
1 teaspoon grated lemon rind
1/2 cup heavy cream
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

3 ounces melted apricot
1 beaten egg

• preparation

Preheat oven at 400 degrees.
Line pie crust in a 9 inch pie plate. Peel, core, and cut apples into wedges.
Melt butter in a saute pan. Add apples. Cook for 2 minutes. Mix in the cinnamon, sugar, and Calvados and cook apples until tender. Transfer to a large bowl to cool.
To prepare the custard:
combine the sugar, flour, lemon zest, cream, eggs, and vanilla.
Pour over apples and blend well. Pour mixture in pie crust.
Bake for 15 minutes.
Top with the melted apricot jam.
Decorate top of pie with strips of remaining dough into a lattice work.
Brush with a beaten egg. Bake at 350 F for 15 to 20 minutes, until pie is golden brown.
Allow pie to cool, then serve at room temperature.

Serves: 6

• Ingredients

For the crust:
4 ounces butter, soft
1 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons sugar
1 egg
2 pounds baking apples

Filling: 1 cup milk
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon flour
1 teaspoon cornstarch
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 teaspoons icing sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

• preparation

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Crust:
Mix butter with flour, cornstarch, salt, sugar, and egg to make a dough.
Roll and line an 9-inch pie plate.
Peel apples. Core,slice into small slivers and arrange in crust. Bake for 20 minutes.
Filling:
In a mixing bowl, combine milk, sugar, flour, cornstarch, eggs, vanilla.
Pour over apples. Continue baking at 350 degrees for 10 to 15 minutes.
Combine icing sugar with cinnamon. Sprinkle over pie. Serve warm or cold.

Serves: 8

• Ingredients

Basic Pie crust for a Double-Crust Pie
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1/4 cup half-and-half
5 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
7 medium Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and cut into 1/4-inch wedges
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
3 tablespoons cornstarch
grated zest of 1/2 lemon
grated zest of 1/4 orange, optional
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon all-purpose flour

• preparation

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees .
In a small saucepan, stir 3/4 cup of the brown sugar and
the half-and-half over medium heat until the sugar dissolves.
Remove from the heat and add the butter and the vanilla.
Stir until the butter melts. Set the butterscotch mixture aside to cool completely.
In a medium bowl, toss the apples with the lemon juice.
Add the remaining 1/4 cup brown sugar, the cornstarch, lemon zest,
and the orange zest (if using), cinnamon, allspice and nutmeg.
On a lightly floured work surface, roll out the larger disk of dough into a
13-inch round about 1/8 inch thick. Fold the dough in half.
Transfer to a 9-inch pie pan, and gently unfold the dough to fit into the pan.
Sprinkle the bottom of the dough with the flour.
Fill the pie pan with the apple mixture.
Pour the cooled butterscotch mixture over the apples.
On a lightly floured work surface, roll out the remaining pie dough into
a 10- to 11-inch round about 1/8 inch thick.
Fold the dough in half, and gently unfold over the apples to cover the filling.
Using scissors or a sharp knife, trim the edges of the 2 pie crusts to a 1-inch overhang.
Pinching the 2 crusts together, fold the dough under itself so the edge of
the fold is flush with the edge of the pie pan.
Flute the crust around the edges of the pan.
Cut a few slits in the top crust so the steam can escape.
Bake until golden brown and the juices are bubbling (look into the slits to check), about 45 minutes.
Cool completely on a wire cake rack.

Serves: 8

• Ingredients

1 cup flour
1/2 cup packed golden brown sugar
1/3 cup oatmeal (not instant)
3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 cup chilled unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
4 large Granny Smith apples, peeled, cut into pieces
1 16-ounce can whole cranberry sauce
3/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon cornstarch
1 9-inch deep dish frozen pie shell, unthawed

• preparation

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
For topping:
Mix first 4 ingredients. Add butter, mix until mixture resembles coarse cornmeal.
For filling:
Place baking sheet in oven. Toss apples, cranberry sauce, sugar and cornstarch until well blended.
Transfer apple-cranberry filling to frozen pie shell, mounding in centre.
Sprinkle topping over pie. Set pie on baking sheet in oven. Bake until apples are tender, juices bubble thickly and crust is golden, about 1 hour 10 minutes.
Serve warm with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.

Serves: 6

• Ingredients

a 1-inch piece vanilla bean split lengthwise
1 tablespoon sugar
a pinch cinnamon
1/2-pound frozen puff pastry sheet, thawed
4 plums, cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices
6 fresh apricots, cut into 1/4-inch thick slices
3 tablespoons apricot jam, melted, strained, and kept warm
vanilla ice cream as an accompaniment if desired

• preparation

Preheat oven to 400°F. Scrape seeds from vanilla bean with a knife into a small bowl, discarding pod, and stir in sugar and cinnamon.
On a lightly floured surface roll out pastry 1/8 inch thick and drape pastry over tart pan, pressing dough gently onto pan.
On pastry arrange plum and apricot slices, overlapping them slightly, in rows and sprinkle with sugar mixture.
Bake tart in middle of oven until pastry is golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes.
Cool tarts on a rack and brush with jam. Serve tarts warm with ice cream.

Serves: 6

• Ingredients

1 recipe Pate sablée

For the frangipane:

6 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup icing sugar
1/2 cup almond flour
1 egg
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon almond extract
1 1/2 tablespoons flour

12 small apricots, (2 lb) halved and pitted
Confectioners' sugar, for garnish

• preparation

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
Recipe of Pate sablée

Beat butter and icing sugar until pale and creamy. Beat in egg. Add almond flour, and beat until just combined. (Frangipane can be refrigerated in an airtight container up to 1 week.)

Spoon frangipane into cooled tart shell, and smooth with a spatula. Let stand for 10 minutes. Bake until set, about 15 minutes. Let cool.

Prepare an ice-water bath. Bring a pan of water to a boil. Lightly score bottoms of apricots. Add apricots to boiling water, and blanch to loosen skins, about 1 minute. Using a slotted spoon, transfer to ice-water bath to stop the cooking, about 1 minute. Remove apricots, and gently peel. Cut in quarter, and remove pits.
Arrange apricots in concentric circles, sitting upright with the cut side on a slight angle.
Bake until browned, about 50 minutes. Let cool.
Remove the tart ring; dust with icing sugar and serve.

Serves: 8

For best results, use tart pans that have removable bottoms

• Ingredients

All-purpose flour, for dusting
1 recipe never fail pie crust
8 firm but ripe apricots(about 1 1/2 pounds), pitted and cut into sixths
1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon sugar, plus more for sprinkling
1 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch
Pinch of salt
1 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
Zest of 1/2 lemon
1 tablespoon heavy cream

• preparation

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
Roll dough out into one 12-inch circle, and drape over tart pan that has removable bottoms.
In a medium bowl, toss apricots together with sugar, cornstarch, salt, lemon juice, zest and cream. Spoon apricot mixture in tart pans. Spread out evenly. sprinkle with sugar.
Place tart on a baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes; lower oven temperature to 375°.
Continue to bake until tart is evenly browned and apricots are bubbling, about 25 minutes more. Transfer tart from baking sheet to a cooling rack, and cool completely. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Serves: 8

• Ingredients

For the crust:

1/4 cup semi sweet chocolate, melted
1/4 cup butter
3/4 cup Graham crumbs
1 tablespoon cocoa


For the raspberry filling:
one 10-ounce package raspberries, pureed and strained
1/4 cup sugar
1 tablespoon corn starch
1 tablespoon lemon juice

For the custard:
1/4 cup sugar
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 cup milk
2 egg yolks

1 tablespoon rum
1/4 cup sugar

• preparation

the crust:
In a medium bowl, Mix chocolate with butter. Combine with crumbs. Line bottom and sides of a 9-inch pie dish. Bake 12 minutes at 350 degrees.

the raspberry filling:
Combine ingredients in double boiler. Whisk until thickened. Cool and cover.
Dissolve 1 envelop unflavored gelatin with 1/4 cup water Allow to set for 5 minutes, and mix in with the raspberry filling.

the custard:

In a saucepan, combine sugar, corn starch and milk. Cook over medium heat until thick. Mix in egg yolks.
Cook one more minute. Set aside.
Cool and cover.
Mix half of the custard with 1/4 cup melted semi sweet chocolate.
Pour over crust bottom. Refrigerate until firm.
Spoon in raspberry mixture. Chill to set.
Add 1 tablespoon rum to remaining custard. Cool. Beat egg whites with cream of tartar.
Add 1/4 cup sugar. Continue beating until firm. Fold into custard.
Spoon over pie. Chill.

Serves: 8

• Ingredients

1 recipe never fail pie crust

3 large eggs
1/3 cup light brown sugar
1 cup maple syrup
1 teaspoon cider vinegar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 teaspoons melted butter
1 cup black walnuts, chopped

• preparation

Preheat oven at 375 degrees. Roll out the dough over an 8 inch pie plate, trimming and crimping the edge. Chill dough.
FILLING:
In a mixing bowl, beat the eggs with brown sugar.
Stir in the maple syrup, vinegar, and melted butter. Spread the coarsely chopped black walnuts evenly on the bottom of the shell.
Pour the filling over them.
Bake pie for 35 minutes.
The center will not be completely set. It will set as pie cools.
Can be made one day in advance.

Serves: 8

• Ingredients

4 cups blueberries
1 cup sugar
1/3 cup cornstarch
1/4 cup lemon juice

• preparation

Mix blueberries, sugar and lemon juice in a heavy saucepan.
Bring to boil, stirring frequently. Mix cornstarch with enough water to make a paste. Pour into the berry mixture, stirring constantly until thick. Cool.
The mixture can be cooled and stored orpPour into unbaked pie shell and bake at 400 degrees for about 35 minutes or until crust is golden.

Serves: 8

• Ingredients

Shell:
1-1/4 cups graham cracker crumbs
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup finely chopped pecans
1/2 cup melted butter
Filling:
1-(8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs, beaten
Topping:
4 cups blueberries
1 cup sugar
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 teaspoon. lemon juice
whipped cream (optional)

• preparation

For shell:
Combine cracker crumbs, brown sugar, nuts and butter; press into a 9-inch pie pan. For filling:
Combine cream cheese, sugar and eggs. Mix thoroughly and pour over shell. Bake for 20 minutes at 350 degrees. Cool.
For topping:
Mix topping ingredients and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until mixture thickens. Cool. Top pie with cooled topping and serve with whipped cream, if desired.

Serves: 8

• Ingredients

Double Crust Pie Dough
Makes enough pastry for 1 2-crust pie

Ingredients:
2 1/3 cups All-purpose flour
4 tsp Granulated sugar
1 tsp Salt
1 cup Cool unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
1 Large egg, directly from the fridge
2 tbsp Cold water
2 tsp White vinegar or lemon juice

Cooked Blueberry Filling:
4 cups fresh or frozen blueberries
1 medium apple, peeled and coarsely grated
1 cup sugar
1 Tbsp lemon or lime juice
1 tsp lemon or lime zest
¼ tsp ground cinnamon
2 ½ Tbsp cornstarch
Assembly:
1 recipe Double crust pie dough
1 egg mixed with 2 Tbsp water, for brushing
Turbinado or granulated sugar, for sprinkling

• preparation

Directions for Double Crust Pie Dough:
Combine the flour, sugar and salt. Cut butter into small pieces (you can pull the butter from the fridge 30 minutes before adding) and add to the flour, mixing it in until the dough is a rough, crumbly texture.
Whisk the egg, water and vinegar or lemon juice and add it all at once, mixing until dough comes together. Shape dough into 2 logs or discs, wrap them in plastic and chill for at least one hour before rolling.
The pie dough can be frozen for up to 6 months and thawed in the refrigerator.

For the filling, bring the blueberries, apple, sugar, citrus juice, zest and cinnamon up to a simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally, cooking until the blueberries are soft and tender, about 10 minutes. Whisk the cornstarch with a few tablespoons of cold water and add this to the blueberry filling, stirring and returning to a simmer until the filling has thickened and is glossy. Set aside to cool to room temperature. If making ahead, store the filling chilled, but bring it up to room temperature before baking into a pie.

Preheat the oven to 400 F. Pull out the dough from the fridge 15-30 minutes before rolling. On a lightly floured surface, roll out the first disk of dough into a circle just less than ¼-inch thick. Dust a 9-inch pie plate with flour and line the plate with the pastry, leaving the edges untrimmed. Spoon the blueberry filling into the crust.

Roll out the second disk of pastry slightly thinner than the bottom crust, about 1/8 - inch, but into more of a square shape. Use a knife or pastry wheel to cut long strips about ½ -inch wide (you should have between 12 and 18 strips). Lay half of the strips over the blueberry pie filling, leaving a ½ -inch between them. Gently lift alternating strip of pastry, folding them halfway back. Place a new strip of pastry perpendicular against where the strips are folded back, then fold those very pieces over the newly laid strip. Now lift the opposite alternating strips and fold them back as far as they can go (to the edge of that newly laid strip) and place a second perpendicular strip beside it. Repeat this technique moving toward one side of the pie shell, and then repeat towards the other side, until the top has a complete lattice top. Trim away the excess pastry and pinch the edges to create a fluted design. Brush the lattice top with the egg wash and sprinkle with sugar.

Bake the pie for 10 minutes at 400 F, then reduce the oven temperature to 375 F and cook for about another 40 minutes, until the pastry is golden brown. Cool the pie to room temperature and then chill until ready to serve.

Serves: 8

• Ingredients

2 cups sour cream
3 tablespoons flour
3 tablespoons light brown sugar
1 egg, beaten
1 (9 inch) graham cracker crust (unbaked)
1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
2 cups fresh blueberries

• preparation

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Combine sour cream, flour and brown sugar; add egg and beat well.
Place one half of the mixture into the graham cracker crust.
Mix blueberries and 1/2 cup brown sugar together, then spread over sour cream mixture.
Cover berries with remaining cream mixture.
Bake for 25 minutes.
Chill several hours.

Serves: 8

• Ingredients

One recipe Quick and easy pie crust
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
3 eggs
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 pound blueberries
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 cup sugar
garnish with whipped cream

• preparation

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
In a mixing bowl, beat cream cheese, eggs, sugar and vanilla until smooth and creamy.
Pour into crust. Bake for 15 minutes.
In a medium saucepan, combine blueberries, cornstarch and sugar.
Cook over low heat until thick and bubbly. Spread over pie crust. Chill. Decorate top with whipped cream.

Serves: 12

At Seattle's High 5 Pie, owner Dani Cone makes these adorable, portable pies (she calls them "flipsides")

• Ingredients

4 cups all-purpose flour
4 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons sugar
4 sticks unsalted butter (1 pound), cut into 1/2-inch dice and chilled
3/4 cup ice water

FILLING AND TOPPING
1 1/2 cups pecans (6 ounces)
2 cups sugar
6 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/2 cup heavy cream
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
Salt
1 cup corn syrup
5 large eggs, 1 egg beaten
1/4 cup turbinado sugar, for sprinkling

• preparation

In a large (preferably 12-cup) food processor, combine the flour, salt and sugar. Add the butter and pulse in 1-second bursts until the mixture resembles coarse meal. Drizzle the ice water over the dough and pulse in 1-second bursts until it just comes together. Turn the dough out onto a work surface, gather up any crumbs and pat into 2 disks. Wrap the disks in plastic and refrigerate until chilled, about 1 hour.

On a floured work surface, roll out 1 disk of the dough to a 16-inch square, a scant 1/4 inch thick. Using a small pot lid or plate (5 1/2 to 6 inches) as a template, cut out as many dough rounds as possible. Repeat with the second disk of dough. Reroll the scraps, chilling if necessary, for a total of 12 dough rounds. Transfer the pastry rounds to parchment paper–lined baking sheets and refrigerate until chilled, about 20 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 375°. Spread the pecans on a baking sheet and toast for about 8 minutes, until browned and fragrant. Let cool, then coarsely chop the nuts.
In a medium saucepan, combine 1 cup of the sugar with 1/2 cup of water. Cook over moderate heat, swirling the pan gently once the caramel begins to form, until the caramel is medium-amber, about 9 minutes. Remove from the heat and whisk in the butter, cream, 1 teaspoon of the vanilla extract and a pinch of salt. Transfer 1 cup of the caramel to a large bowl and let cool slightly. (Save any remaining caramel for later use.) Whisk the remaining 1 cup of sugar and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract and the corn syrup into the caramel in the bowl. Whisk in the 4 unbeaten eggs until smooth. Add the pecans and a generous pinch of salt.
Spray a 9-by-13-inch baking pan with vegetable oil spray. Pour the pecan filling into the pan and bake for about 30 minutes, until set. Let cool slightly, then scrape the pecan filling into a bowl and gently stir to recombine.
Refrigerate until chilled, about 1 hour.

Working with one baking sheet at a time, brush the pastry surfaces lightly with some of the beaten egg. Scoop a scant 1/4 cup of the pecan filling onto each round and fold the pastry over to make a turnover. Press the edges to seal and crimp with the tines of a floured fork. Refrigerate the hand pies while you prepare the rest.
Brush the tops of the pies with the beaten egg and sprinkle with the turbinado sugar. Using a sharp knife, make a small slit in the top of each pie. Bake the pies in the middle and lower thirds of the oven for 40 minutes, until the pastry is golden brown; shift the pans halfway through baking. Let the pies cool on the baking sheets before serving.
MAKE AHEAD
The pies can be refrigerated for up to 4 days. Rewarm before serving.

Serves: 8

• Ingredients

1/2 to 3/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoons water
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons whipping cream
9 fresh apricots, halved, pitted, or 18 canned apricot halves in extra light syrup well drained
1 9-ounce sheet frozen puff pastry thawed

• preparation

Preheat to 425°F. Combine 1/2 cup sugar if using canned apricots (or 3/4 cup sugar if using fresh apricots) and 2 tablespoons water in heavy small saucepan. Stir over medium-low heat until sugar dissolves.
Increase heat and boil without stirring until syrup is deep amber, about 8 minutes.
Add butter and cream (mixture will bubble vigorously). Stir over low heat until any caramel bits are dissolved. Immediately pour caramel into nonstick 10-inch-diameter ovenproof skillet; swirl to cover bottom of skillet. Carefully place apricot halves, rounded side down, tightly together atop caramel.
Roll out puff pastry sheet on lightly floured surface to 12 1/2-inch square.
Using 12-inch tart pan bottom or platter as guide, cut pastry into 12-inch round. Place puff pastry round atop apricots in skillet.
Gently press down pastry around apricots at edge of skillet.
Bake tart until pastry is puffed and deep golden, about 25 minutes. Remove from oven; cool 1 minute.
Cut around edge of pastry to loosen. Place large rimmed platter atop skillet.
Using oven mitts as aid, hold skillet and platter tightly together and invert, allowing tart and syrup to fall onto platter.
Carefully lift off skillet. Rearrange any apricots that may have become dislodged. Serve warm.

Serves: 8

• Ingredients

1/2 cup fresh cranberries
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1 tablespoon cornstarch
3 large ripe pears
1/2 cup butter
1 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon finely grated orange peel
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
6 sheets phyllo pastry
icing sugar

• preparation

Toss fresh cranberries with cornstarch. Reserve.
Peel pears; core and chop into bite-size pieces.
Melt two tablespoons of the butter in a heavy skillet over high heat. Add pears and toss to coat in butter. Sprinkle with sugar and add fresh cranberries. Cook, tossing, until pears are golden and cranberries are beginning to split.
Stir in dried cranberries, orange peel, ginger and cinnamon. Cool to room temperature.
Melt remaining butter. Spread a sheet of phyllo on counter and brush evenly with butter. Add remaining layers, brushing liberally with butter between each layer. Leaving a 1-inch border along one of the short sides of the pastry and at top and bottom, spoon the pear mixture in a band down the side of the phyllo.
Fold over the edge and roll to encase fruit. Brush all edges with additional butter and press together to fully encase fruit.
Turn phyllo bundle so that the seam side faces down on a foil-lined, rimmed baking sheet. Brush remaining butter over top.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Slice three vent holes in strudel using a sharp knife. Bake for 20 minutes or until golden .
Cool pan on a rack. Sprinkle with icing sugar. Serve sliced at room temperature or warm.

Serves: 6

• Ingredients

1 puff pastry sheet, store-bought
1 egg, whisked
A handful of finely chopped parsley
1 cup mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup ricotta cheese
A heaping tablespoon crème fraiche or sour cream, or cream cheese
A dozen artichoke hearts, jarred ones
1 to 2 tablespoons capers
1 Serrano pepper, thinly sliced
Lemon zest
Basil or cilantro
Salt and pepper
Shaved Parmesan

• preparation

1. Preheat the oven at 400°F or 205°C.
2. Roll the pastry sheet to 0.5 cm or 1/4 inches. Trim the pastry into a 12 x 9 inch rectangle (or 30 x 23 cm). Sketch a border around the pastry using your knife. You can layer the excess dough over the borders and create a rim for the dough.
3. Brush the edges of the pastry with egg. Combine the mozzarella, ricotta, parsley, crème fraiche, remaining egg (from brushing the pastry), salt and pepper in a bowl.
4. Spread the cheese filling all over the pastry. Arrange the artichoke hearts, Serrano peppers, and capers on top, and bake for 25-30 minutes. You can broil the tart for 2 mins at the end.
5. Finish off the tart with shaved Parmesan, cilantro, and lemon zest on top.

Serves: 8

• Ingredients

½ cup Unsalted Butter Melted (cooled to room temperature)
½ cup Granulated Sugar
1 ½ cups All-Purpose Flour
½ teaspoon Baking Soda
½ teaspoon Baking Powder
¼ teaspoon Salt
2 cups Fresh Cherries (pitted, each sliced in half)
1 tablespoon Cornstarch
1 tablespoon Lemon Juice
1 teaspoon Granulated Sugar

• preparation

Preheat oven to 375℉.
Line a square 8" baking pan with parchment paper. Butter the sides and bottom of lined pan. Set aside.
In a medium mixing bowl, stir together cherries, cornstarch and lemon juice.
2 cups fresh cherries,1 Tablespoon cornstarch,1 Tablespoon lemon juice.

In a large mixing bowl, stir together melted butter and sugar.
½ cup unsalted butter melted,½ cup granulated sugar
Add flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt and stir with a fork until the mixture resembles crumbs.
1 ½ cup all-purpose flour,½ teaspoon baking soda,½ teaspoon baking powder,¼ teaspoon salt
Reserve ¾ cup of mixture.

Press remaining crumb mixture into the bottom of prepared pan.
Spread cherry filling over the crust.
Sprinkle remaining crumb mixture over cherries.

Sprinkle sugar over crumb topping.
1 teaspoon granulated sugar
Bake bars for about 25 minutes OR until the top is golden.
Cool completely before cutting.

Serves: 8

• Ingredients

1 recipe never fail pie crust, baked

1 cup mincemeat
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1/2 cup brandy
1 envelop unflavored gelatin
3 egg yolks
2 teaspoons sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon grated lemon rind
2/3 cup milk
3 egg whites
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
2 teaspoons sugar
1 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup chopped candied cherries

• preparation

In a medium saucepan, combine mincemeat, lemon juice, Brandy and gelatin. Let stand for 5 minutes. Heat to dissolve gelatin.
In a double boiler, combine egg yolks, sugar, salt, lemon rind, and milk. Stir until thickened. Combine with mincemeat mixture. Chill on ice. Spoon into pie crust.
Whisk egg whites with cream of tartar. Gradually add sugar, and whisk until firm peaks appear.
Whip cream until firm.
Fold into egg white mixture together with candied cherries. Top pie with cream mixture.
Brown in 450 F. oven.

Serves: 10

• Ingredients

10

For the crust:
1/4 cup sugar
1 cup cracker crumbs
1 teaspoon cocoa
1/3 cup butter, melted

For the filling:
8 ounces semi sweet chocolate
1 envelop unflavored gelatin (or 3 large sheets)
1/4 cup cold water
3/4 cup sugar
8 egg yolks
2 cups scalded milk
2 cups heavy cream

Garnish:
whipped cream
chocolate shavings

• preparation

Crust:
Combine first 4 ingredients. Press mixture on bottom of a 9 inch pie pan . Refrigerate.

Filling:
Melt chocolate over a double boiler. Dissolve gelatin in cold water. If using gelatin sheets, immerse in cold water.
Cream sugar and egg yolks. Slowly pour the boiling milk over egg mixture. Pour into saucepan.
Stir with a wooden spoon over low heat until the mixture coats the back of the spoon.
Do not boil. Stir in the gelatin and melted chocolate. Strain into a bowl. Cool mixture.
Whip the heavy cream to a medium peak. Fold 2/3 into the cool chocolate custard. Save remaining for garnish.
Pour into prepared pie. Refrigerate for 2 hours.
Decorate with whipped cream and chocolate shavings.

Serves: 8

• Ingredients

1 9-inch pie crust, unbaked

3 large eggs
1 cup sugar
2 teaspoons sweet butter
1 cup dark corn syrup
1 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/4 cup Bourbon
1/2 cup semi sweet chocolate
1 cup whole pecans

• preparation

Preheat oven tot 375 degrees. In a large bowl, beat the eggs, sugar, melted butter, corn syrup, vanilla and bourbon until well combined. Strain.
Grate the chocolate into bits. Sprinkle over the bottom of unbaked pie crust. Cover with the pecans.
Pour mixture into pie shell.
Bake for 35 to 40 minutes.
Cool for an hour before serving.

Serves: 8

• Ingredients

Crust:
1 cup Graham cracker crumb
1/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoons melted butter
1 teaspoon cocoa

1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
2 cups whipping cream
6 ounces white chocolate, chopped
1 teaspoon grated orange peel
1 cup whole berry cranberry sauce

• preparation

Crust:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Combine first 4 ingredients. Place in a food processor until fine. Press on bottom and sides of a greased 9 inch pie plate.
Bake for 10 minutes. Set aside to cool.
In a mixing bowl, combine chocolate chips and 2 tablespoons cream.
Microwave to melt chocolate or heat over medium heat to melt. Spread chocolate mixture in bottom of pie crust.
Refrigerate until chocolate is set.
Melt white chocolate with 1/4 cup of the cream in microwave or over low heat. Stir until smooth. Refrigerate to cool.
Beat remaining cream in an electric mixer until stiff peaks form. Fold 1 cup of the whipped cream into white chocolate mixture until blended.
Fold remaining cream and orange peel into mixture; blend well. Spoon of the whipped cream mixture over chocolate mixture. stir cranberry sauce by spoonfuls over whipped cream to swirl.
Repeat with another of the whipped cream to swirl. Repeat with another of the whipped cream mixture and remaining cranberry sauce.
Spoon or pipe remaining of the whipped cream mixture around edge of pie.
Refrigerate for 6 hours or until firm.

Serves: 8

• Ingredients

1 9-inch Quick and easy pie crust

1/2 cup semi sweet chocolate, melted
2/3 cup white corn syrup
1/3 cup sugar
3 eggs
3/4 cup pecans, coarsely chopped

• preparation

Preheat oven at 400 degrees.
In a large bowl, thoroughly combine melted chocolate, corn syrup, sugar and eggs. Stir in the pecans.
Pour mixture into pie shell. Bake for 10 minutes.
Reduce temperature to 350 degrees, and bake 20 minutes longer.
Cool then chill. Slice and serve with ice cream and Satin chocolate sauce.

Serves: 8

• Ingredients

200 grams (7 oz) of dark chocolate
150 ml (6 oz) cream
PATE SABLEE, baked (see recipe)
150 grams (5 oz) fresh raspberries
Icing sugar

• preparation

Prepare the PATE SABLEE crust, baked (see recipe)

Melt the dark chocolate in a water bath, then add the liquid cream while mixing vigorously to obtain a smooth and unctuous ganache.

Pour this preparation onto the precooked pie bottom, then allow to cool.

Arrange the fresh raspberries on top and sprinkle with a icing sugar.

Serves: 8

The perfect Valentine cake

• Ingredients

For the chocolate Crust:

1 2/3 cups finely crushed chocolate graham crackers
1/2 cup butter, melted

For the raspberry Coulis:

12 oz fresh raspberries
3 tablespoons granulated sugar
2 teaspooons lemon juice

Chocolate Filling:

1 1/2 cup heavy cream
1 lb bittersweet chocolate
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt

• preparation

For The Crust: Preheat the oven to 350 F. Crush the graham crackers in a food processor until it’s fine and resembles coarse sand. Set aside. Melt the butter in a large mixing bowl, and then stir in the crushed graham crackers, mixing until well combined. Press the crust into a tart pan, and bake for 7-9 minutes or until set. Remove from oven and allow to cool while assembling the chocolate filling and raspberry coulis.

For The Raspberry Coulis: Combine the raspberries, sugar and lemon juice in a saucepan over medium heat. Bring the mixture to a low boil, about 5 minutes. Once the mixture reaches a boil, remove from heat. Blend with an immersion blender, or transfer to a blender. Blend until smooth. Strain the mixture through a fine mesh sieve to remove seeds, and set aside.

For The Chocolate Filling: Heat the heavy cream and chocolate together in a mixing bowl in the microwave at 15 second increments, or until the chocolate is fully melted and smooth. Stir in the vanilla extract and salt.

Assembly: Pour 1 cup of the raspberry coulis into the bottom of the crust, making sure it coats the crust evenly. Spoon the chocolate filling evenly on top of the raspberry layer. Transfer to the fridge, and allow to chill for at least 2 hours, and up to overnight. Top with fresh raspberries just before serving, and serve with extra raspberry coulis drizzled on top.

Serves: 24

Mince pies can be made ahead, frozen and reheated as required.
Fruit mince will keep for months in an airtight container in refrigerator. The flavors will intensify the longer it is left before using.

• Ingredients

300g (2 cups) plain flour
1/4 tsp baking powder
6 1/2 oz 185g unsalted butter, chopped
55g (1/4 cup) sugar, plus extra for sprinkling
2 egg yolks
1-2 tbsp lemon juice
1 egg white, whisked

for the cranberry studded mince- makes about 600ml / 2½ cups

2 oz - 60 ml brandy, rum or ruby port
2 1/2 oz - 75 grams soft dark brown sugar
11 oz - 300 grams cranberries, chopped
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger
½ teaspoon ground cloves
3 oz - 75 grams currants
3 oz - 75 grams raisins
1 oz -30 grams dried cranberries
finely grated zest and juice of 1 clementine
2 tbsp brandy
3 drops almond extract
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons honey

• preparation

Preheat oven to 375 F - 190°C .
Sift flour and baking powder into a bowl. Rub in butter using fingertips until mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Stir in the sugar. Add egg yolks and enough lemon juice to bring ingredients together to form a dough.
Knead dough gently on a lightly floured surface until smooth. Halve, wrap in plastic wrap and chill for at least 30 minutes. Roll out one pastry half between 2 sheets of baking paper until 1/4 inch or less, 3-5mm thick. Using a 2 1/2 inch (6.5cm) fluted round cutter, cut out 12 rounds, reserving leftover pastry. Place rounds into one of the prepared pans. Spoon 2 teaspoons of fruit mince into each. Repeat with second pastry half and fruit mince.
Re-roll scraps of pastry and cut into small stars. Top each pie with a star. Brush with egg white and sprinkle with extra sugar. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden. Leave to cool completely in pans. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Make the mince fruit in advance.
In a large pan, dissolve the sugar in the brandy, rum or ruby port over a gentle heat. Add the chopped cranberries and stir. Add the cinnamon, ginger and cloves, currants, raisins, dried cranberries and the zest and juice of the clementine. Bring to a gentle simmer and cook for 20 minutes, or until the fruit has broken down and has absorbed most of the liquid in the pan.
Remove from the heat and allow to cool a little. Add the brandy, almond extract, vanilla extract and honey and stir well with a wooden spoon to mash the mixture down into a paste.

Serves: 8

• Ingredients

1 Prepared 9-inch pie shell

FOR THE FILLING:
2 cups milk
3 egg yolks
½ cup/100 grams sugar
½ teaspoon salt
2 ½ tablespoons/20 grams cornstarch
1 tablespoon butter, melted
½ teaspoon vanilla
1 cup/98 grams sweetened, flaked coconut

FOR THE MERINGUE:
½ cup/49 grams unsweetened coconut
3 egg whites
¼ teaspoon cream of tartar
6 tablespoons/75 grams sugar

• preparation

Partially blind-bake the pie shell: Heat oven to 425 degrees. Roll out chilled pie dough and place in a 9-inch pie pan. (Glass is best.) Trim and flute or crimp the edges, pierce the bottom crust with a fork. then cover with a large square of parchment or foil. It should hang over the edges. Carefully pour 2 or 3 cups of dried beans or pie weights onto the foil or parchment, and spread evenly so they reach up the sides of the pie. Bake 12 to 16 minutes or until crust is lightly browned. If crust edges are browning too quickly, make a little collar from foil and cover for remaining baking time.
Make the filling:
Scald milk by placing it in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir frequently until it just begins to foam and bubble around the edges. Set aside to let cool slightly. In the top of a double boiler, or in another saucepan that will fit over a pot of boiling water, beat together egg yolks, sugar, salt and cornstarch. Stir in melted butter, then add the milk.
Place the saucepan over the boiling water and whisk until the mixture thickens. This will take 2 to 5 minutes. Remove from heat, stir in vanilla and sweetened coconut until well distributed. Pour into the pie shell.
Make the meringue: Toast the unsweetened coconut lightly in a small sauté pan on the stove over medium heat, stirring frequently to prevent burning. Set aside. In a stand mixer or with a bowl and whisk, mix egg whites and cream of tartar until the mixture is foamy. If using a stand mixer, keep speed on medium. Then, turn mixer to high and gradually pour in sugar, a tablespoon at a time. If whisking, make sure sugar is dissolved before each new addition of sugar. Keep beating until the meringue is glossy and forms soft peaks. Be careful not to whip into stiff peaks.
Pour the meringue over the pie filling. Using a spatula (an offset version works well), scoot the meringue to the edge of the crust so it forms a seal. Swirl the spatula through the rest of the meringue, distributing it evenly and dipping the edge of the spatula across the top of the meringue to make little peaks. Sprinkle evenly with the unsweetened coconut.
Bake 15 to 20 minutes, or until meringue is golden brown. Cool on a wire rack. Refrigerate for at least 3 hours before serving.

Serves: 8

• Ingredients

1 9-inch pie crust, fully cooked
1 pound apples
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon flour
1/4 cup molasses
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon salt

Topping:
1/2 cup graham cracker crumbs
4 teaspoons melted butter
2 teaspoons brown sugar

• preparation

Preheat oven to 375 degrees Peel and core apples.
Cut into wedges. Stew in 1/4 cup water.
In a large bowl, combine sugar, flour, molasses, cinnamon,
nutmeg and salt. Add apples.
Spoon in pie shell.
Combine the topping ingredients in a bowl.
Sprinkle evenly over the pie.
Bake for 40-45 minutes.

Serves: 8

• Ingredients

9 sheets phyllo
1/2 cup melted butter
1/3 cup sugar

Filling:
3 cups cranberries
4 pears, peeled, cored and diced
1 cup golden raisins
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup orange juice
1 teaspoon cornstarch
1 teaspoon grated orange rind

For garnish:
mint leaves, phyllo flowers and frosted cranberries

• preparation

Filling:
Set aside 1/4 cup of the cranberries for garnish. Combine cranberries, pears, raisins, sugar and orange juice. Bring to boil; cook, covered, over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until pears are almost tender and cranberries pop.
Combine cornstarch with 1 tablespoon cold water; stir into fruit mixture. Cook for about 1 minute. or until thickened. Remove from heat; stir in orange rind. Let cool.
Arrange 1 sheet phyllo on work surface. Brush lightly with butter. Place in lightly butter 10-inch tart pan with removable bottom, letting excess hang over edge. Sprinkle with 2 teaspoons of the sugar. Brush second sheet with butter, place on first, rotating a quarter turn. Sprinkle with another 2 teaspoons sugar. Layer with 2 more sheets, brushing each sheet with butter, sprinkling with sugar and rotating so not aligned with layers below.
Spread filling over phyllo crust. Fold pastry edges over top. Layer remaining phyllo on top, rotating, buttering and sprinkling with sugar. Gently fold top pastry under bottom. Using knife, cut vents in top of pastry. (Tart can be prepared up to this point and refrigerated covered for up to 4 hours).
Bake in 400 degree oven 30-35 minutes until pastry is crisp and golden. Remove from oven; let stand for 10 minutes in pan on rack. Remove from pan; slide onto serving platter. Garnish: top with phyllo flowers. Scatter frosted cranberries on top and around side. Top with orange rind, and mint. Serve warm.
For garnish: Phyllo flowers: Arrange 2 stacks of phyllo pastry on work surface. cut out six 4-inch circles; wet center of 1 circle with water; top with second circle. Pinch centers together to make flower shapes. Spray with non-stick cooking spray; place in small muffin cups. Sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoons sugar. Repeat with remaining circles. Bake in 400 degree oven until golden.
Frosted Cranberries: In bowl, lightly beat 1 egg white until frothy. Pour 1/4 cup sugar in shallow bowl. Dip reserved cranberries, a few at a time, in egg white; remove with slotted spoon. Roll in sugar until coated. Place on paper towel; let dry at room temperature for 1 hour.

Serves: 12

• Ingredients

9 sheets phyllo
1/2 cup melted butter
1/3 cup sugar

Filling:
3 cups cranberries
4 pears, peeled, cored and diced
1 cup golden raisins
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup orange juice
1 teaspoon cornstarch
1 teaspoon grated orange rind

For garnish:
phyllo flowers and frosted cranberries

• preparation

Filling:
Set aside 1/4 cup of the cranberries for garnish. Combine cranberries, pears, raisins, sugar and orange juice. Bring to boil; cook, covered, over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until pears are almost tender and cranberries pop.
Combine cornstarch with 1 tablespoon cold water; stir into fruit mixture. Cook for about 1 minute. or until thickened. Remove from heat; stir in orange rind. Let cool.
Arrange 1 sheet phyllo on work surface. Brush lightly with butter.
Place in lightly butter 10-inch tart pan with removable bottom, letting excess hang over edge. Sprinkle with 2 teaspoons of the sugar. Brush second sheet with butter, place on first, rotating a quarter turn.
Sprinkle with another 2 teaspoons sugar.
Layer with 2 more sheets, brushing each sheet with butter, sprinkling with sugar and rotating so not aligned with layers below.
Spread filing over phyllo crust. Fold pastry edges over top.
Layer remaining phyllo on top, rotating, buttering and sprinkling with sugar.
Gently fold top pastry under bottom.
Using knife, cut vents in top of pastry.
Tart can be prepared up to this point and refrigerated covered for up to 4 hours.
Bake in 400 degree oven 30-35 minutes until pastry is crisp and golden. Remove from oven; let stand for 10 minutes in pan on rack.
Remove from pan; slide onto serving platter.
Garnish:
Top with phyllo flowers. Scatter Frosted Cranberries on top and around side.
Top with orange rind, and mint (if using) Serve warm. For garnish: Phyllo flowers:
Arrange 2 stacks of phyllo pastry on work surface. cut out six-4 inch circles; wet center of 1 circle with water; top with second circle. Pinch centres together to make flower shapes. Spray with non-stick cooking spray; place in small muffin cups.
Sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoons sugar.
Repeat with remaining circles.
Bake in 400 degree oven until golden.
Frosted Cranberries:
In bowl, lightly beat 1 egg white until frothy. Pour 1/4 cup sugar in shallow bowl. Dip reserved cranberries, a few at a time, in egg white; remove with slotted spoon.
Roll in sugar until coated. Place on paper towel; let dry at room temperature for 1 hour.

Serves: 8

• Ingredients

2 cups cranberries, chopped (I use a bag of Ocean Spray fresh cranberries)
½ cup walnuts, toasted and chopped
1 ¼ cups sugar, divided
2 large eggs
¾ cup (1 ½ sticks) unsalted butter, melted and cooled
1 cup flour
¼ tsp salt
¼ tsp almond extract

• preparation

Preheat the oven to 350º. Butter the bottom and up the sides of a 10” pie plate.
Spread the chopped cranberries and walnuts over the bottom of the pie plate. Sprinkle the mixture with ¼ cup of sugar.
Whisk the flour, salt, and remaining 1 cup of sugar in a large bowl. Beat in melted butter. Add eggs, one at a time, and mix until smooth. Stir in the almond extract. Do not overmix.
Pour batter on top of the cranberry/walnut mixture and bake for 40 minutes, or until the top is puffed and just beginning to turn a golden. Cool completely on a wire rack.

Serves: 12

• Ingredients

For crust:
1 1/3 cups all purpose flour
2 tablespoons sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
4 ounces cold butter
1 large egg yolk
1 1/2 tablespoons ice cold water

For filling:
3 large eggs
2/3 cup brown sugar
2/3 cup light corn syrup
2 ounces melted butter
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/4 cups cranberries, coarsely chopped
1 cup chopped walnuts

• preparation

Preheat oven at 425 degrees.
Make shell:
In a mixing bowl, blend together the flour, sugar, and salt, add cut up butter, and mix to form a coarse meal. Add egg yolk and water, and mix to form the dough into a ball. Chill the dough for 30 minutes.
Roll dough out thinly to fit into a 10-inch round tart pan with a removable bottom.
Line the shell with foil, fill bottom of shell with rice or dry beans. Bake for 15 minutes. Remove foil and rice. Cool.
In a mixing bowl, beat together the eggs, sugar, syrup, butter, salt, and vanilla.
Stir in the cranberries and walnuts. Pour mixture in shell, and bake at 350 degrees for 40 to 45 minutes to form a golden crust on top.
Cool tart, remove rim of the pan, and slide tart onto a serving platter.

Serves: 8

• Ingredients

Crust:
1 1/2 cups flour
2 teaspoons finely grated orange rind
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup cold butter, cubed
1/4 cup cold shortening, cubed
1 egg yolk
1 teaspoon vinegar

Filling:
1 14 ounce can pumpkin purée
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 package (4 ounces) cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup whipping cream
2 eggs
1 tablespoon flour
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla

Topping:
1/2 cup whipping cream, whipped

• preparation

Crust:
Combine flour, rind and salt; using pastry blender or 2 knives, cut in butter and shortening until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. In measuring cup, whisk egg yolk with vinegar; pour in enough ice water to make 1/3 cup. Drizzle egg mixture over flour mixture; toss with fork until dough starts to hold together, adding a little more ice water if necessary.
Form into ball; press into disc. Wrap in plastic wrap; refrigerate for 1 hour. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. On floured surface, roll out pastry to 1/8 inch thickness. Place in 9 inch pie plate, draping loosely . Without stretching, fit into plate. Trim edges to leave 1 inch overhang. Fold edge under and flute. Prick shell all over and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
Gather pastry scraps together and roll out. Using small pumpkin shaped cookie cutter, cut out 11 shapes. Transfer to baking sheet; bake in bottom third of oven for about 12 minutes or until golden. Transfer to rack, let cool. Line pastry shell with foil; fill evenly with pie weights or dried beans. Bake in bottom third of oven for 15 minutes; remove weights and foil. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes longer or until pastry just starts to turn golden. Reduce heat to 350 degrees.
In food processor, purée pumpkin, sugar, cheese, cream, eggs, flour, cinnamon, vanilla, ginger, nutmeg and salt. Pour into pie shell; bake in bottom third of oven for 1 hour or until set in center.
Let cool on rack.
Topping:
Pipe cream into 8 rosettes around edge; top each with pastry pumpkin cookies.

Serves: 8

• Ingredients

Pie Crust
1¼ cups all-purpose flour, plus more for rolling out the dough
½ teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon sugar
3 tablespoons vegetable shortening or butter , chilled
4 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cubed
4-5 tablespoons ice water

Apple Filling
5 large Granny Smith apples (about 2½ pounds)
4 large McIntosh apples (about 2 pounds)
¼ cup granulated sugar
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
Pinch of salt
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
½ cup heavy cream

Streusel Topping
1¼ cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup light brown sugar
1/3 cup granulated sugar
7 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

• preparation

1. For the pie crust: Process the flour, salt and sugar in a food processor until combined. Add the shortening or butter and process until the mixture has the texture of coarse sand, about 10 seconds. Scatter the butter pieces over the flour mixture; cut the butter into the flour until the mixture is pale yellow and resembles coarse crumbs, with butter bits no larger than small peas, about ten 1-second pulses. Sprinkle 4 tablespoons of the ice water over the mixture. Continue to pulse until the mixture comes together in a loose ball. Flatten the dough into a disk, wrap in plastic and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or up to 2 days.

Note: If you do not have a food processor, use this method to make the pie dough: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar and salt. Scatter the shortening and butter over the dry ingredients and, using a pastry blender or your fingers, work the fat into the flour mixture until it looks like coarse sand. Then sprinkle the water over the mixture and use a fork to incorporate until it is evenly moistened and the dough will hold together when pinched between your fingers.

2. Remove the dough from the refrigerator. Roll the dough on a lightly floured work surface to a 12-inch circle. Transfer the dough to a 9-inch pie plate. Ease the dough into the pan corners. Trim the dough edges to extend about ½ inch beyond the rim of the pan. Fold the overhang under itself; flute the dough or press the tines of a fork against the dough to flatten it against the rim of the pie plate. Refrigerate the dough-lined pie plate until firm, about 40 minutes, then freeze until very cold, about 20 minutes.

3. Adjust an oven rack to the lower-middle position and hat the oven to 375 degrees F. Remove the dough-lined pie plate from the freeze, press a doubled 12-inch piece of heavy-duty foil inside the pie shell, and fold the edges of the foil to shield the fluted edge; distribute 2 cups ceramic or metal pie weights over the foil. Bake, leaving the foil and weights in place until the dough looks dry and is light in color, 25 to 30 minutes. Carefully remove the foil and weights. Continue baking until deep golden brown, about 12 minutes more. Transfer to a wire rack and increase the oven temperature to 425 degrees F.

4. For the apple filling: Peel, quarter, and core the apples; slice each quarter crosswise into pieces ¼ inch thick. Toss the apples, sugar, cinnamon, and salt in a large bowl to combine. Heat the butter in a large Dutch oven (or pot) over high heat until foaming subsides; add the apples and toss to coat. Reduce the hat to medium-high and cook, covered, stirring occasionally, until the Granny Smith apple slices are tender and the McIntosh apple slices are softened and beginning to break down, about 10 minutes.

5. Set a large colander over a large bowl; transfer the cooked apples to the colander. Shake the colander and toss the apples to drain off as much juice as possible. Bring the drained juice and the cram to a boil in the now-empty Dutch oven over high heat; cook, stirring occasionally, until thickened and a wooden spoon leaves a trail in the mixture, about 5 minutes. Transfer the apples to the prebaked pie shell; pour the reduced juice mixture over and smooth with a rubber spatula.

6. For the streusel topping: Combine the flour and sugars in a medium bowl; drizzle with the melted butter and toss with a fork until evenly moistened and the mixture forms many large chunks with pea-sized pieces mixed throughout. Sprinkle the streusel evenly over the pie filling. Set the pie plate on a baking sheet and bake until the streusel topping is deep golden brown, 10 to 20 minutes. Cool on a wire rack to room temperature and serve.

Makes dough for 1 double crust pie or 2 single crust pies
Dough can be frozen for up to 3 months; thaw before using.

• Ingredients

2 1/2 cups (300 grs) all-purpose flour
1pinch of salt
1 1/2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 stick (8 tablespoons) unsalted butter, cut into small pieces and frozen 15 minutes
1/2 cup chilled solid vegetable shortening, cut into pieces
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar or white vinegar, chilled

• preparation

In the bowl of a food processor, pulse the flour, salt, and sugar. Add butter and shortening and pulse until coarse, pea-sized crumbs appear, about 10 seconds.
With the machine running, add vinegar and 1/4 cup ice water and process until the dough just holds together, about 30 seconds.
Squeeze a small amount of dough between your fingers and if it is very crumbly, add more ice water, 1 tablespoon at a time (2 tablespoons maximum). Do not over process.
Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and push together into a rough ball.
Knead a few times to combine, then divide into two equal balls.
Flatten each ball into a disc with smooth edges, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate at least 1 hour or up to overnight.

Serves: 8

• Ingredients

1 pound puff pastry dough
2 pounds fresh figs
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup butter
8 4-inch round tart molds
Garnish with whipped cream

• preparation

Roll the dough to 1/4-inch thickness.
Cut 8 5-inch pastry circles, and line molds with the circles. Prick dough with a fork and chill for 30 minutes.
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
Cut the figs in 3/8 inch slices. Arrange the slices slightly overlapping on the pastry rounds so that they just reach the edge of the pastry.
Sprinkle 2 tablespoons sugar evenly over each tart and dot the top with butter.
Bake until the pastry is thoroughly browned and the surface of the figs is lightly caramelized, 20 25 minutes.
Serve warm with whipped cream.

Serves: 10

Mustikka means blueberry and piirakka means pie.The berries are the essential ingredient for this pie. You can either use bilberries, wild berries, or frozen blueberries.

• Ingredients

Crust
½ cup butter room temperature
½ cup caster sugar
1 large egg
1/2 cup rye flour
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder

Filling
2 cups fresh blueberries
1 cup sour cream
1 large egg
1/4 tsp cardamom
1 tsp vanilla
4 tbsp fine sugar

• preparation

Mix the crust ingredients by creaming the sugar and butter.
Mix in the egg then the flour with the cardamom and baking powder.
Butter the inside of the baking dish.
Roll out the dough, then spread it over the prepared dish.
Bake the crust for about 10 minutes.
Then remove the crust and spread the berries over the warm crust.
Mix the sour cream, egg, cardamom, vanilla, and sugar and pour over the berries.
Bake for 25 to 30 minutes.
Remove and allow it to cool before serving. It is best served at room temperature.

Serves: 8

• Ingredients

Serves 8

1 recipe never-fail pie crust
1 cup thick apple sauce
5 large baking apples
2 ounces melted butter
1/3 cup sugar
1/2 cup apricot jam
1 tablespoon kirsch or water

• preparation

Roll the dough into a round 1/8 inch thick on a floured surface, drape it over a rolling pin, and fit it into a 10-inch shallow flan pan with a removable ring.
Press the dough firmly into the pan and cut off any excess with the floured rolling pin.
Freeze any leftover dough for future use.
Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Peel and core the apples. Slice into very thin slices.
Cover and spread pie crust with apple sauce. Arrange sliced apples over apple sauce.
Brush apples with butter and sprinkle sugar over apples. Bake the tart at the lowest rack for 30 to 40 minutes or until apples are tender and golden brown.
Remove the tart from the pan and transfer to a rack. In a small saucepan, melt apricot jam with Kirsch or water.
Strain apricot over apple. Spread evenly to form a glaze. Serve at room temperature.

Serves: 8

• Ingredients

1 (9 inch) unbaked pie shell
1/3 cup flour
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
4-1/2 cups fresh blueberries
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 cup flour
1/2 cup margarine or butter

• preparation

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
Combine flour, 1/2 cup sugar, cinnamon and blueberries. Mix well and put into pie shell. Drizzle top with lemon juice.
Combine 1/2 cup brown sugar and flour. Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse meal. Spread topping over berries.
Bake for 30 minutes at 425 degrees, then cover with foil and continue baking for 20 minutes more.

Serves: 8

• Ingredients

4 cups whole milk
1 cup 35 per cent cream
½ tsp salt
3 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice

Crusty bread
Extra-virgin olive oil

• preparation

1. Stir milk, cream and salt in a large saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally to avoid scorching. This will take about 10 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in lemon juice. Let stand, without stirring, for 5 to 8 minutes until mixture separates.

2. Line a colander with 5 layers of cheesecloth. Place lined colander over a bowl so excess liquid can drain. Pour mixture into lined colander and let stand for 1 hour. Transfer ricotta to a serving dish or container. If making ahead, ricotta will keep well, covered and refrigerated, for up to 3 days. Serve with crusty bread and drizzle with extra-virgin olive oil.

Serves: 8

• Ingredients

1 9-inch pie crust, fully cooked
4 egg yolks
1/4 cup sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon grated lime rind
1/3 cup fresh lime juice
4 egg whites
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup heavy cream

• preparation

In a medium mixing bowl, combine egg yolks, sugar, salt, lime rind, and juice. Cook over a double boiler until thickened. Cool thoroughly. Chill.
Whip egg whites until light and fluffy. Add sugar.
Continue beating until firm. Fold into the egg yolks mixture. Whip the cream until stiff. Fold into mixture.
Fill crust. Freeze until firm.

Serves: 8

Bring the luck of the Irish into your home with this Irish coffee flavored pie.

• Ingredients

Crust Ingredients:
1/2 cup graham cracker crumbs
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup butter, softened
2 tablespoons firmly packed brown sugar

Filling Ingredients:
3 1/4 cups miniature marshmallows
1/4 cup milk
2 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons instant coffee granules or
1/4 cup strong espresso coffe
2 tablespoons Irish whiskey
1 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream, whipped
Garnish Ingredients:
chocolate shavings or whipped cream, sweetened, if desired

• preparation

Heat oven to 350°F. Combine all crust ingredients in medium bowl. Press onto bottom and up sides of 9-inch pie pan. Bake for 7 to 10 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool completely.
Combine marshmallows, milk, sugar and coffee granules in 2-quart saucepan. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until marshmallows are melted (10 to 12 minutes). Pour into large bowl; cool completely. Stir Irish whiskey into cooled marshmallow mixture; gently stir in whipped cream. Pour into cooled crust. Refrigerate until set (4 hours or overnight).
Garnish with chocolate shavings or sweetened whipped cream, if desired.

Serves: 8

• Ingredients

1 9-inch Graham cracker pie crust

2 14-ounce cans condensed milk
6 egg yolks
1 cup lime juice
4 egg whites
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
1/4 cup super fine sugar

• preparation

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a mixing bowl, beat condensed milk with egg yolks. Mix in the lime juice. Pour the mixture into the prepared crust.
Bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until pie is firm in center.
In an electric mixing bowl, beat the egg whites with cream of tartar until firm.
Gradually add sugar and continue whipping to form stiff peaks. Spread or pipe egg whites over the baked pie.
Bake at 325 degrees until golden brown. Cool pie on rack and refrigerate before serving.

Serves: 8

• Ingredients

8

1 9-inch
Graham cracker crumb recipe
2 14-ounce cans condensed milk
6 egg yolks
1 cup lime juice
4 egg whites
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
3/4 cup confectioners sugar

• preparation

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a mixing bowl, beat condensed milk with egg yolks. Mix in the lime juice.
Pour the mixture into the prepared crust. Bake for 20 minutes or until pie is firm in center.
In an electric mixing bowl, beat the egg whites with cream of tartar until firm.
Gradually add sugar and continue whipping to form stiff peaks. Spread or pipe egg whites over the baked pie.
Bake at 325 degrees until golden brown Cool pie on rack and refrigerate before serving. Cut into 8 equal portions. Decorate plates with lime gratings and slices.

Serves: 12

Use key limes for traditional flavor in this refreshing dessert.

• Ingredients

Crust Ingredients:
1/3 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon freshly grated key lime peel*
2 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla

Filling ingredients:
1 cup sugar
2/3 cup key lime juice*
1 tablespoon freshly grated key lime peel*
2 eggs
4 egg yolks
6 tablespoons Butter

garnish ingredients:
1 cup whipping cream
2 teaspoons freshly grated key lime peel*

• preparation

Heat oven to 400°F. Combine 1/3 cup sugar and 1/2 cup butter in large bowl. Beat at medium speed, scraping bowl often, until creamy. Reduce speed to low; add flour, 1 tablespoon lime peel, milk and vanilla. Beat until well mixed. Press onto bottom and up sides of greased 10-inch tart or quiche pan. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool completely.
Meanwhile, combine 1 cup sugar, lime juice and 1 tablespoon lime peel in 2-quart saucepan. Cook over medium heat until sugar is dissolved (1 to 2 minutes). Reduce heat to low.
Beat eggs and egg yolks in small bowl with wire whisk. Stir small amount of hot sugar mixture into egg mixture using wire whisk. Gradually stir egg mixture into hot sugar mixture. Continue cooking, stirring constantly, until mixture is thickened (6 to 8 minutes).
Remove from heat. Stir in 6 tablespoons butter, 1 tablespoon at a time, with wire whisk. Cool 15 minutes.
Pour cooled filling into crust; smooth top. Cover; refrigerate at least 2 hours.
Just before serving, beat whipping cream in small bowl at high speed, scraping bowl often, until stiff peaks form (2 to 3 minutes). Place whipped cream in pastry bag fitted with large star tip. Pipe whipped cream onto tart; sprinkle with 2 teaspoons lime peel. *Substitute regular lime peel and lime juice. TIP: To get the most juice from limes, grate limes first. Then microwave limes on HIGH for 30 to 45 seconds to warm slightly before juicing. If additional Key lime juice is needed, add bottled Key lime juice.

Serves: 10

• Ingredients

8 ounces soft cream cheese
1/3 cup sugar
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 egg
1/4 cup sugar
2 teaspoons flour
3/4 cup light corn syrup
1/3 cup lemon juice
2 teaspoons melted margarine
1 teaspoon grated lemon peel
2 eggs, beaten
1 10-inch pie crust

• preparation

Preheat oven at 375 degrees.
Line the pie crust in a 10-inch tart pan with removable bottom. Press in bottom and sides of pan.
Combine cream cheese and sugar. Add lemon juice and egg. Beat until smooth. Spread over crust.
Combine sugar, flour, corn syrup, lemon juice, margarine, and lemon peel. Mix well. Add beaten eggs.
Carefully pour over cream cheese mixture. Bake 40 50 minutes or until crust is golden brown. Cool completely.
Remove from pan and refrigerate.

Serves: 8

• Ingredients

Lemon curd:

2 large eggs
2 large egg yolks
6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) unsalted butter
1 cup sugar
6 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
2 teaspoons finely grated lemon peel
Pinch of salt

Crust:
1 1/2 cups finely chopped pecans or walnuts
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter, melted
3 cups vanilla ice cream, or coconut ice cream, slightly softened, divided

Meringue
4 large egg whites, room temperature
Pinch of cream of tartar
6 tablespoons sugar

• preparation

For lemon curd:
Whisk eggs and egg yolks in medium bowl. Melt butter in medium metal bowl set over large saucepan of simmering water. Whisk in sugar, lemon juice, lemon peel, and salt; gradually whisk in egg mixture. Whisk until thick and thermometer inserted into curd registers 178°F to 180°F, about 8 minutes. Transfer to small bowl. Press plastic wrap on top of curd; chill 4 hours.
Can be made 2 days ahead. Keep chilled.

for crust:
Preheat oven to 400°F. Mix pecans or walnuts, sugar, and butter in medium bowl until moistened. Press mixture onto bottom and up sides of 9-inch-diameter glass pie dish (mixture will be crumbly). Bake until crust is lightly toasted, about 12 minutes (crust will slip down sides of dish). Use back of spoon to press crust back into place. Cool crust on rack. Freeze crust 30 minutes.

Dollop 1 1/2 cups ice cream over crust; spread into even layer. Spread lemon curd over ice cream; freeze until firm, about 2 hours. Dollop 1 1/2 cups softened ice cream over lemon curd; spread into even layer. Cover and freeze until firm, about 2 hours.

For meringue: Using electric mixer, beat egg whites in medium bowl until frothy. Beat in cream of tartar. With mixer running, gradually add sugar. Beat until stiff peaks form. Spoon meringue over pie, spreading to seal at edges and swirling decoratively.
Can be made 1 day ahead. Freeze pie. Brown meringue until golden in a preheated 500°F oven watching to prevent burning, about 2 to 3 minutes. Cut pie into wedges; serve immediately.

Serves: 8

• Ingredients

1 recipe Never Fail Pie Crust

1 cup sugar
3 tablespoons corn starch
1 1/2 cups cold water
3 eggs, separated
grated rind of 1 lemon
1/2 cup lemon juice
1 tablespoon butter
1/3 cup sugar

• preparation

Pie crust:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Roll the dough into a round 1/8 inch thick on a floured surface, drape it over a rolling pin, and fit it into a 9-inch pie pan.
Press the dough firmly into the pan and cut off any excess with the floured rolling pin. Freeze any leftover dough for future use.
Line crust with foil or parchment paper and weight with beans or pie weights.
Bake at 400 degrees until edge is light golden brown, about 20 minutes. Remove the beans and foil, and continue cooking until bottom is dry, about 5 minutes. Cool to room temperature.
In 2-quart saucepan stir together 1 cup sugar and corn starch. Gradually stir in water until smooth. Stir in egg yolks. Whisking constantly, bring to boil over medium heat and boil 1 minute. Remove from heat. Stir in lemon rind, lemon juice, and butter.
Turn into pastry shell. In an electric beater, whisk egg whites at high speed until foamy.
Gradually beat in sugar and continue beating to form stiff peaks. Spread some meringue around edge of filling first, touching crust all around, then fill in center.
Bake in 325 F oven about 10 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool.

Serves: 8

• Ingredients

1 recipe
never fail pie crust
1 package unflavored gelatin
1/4 cup water
1 teaspoon grated lemon rind
1/2 cup lemon juice
1 cup sugar
6 large egg whites
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
1 cup non dairy dessert topping

• preparation

Pie crust:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Roll the dough into a round 1/8 inch thick on a floured surface, drape it over a rolling pin, and fit it into a 9-inch pie pan. Press the dough firmly into the pan and cut off any excess with the floured rolling pin. Freeze any leftover dough for future use. Cover pie shell with foil and dry beans or rice, and bake for 10 minutes. Remove inside of pie shell and foil, and continue baking at 350 degrees until golden brown.
Soften gelatin in water. Add lemon rind, juice and sugar. Heat to dissolve gelatin. Cool mixture but do not set.
Beat egg whites with cream of tartar in an electric mixer. Fold egg whites in gelatin mixture.
Fold in the non dairy dessert topping. Transfer into the tart shell. Chill to set. Garnish with lemon slices and lemon grated rind.

Serves: 8

Same recipe can be used with lime juice, orange juice, or a combination of lemon and rum. For lemon tartlets, unfold paper cups flat. Line with thin pie crust. Bake in muffin tins.

• Ingredients

1 recipe
never fail pie crust
1 tablespoon unflavored gelatin
1/4 cup water
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon grated lemon rind
3/4 cup lemon juice
3 large egg yolks
3 egg whites
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar

• preparation

Pie crust:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Roll the dough into a round 1/8 inch thick on a floured surface, drape it over a rolling pin, and fit it into a 9-inch pie pan. Press the dough firmly into the pan and cut off any excess with the floured rolling pin. Freeze any leftover dough for future use. Cover pie shell with foil and dry beans or rice, and bake for 10 minutes. Remove inside of pie shell and foil, and continue baking at 350 degrees until golden brown.
Filling:
In a small bowl, dissolve gelatin in cold water In a medium saucepan, boil sugar to 240 degrees. Whisk yolks in an electric mixer. Pour hot sugar over and beat until light, creamy and cool. Add lemon juice, gelatin and lemon rind. Cool until mixture is about to set. Beat whites with cream of tartar. Fold in egg-yolk-gelatin mixture. Pour in shell. Chill until set. Sprinkle with grated lemon rind

Serves: 8

• Ingredients

4 ounces butter, softened
1/4 cup confectioners' sugar
1 egg yolk
1/4 cup walnuts, finely ground
1 cup flour

Filling:
4 large eggs
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup + 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup heavy cream

• preparation

Beat the butter, sugar and egg yolk in an electric mixer.
Mix in the flour. Stir in the walnuts, mixing until dough comes together. Cover dough and chill.
Lightly oil a 9 1/2 inch tart pan. Roll dough to 1/3-inch thickness. Arrange in pan. Trim to fit.
Line crust with foil or parchment paper and weight with beans or pie weights.
Bake at 400 degrees until edge is light golden brown, about 20 minutes. Remove the beans and foil, and continue cooking until bottom is dry, about 5 minutes. Cool to room temperature. Filling: In a medium bowl, whisk the eggs and sugar. Add lemon juice and cream. Whisk until combined. Strain mixture into crust.
Bake tart at 350 degrees until filling is set, about 25 to 30 min. Cool at room temperature. Serve at room temp. or chilled.

Serves: 12

• Ingredients

12

Crust:
1 1/2 cups graham wafer crumbs
1/2 cup ground pecans
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup sifted cocoa powder
1/2 cup melted butter

Filling:
1/2 cup sugar
2 envelops unflavored gelatin
1/2 cup lime juice
1 tablespoon grated lime rind
1 can (14 ounce) coconut milk
3 eggs yolks
1/2 cup sugar
2 tablespoons white rum
1 pound cream cheese, softened
3 egg whites
1/2 cup sugar

Raspberry sauce:
2 cups fresh or frozen raspberries
1/3 cup sugar

• preparation

Crust:
In large bowl, combine Graham crumbs, pecans, sugar, cocoa. Stir in butter. Press mixture onto base of greased 10-inch spring-form cake pan, pressing mixture slightly up sides. Bake at 350 degrees for 12 minutes or until golden brown.
Filling:
In a small bowl, combine 1/2 cup sugar and gelatin. Stir in lime juice and rind. Set aside to soften. In a medium saucepan, heat coconut milk. In a medium bowl, whisk egg yolks with 1/2 cup sugar until lemony. Whisk in the hot coconut milk. Return mixture to saucepan. Cook stirring constantly, over medium heat to the consistency of thin custard. Do not boil.
Stir in gelatin mixture with rum. Cool to room temperature. Beat cream cheese. Blend in coconut mixture. Cover and refrigerate for one hour or until barely set.
Beat egg whites to soft peaks. Add sugar, and beat until stiff. Gradually fold into the prepared mixture. Pour into crust. Refrigerate 2 hours.
Sauce:
Puree raspberries with sugar. Strain to a sieve. To serve: Loosen edges of tart. Remove side of pan.
Decorate with lime slices.

Serves: 8

• Ingredients

For crust:
2/3 cup sliced almonds, toasted
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup vanilla wafer crumbs
1/4 cup unsalted butter, soft

For filling:
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup unsalted butter, cut into pieces
1 tablespoon cornstarch
4 large eggs
1/2 cup lime juice
1 tablespoon grated lime zest

For compote:
3 cups bing cherries, diced
1 cup diced fresh pineapple
1/2 cup diced mango
2 diced apricots
2/3 cup raspberries
1 teaspoon sugar

• preparation

Preheat oven at 350 degrees.
Make crust:
Butter a 9-inch tart pan with a removable fluted rim. Mix to a fine powder in a food processor, almonds, sugar, and salt. Combine with wafer crumbs and butter. Mix well. Line the bottom and sides of pan with the crust mixture.
Bake 10 minutes to a deep golden color.
Make filling:
In a heavy saucepan, cook sugar, butter, cornstarch, eggs, and lime juice over moderate heat, whisking until thickened and bubbly. Stir in zest and cool.
Filling may be made 2 days ahead. Spoon filling evenly into crust. Cover surface with buttered round of wax paper. Chill for at least 1 hour.
Make compote:
In a bowl, toss compote ingredients and let stand for 15 min. Remove sides of pan, and transfer to a plate.
Serve with the compote.

Serves: 8

• Ingredients

crust:

1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 cup unsalted butter
5 tablespoons sugar
1 egg yolk
1 teaspoon chopped lemon peel
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Filling:
5 eggs
1 egg yolk
1 cup sugar
2/3 cup whipping cream
3 tablespoons lime juice
1 1/2 tablespoons chopped lemon peel
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon chopped lime peel

Sauce:
2 1/2 pints baskets raspberries
1 tablespoon sugar

• preparation

Crust:
Combine crust ingredients in a food processor. Process until it forms in a ball. Refrigerate and roll to 12-inch round to fit in a 10-inch tart with removable bottom.
Line crust with foil or parchment paper. Fill with dry beans or pie weights. Bake until crust is set. About 15 minutes. Remove beans and foil. Continue baking until crust is golden. Transfer to a rack and cool.
Filling:
Whisk eggs, yolk and sugar together in medium bowl. Gradually mix in cream, lemon and lime juices and chopped peels. Pour filling into crust. Bake until filling is set, about 40 minutes. Cool to room temperature on rack.
Sauce:
Puree raspberries with sugar in blender. Strain. Dust tart with powdered sugar. Garnish with berries and serve with sauce.

Serves: 8

• Ingredients

1 9-inch unbaked pie shell
3 pounds apples, peeled, cored, and sliced
1 teaspoon butter, in small pieces
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
4 egg whites
1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
6 ounces powdered sugar

• preparation

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Fill the pie shell with apple slices. Scatter dots of butter over apples.
Sprinkle with cinnamon. Bake until apples are cooked.
Beat egg whites with cream of tartar until medium stiff.
Continue beating and gradually add the sugar. Beat until firm.
Cover pie with meringue. Bake until meringue is golden brown.
Cool. Serve at room temperature.
I like it with cinnamon ice cream.

Serves: 6

• Ingredients

1 pound (3 1/4 cups) all purpose flour
1/2 pound (11/2 cups) shortening
1 teaspoon light brown sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon white vinegar
1 beaten egg
4 tablespoons cold water

• preparation

In a large bowl, mix together flour, and shortening.
In a small bowl, combine the sugar, salt, vinegar, egg, and water.
Blend all ingredients to form a ball. Add more water if necessary.
Chill dough and use as needed.

Serves: 8

• Ingredients

1 recipe Never fail pie crust
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
3 eggs
2/3 cup sugar
1 cup dark corn syrup
1/3 cup melted butter
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup old fashion oatmeal

• preparation

Roll the dough into a round 1/8 inch thick on a floured surface, drape it over a rolling pin, and fit it into a 8-inch pie pan. Press the dough firmly into the pan and cut off any excess with the floured rolling pin. Freeze any leftover dough for future use. Preheat oven at 375 degrees.
Place chopped walnuts in pie shell bottom.
Mix all other ingredients and pour into shell.
Bake for 40 minutes.

Serves: 6

• Ingredients

1 9-inch Graham cracker crumb crust, baked
2 red ruby grapefruit
1 cup grapefruit juice
1 envelop unflavored gelatin
2 egg whites
1/2 cup sugar
8 ounces cream cheese
3/4 cup sour cream

• preparation

Peel one grapefruit, cutting away all rind. Remove sections; set aside for garnish.
In a saucepan, soften gelatin in one half of the juice. Dissolve over low heat. Set aside. Pour remaining juice in a blender. Add one half of the sugar, sour cream and cream cheese. Beat until smooth. Blend in the gelatin. Chill until slightly thickened.
Beat egg whites until stiff and gradually add the remaining sugar. Fold into gelatin mixture.
Pour into crust. Chill and garnish with grapefruit sections.

Serves: 6

• Ingredients

pâte brisée:
1 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cup cake flour
1 egg
1 tablespoon water
3 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
7 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
1 egg, beaten for glazing the baked crust
3 pears, fresh poached in sugar, water, and vanilla or or 6 canned pear halves

Almond pastry cream:

1cup milk
2 egg yolks
1/3 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 tablespoons cornstarch
1/2 cup finely ground almonds
1 tablespoon kirsch
2 tablespoons unsalted butter

Apricot glaze:
1/2 cup apricot jam
1 tablespoon Kirsch

• preparation

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a food processor, combine flour, egg, water, sugar, vanilla and butter. Process until dough forms a bowl. Cover and chill dough for 30 minutes.
Roll the dough 1/8-inch thick to fit an 8 inch fluted removable-bottomed tart pan.
Cover with parchment paper, fill the center with weights, and bake until the edges start to brown. Remove weights and paper. Brush bottom and sides with egg glaze.
Arrange pears over bottom of pie crust.

Almond pastry cream:
In a medium saucepan, bring the milk to a boil. Whip egg yolks, sugar and vanilla in a mixing bowl. Mix in cornstarch. Stir in the hot milk. Pour in a saucepan, and whisk over medium heat until thick and bubbly.
Transfer to a mixing bowl. Stir in the almond, kirsch and butter. Spoon mixture over pears and bake for 15 minutes. Cool on rack.
For glaze:
In a small saucepan, melt the apricot jam over low heat. Stir in the kirsch. Strain through a fine strainer and spoon over pie to glaze.

Serves: 8

This classic Pear Frangipane Tart is also called Tarte Bourdaloue in French, The name Bourdaloue is a street in Paris where the tart was created.

• Ingredients

Pâte Sucrée (Sweet Shortcrust Pastry)
100 gr Unsalted Butter - soft
50 gr Icing Sugar, sifted
1 Egg large, at room temperature
50 gr Almond Meal
200 gr Plain / All-Purpose Flour
1 pinch salt

For thePoached Pears:
3 Pears – firm (Bartlett Pears, Anjou Pears, or Bosc Pears)

1,5 litre water - or enough to cover the pears
50 gr sugar
20 ml lemon juice
1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the Almond Cream Filling:

100 gr unsalted butter - softened
100 gr super fine sugar
2 eggs - about 100gr, at room temperature
100 gr almond meal
sliced almonds (optional) - to taste
Simple Syrup Glaze (optional)
45 ml pear cooking liquid
45 gr Sugar
1 teaspoon Vanilla extract - optional

• preparation

Pâte Sucrée (Sweet Shortcrust Pastry)
• In the bowl of your stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together the soft Butter and sifted Icing Sugar for a couple of minutes or until smooth.
• Mix in the Egg and Almond Meal, then add the Flour and Salt. Mix on low until the dough is well mixed and smooth.
• Place the flat pastry in the fridge for at least 1 hour.
• Take the pastry out of the fridge and leave to come back to room temperature for about 5 minutes.
• Transfer it inside over a Tart Pan (I used a 24 cm / 9,5 to 10-inch diameter Tart Pan with Removable Bottom). Gently press the pastry down into the corner of the pan to create a 90 degree angle.

Poached Pears
• Peel the Pears, slice them in half and core them.
• In a large saucepan, mix together the water, lemon Juice the sugar and vanilla. Simmer over medium to dissolve the sugar. Add the pear halves. Cook on low for 10 to 15 minutes or until the pears are slightly soft.
• Using a slotted spoon, carefully transfer them over a wire rack covered with paper towel to cool down and drain slightly. Save 1 cup of the cooking liquid for the glaze below. Cut each pear halves into thin slices of about half a centimetre (1/5 inch). Set aside.
Almond Cream Filling
• In a mixing bowl, cream together the soft Butter and Sugar with a mixer for about 3 minutes on medium speed or until very soft and creamy.
• Slowly mix in the Egg, then the Almond Meal until a thick paste comes together.
Assembling the Tart
• Preheat your oven on 160 degree Celsius / 325 degree Fahrenheit.
• Spread the Almond Cream at the bottom of the par-baked tart crust.
• Place each Poached Pear over the cream using a small offset spatula to lift them up. Lightly press them into the cream. Sprinkle some sliced Almonds between each pear.
• Bake for 40 to 45 minutes or until the almond filling has puffed up and looks golden.
Simple Syrup Glaze (optional)
• In a small saucepan, combine the cooking syrup, sugar and vanilla. Bring to a simmer and reduce to a thick consistency. Brush it over the pears while still warm.

Serves: 10

• Ingredients

For the pastry:
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon granulated sugar
6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) chilled unsalted butter, cut into 1-inch pieces
1/4 cup shortening
2 to 3 tablespoons ice water, or as needed

For the filling:
2 (13.5 oz.) pumpkin pie mix
3 eggs
1/4 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1/2 cup heavy cream
whipped cream for serving

• preparation

To make the pastry,
in the bowl of a food processor, combine the flour, salt and granulated sugar and pulse once to mix. Add the butter and shortening and process in short pulses to form pea-size crumbs, 20 to 25 seconds. While pulsing, gradually add the water to form large, moist crumbs, 10 seconds more. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and, with lightly floured hands, shape the dough into a 5-inch disk. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
Position a rack in the center of an oven and preheat to 425°F. On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough into a 12-inch round about 1/8 inch thick. Transfer to a 9-inch pie dish, fit the dough into the dish and trim the edges, leaving a 1-inch overhang. Fold under the excess dough and, using your thumb, decoratively flute the edges. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.
Using a fork, poke holes in the dough and bake until the pastry is golden and crisp, 15 to 20 minutes.
Transfer to a wire rack and let cool slightly. Reduce the oven temperature to 350°F.
To make the filling, in a mixing bowl, whisk together the pumpkin mix, eggs, brown sugar, chopped pecans and cream until smooth.
Pour the filling into the pie shell and bake until the filling is set, 45 to 50 minutes. Transfer the pie to a wire rack and cool to room temperature.
Serve slices with whipped cream.

Serves: 8

• Ingredients

For pastry:
1 recipe Quick and easy pie crust

for frangipane:
3/4 cup toasted almond slivers
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
2 teaspoons flour
1 large egg
1 teaspoon Brandy
1 pound pitted plums

• preparation

Pastry:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Roll the dough inch thick to fit an 8 inch fluted removable-bottom tart pan. Cover with parchment paper, fill the center with weights, and bake until the edges start to brown. Remove weights and paper. Bake crust for 15 minutes. Transfer to rack and cool.
For Frangipane:
Mix almonds in a food processor to obtain a powder. In a mixing bowl, beat 1/2 cup sugar and butter until smooth. Mix in almonds and flour. Add egg and brandy and blend well. Spread evenly in crust. Overlap plum slices atop filling, covering completely. Sprinkle plums with additional sugar.
Bake tart until filling is brown and set and plums are tender, about 50 minutes. Cool on rack at least 15 minutes. Serve tart with sweetened whipped cream.

Serves: 8

• Ingredients

1 recipe never fail pie crust
Filling:
2 eggs, lightly beaten
16 ounces solid pack pumpkin
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1 1/2 cups evaporated milk

• preparation

Roll the dough into a round 1/8 inch thick on a floured surface, drape it over a rolling pin, and fit it into a 9-inch pie pan. Press the dough firmly into the pan and cut off any excess with the floured rolling pin. Freeze any leftover dough for future use.
Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Combine filling ingredients in order given; pour into pie crust.
Bake in preheated for 15 minutes. Reduce temperature to 350 degrees. Bake an additional 40-50 minutes, or until knife inserted near center comes out clean.
Cool; garnish, if desired with whipped topping.

Serves: 10

• Ingredients

Serves 8 to 10

1 recipe never fail pie crust

FILLING: 1 3/4 cups canned solid pumpkin
1/2 cup heavy cream
3 large eggs
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
1/4 teaspoon grated nutmeg

Topping:
1 1/4 cups heavy cream
1/3 cup + 2 tablespoons superfine sugar
1 cup sour cream
1 tablespoon unflavored gelatin
1/4 cup cold water
4 large egg whites

• preparation

Roll the dough into a round 1/8 inch thick on a floured surface, drape it over a rolling pin, and fit it into a 9-inch shallow pie pan.
Press the dough firmly into the pan and cut off any excess with the floured rolling pin.
Freeze any leftover dough for future use. Preheat oven at 375 degrees. Line pie shell with foil and fill with pie weights or raw rice. Bake shell for 25 minutes. Remove weight or rice and foil, and bake shell until just pale golden. Reduce oven to 350 degrees.
Filling:
In a bowl, Whisk together all ingredients, and pour into pie shell. Bake pie for 1 hour, or until center is almost firm. Cool on rack and refrigerate.
Topping:
Whip the cream with 2 tablespoons. sugar until it holds stiff peaks. In a bowl, whisk sour cream.
In a small bowl, sprinkle gelatin over water to soften for 1 minute. Heat to dissolve. Stir into sour cream. Gradually fold whipped cream into sour cream mixture. Beat egg whites to soft peaks. Gradually add sugar and continue beating until whites hold stiff, slightly glossy peaks. Fold meringue into cream.
Mount topping on chilled pie into a smooth dome.
Make 8 even-spaced indented ridges with a church key can opener. Chill. Dust with cinnamon.
Insert cinnamon stick in center for stem.

Serves: 8

• Ingredients

CRUST:
1 1/3 cups graham crumbs
1/3 cup ground almonds, toasted
2 tablespoons sugar
1/4 teaspoon grated orange peel
1/3 cup butter, melted

Filling:
2 3-1/2-ounces vanilla instant pudding
1 cup evaporated milk
4 ounces cream cheese, softened
14 ounces pumpkin puree
1 tablespoon frozen orange juice concentrate
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 teaspoon grated orange peel
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

• preparation

Crust:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In small bowl, thoroughly combine the crust ingredients. Press mixture over bottom and side of 9-inch pie plate. Bake for 6 to 8 minutes. Cool before filling.
Filling:
In large mixer bowl, combine pudding mix with 1 cup evaporated milk. Beat until well blended, 1-2 minutes.
Beat in cream cheese until smooth. Gradually beat in remaining ingredients.
Pour in crust. Freeze until firm. Allow frozen pie to stand at room temperature 10 to 15 minutes before slicing.
Garnish with whipped if desired.

Serves: 10

• Ingredients

1 cup flour
1/2 cup butter
3/4 cup brown sugar

3 egg whites
1 pgk (8 ounces) (300 g) raspberries in syrup, thawed
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 pint whipped cream

• preparation

Mix the flour, butter and brown sugar in a mixing bowl to obtain a crumbled mixture
Spread unto a baking pan.
Bake in 350 degree oven, stirring often until golden brown. Press half of the crumb mixture in bottom of a 10-inch springform pan.

In bowl of an electric stand mixer, combine egg whites, raspberries, sugar and vanilla.
Whisk on medium speed until mixture is thick and fluffy, about 10 minutes.
Fold in the whipped cream and spoon into pan.
Level mixture with a spatula. Spread remaining crumb mixture over. Freeze for about 6 hours, or until firm.
Serve with raspberry sauce.
Recipe by Hanne Barter

Serves: 8

• Ingredients

1 recipe never fail pie crust
3/4 cup sugar
3 tablespoons cornstarch
2 tablespoons melted butter
4 cups fresh raspberries

• preparation

Roll the dough into a round 1/8 inch thick on a floured surface, drape it over a rolling pin, and fit it into a 9-inch shallow pie pan.
Press the dough firmly into the pan and cut off any excess with the floured rolling pin. Save leftover dough for top.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
In a large bowl, combine sugar, cornstarch and a pinch of salt. Gently blend in raspberries and melted butter.
Fill in prepared pie crusts. Cover top with pie crust, or lattice. Pierce hole in center. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes. Cool on rack and refrigerate.

Serves: 8

• Ingredients

Streusel Topping:
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup hazelnuts
1/4 cup packed, golden brown sugar
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
5 tablespoons chilled unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
Filling:
1 1/2 pounds ripe apricots, halved, pitted, each cut into 4 wedges
1 cup sugar
3 tablespoons flour
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
1 1/2 pint basket raspberries
A recipe of Never-fail-pie-crust

• preparation

For Streusel Topping:
Position rack in lowest third of oven and preheat to 400 degrees.
Combine first 5 ingredients in processor. Blend using on/off turns until nuts are coarsely chopped. Add butter and cut in using on/off turns until mixture begins to clump together. Transfer streusel to bowl and refrigerate.

For Filling:
Combine apricots, sugar, flour and allspice in large bowl; toss to blend. Let stand until dry ingredients are moistened, about 25 minutes. Carefully fold in raspberries.
Roll out pie-crust disk on lightly floured surface to 12 1/2-inch round.
Transfer crust to 9-inch diameter glass pie dish. Trim dough overhang under; crimp edges decoratively.
Spoon filling into crust.
Place pie on baking sheet. Bake until filling begins to bubble at edges, about 45 minutes.
Sprinkle streusel topping evenly over pie. Cover crust edges with foil to prevent overbrowning.
Bake until crust and topping are golden and filling is bubbly in center, about 50 minutes.
Cool pie on rack at least 2 hours.

Serves: 6

Raspberries may also be used instead or in combination with strawberries.

• Ingredients

5 cups diced rhubarb
2 cups sliced strawberries
1 cup sugar
2 tablespoons flour
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
Topping:
1 cup flour
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup large-flake rolled oats
1/2 cup butter, melted

• preparation

Preheat oven at 375 degrees.
In a large bowl, combine rhubarb, strawberries, sugar, flour, and cinnamon.
Place in a greased 9-inch baking dish. Topping:
Combine flour, sugar, oats and butter. Sprinkle over rhubarb mixture.
Bake until fruit is tender and topping, golden brown, about 35 to 40 minutes.

Serves: 8

For a perfect match, combine strawberries with the rhubarb

• Ingredients

1 recipe never fail pie crust
4 cup diced rhubarb
1 3/4 cups sugar
4 tablespoon flour
2 eggs, beaten
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons vanilla
Sugar to sprinkle over crust

• preparation

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Divide pie crust in two equal batches.
Roll the dough into a round 1/8 inch thick on a floured surface,
drape it over a rolling pin, and fit it into a 10-inch pie dish.
Press the dough firmly into the pan and cut off any excess with
the floured rolling pin.
Reserve the other dough half and refrigerate.
Pour boiling water over rhubarb and let stand about 5 minutes.
Drain off water. In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar and salt.
Add beaten eggs, salt and vanilla.
Blend into drained rhubarb.
Fill pie crust. Cover with a top crust.
Pierce holes with fork.
Bake 45 to 50 minutes.
Sprinkle top with sugar while pie is still hot.

Note: The recipe may be fully prepared and frozen unbaked.

Serves: 8

• Ingredients

Quiche Crust
1 homemade quiche crust (shortcrust pastry)
2 sheets frozen shortcrust pastry
1 x 9" refrigerated pie crust , fitted in a 9" pie dish or tart tin
1 ready made pie shell (23cm / 9", fridge or frozen)
Quiche Filling:
15g / 1 tbsp butter , unsalted
1 leek , white part only halved and finely sliced (Note 2)
2 garlic cloves , minced
8 - 10 asparagus spears
5 eggs (~55 - 60g / 2oz each)
1 1/2 cups (375ml) cream , full fat (Note 3)
1/4 tsp salt + pinch pepper
2 tbsp fresh dill , roughly chopped (Note 4)
200g / 7 oz smoked salmon , cut into 4cm / 1.7" pieces (Note 5)
3/4 cup (75g) gruyere cheese , grated (Note 6)
Decorations (optional)
Dill sprigs and extra smoked salmon

• preparation

Homemade quiche crust or frozen shortcrust pastry - prepare and bake the crust per Quiche Crust recipe.
Refrigerated pie crust - unroll, fit into a 9" pie dish or tart tin. Bake per packet directions.
Prepared pie shell (ie comes in foil dish) - bake per packet directions, scale Filling down to 4 eggs (Note 1).
Filling:
Preheat oven to 180C/350F (160C/320F fan forced).
Place cooked quiche crust on a tray.
Asparagus - break woody ends off (Note 7). Cut into 3.5cm / 1.5" pieces, separate tips from stems (tips for decorating).
Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add leeks and garlic, saute for 2 minutes or until leeks are translucent, don't let them go golden.
Stir in asparagus stems (don't cook), then remove from stove.
Cool slightly then scatter across base of quiche crust.
Whisk together eggs, cream, dill, salt, pepper in a bowl.
Scatter 2/3 of the salmon across quiche, folding/twisting pieces rather than laying flat.
Top with cheese, pour over egg mixture.
Top with remaining salmon and asparagus tips.
Bake for 40 minutes or until top is light golden and centre is set but still slightly jiggly when you poke it.
Rest for 10 minutes before carefully removing from tin and slicing.

Serves: 8

• Ingredients

1 pie crust
3 eggs
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup dark corn syrup
2 tablespoons melted butter
1/4 cup oat bran
1 cup pecans, chopped, (or pecan meal)
1 cup pecan halves

• preparation

Roll the dough into a round 1/8 inch thick on a floured surface, drape it over a rolling pin, and fit it into a 9-inch pie pan.
Press the dough firmly into the pan and cut off any excess with the floured rolling pin. Freeze any leftover dough for future use.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a mixing bowl, mix the eggs with sugar and corn syrup. Stir in butter, oat bran and chopped pecan.
Pour prepared mixture in pie shell. Neatly arrange pecan halves on top of pie. Bake for 15 minutes.
Cover pie with foil to avoid browning pecans and continue baking 30 to 40 minutes.

Serves: 6

This delicious recipe is really easy to put together!
The puff pastry is much easier to work with than phyllo dough, so it is prepared fairly quickly.

• Ingredients

3 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 medium onions, chopped
3 garlic cloves, chopped
2 (10 ounce) boxes frozen chopped spinach, thawed & squeezed dry
1 cup Gruyere cheese, grated
4 eggs, extra large, beaten
1 tablespoon dry breadcrumbs (plain or seasoned)
1 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon white pepper
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
2 sheets frozen puff pastry, thawed
1 large egg, beaten with 1 tbsp water

• preparation

Preheat oven to 375. Line a baking sheet with parchment (preferable) but you can use aluminum foil with a light spray of cooking oil.
2
Melt butter and cook onions for a few minutes, until soft. Add garlic and cook for another minute.
3
Beat eggs in medium bowl. Add cooked onion, spinach, cheese and bread crumbs. Add salt, pepper, & nutmeg. Mix well with fork.
4
Place one unfolded sheet of puff pastry on the parchment or sprayed aluminum foil. Spread the spinach mixture over the pastry, leaving a border of one inch all around the edges. Keep the spinach flat; do not pile high.
5
Brush the edges with the egg wash made with the last egg. Cover with the second sheet of pastry that has been slightly flattened with a rolling pin to one inch bigger than the first sheet. (This ensures all the spinach will be covered). Press edges together with fingertips or fork, making sure mixture is sealed well. Brush just the top with egg wash, careful not to drip any down the sides. Cut a few slits in the top with a sharp knife to allow steam to escape.
6
Bake 30-40 minutes, until golden brown. Can be served hot or at room temperature.

Serves: 8

• Ingredients

For crust:
3/4 cup all purpose flour
1/3 cup whole almonds, toasted
1/3 cup powdered sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, cold
2 teaspoons cold water

For filling:
1/4 cup fresh lime juice
1/2 teaspoon unflavored gelatin
3/4 cup chilled whipped cream, (divided into 1/4 cup and 1/2 cup)
5 ounces white chocolate
1 teaspoon grated lime peel
2 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons sour cream

Topping:
3 12-ounce baskets strawberries, washed, hulled, sliced
1/3 cup seedless raspberry jam

• preparation

Crust:
Preheat oven at 375 degrees.
Blend first 4 ingredients in processor until nuts are ground. Add butter cut into small pieces, and mix until dough has a fine texture. Blend in enough water until mixture forms a ball. Press dough evenly over bottom and up sides of tart pan. Freeze crust for 30 minutes. Bake until golden brown for about 30 minutes.
Filling:
In a small bowl, combine the lime juice and gelatin. Let stand for 10 minutes to soften. Bring 1/4 cup cream to simmer in medium saucepan. Stir in the white chocolate. Add gelatin mixture; stir to dissolve. Mix in peel. Chill until cold and beginning to thicken but not set, stirring often.
Whip sugar, sour cream and remaining 1/2 cup cream to medium-stiff peaks.
Fold whipped cream mixture into the white chocolate mixture. Spoon mousse into crust.
Chill until mousse sets, about 2 hours.
Arrange berries atop the mousse.
Melt jam in small saucepan over low heat. Brush jam over strawberries to glaze.

Serves: 8

History of the recipe.

The legendary caramelized apple pie is baked upside-down.
Originally from Sologne, France, in the 19th century, the Tarte Tatin owes its name to two sisters: Caroline and Stéphanie Tatin. According to the versions, the legend tells that the recipe would be the result of a clumsiness (the pie would have been reversed and cooked upside down), of an oversight (the apples would have cooked too long) or would be simply the reproduction of an old solognote specialty. Anyway, victim of its success, the tart became a welcome in Paris in 1926. Served for the first time at Maxim's restaurant, the dessert has since become a classic French dessert!

• Ingredients

The apples:
Use Royal Gala, Pink Lady, Grannty Smith or King of the Pippins, the same as Reine des Reinette, Golden Winter Pearmain, Golden Pearmain, or Clarkes Pearmain, a popular 19th century apple, very widely grown in Europe at the time, and versatile for culinary and dessert uses.

Ingredients for 8 people:
8 to 10 apples
150 g (5oz) of unsalted butter
150 g (5oz) superfine (caster) sugar
200 g (7oz) of pie crust dough or puff pastry
cinnamon powder (optional)
Accompaniment:
whipped cream or vanilla ice cream (optional)
Equipment used : A Ø 28 cm (11-inch) Tatin pie mold or a deep copper or stainless flan dish, Spatula, rolling pin, White round serving dish Ø 33 cm(13-inch)

• preparation

To make this pie tatin recipe, start by preparing all the ingredients.
Peel the apples. cut them in quarters and remove the cores and seeds with the tip of a paring knife.
In a tart tatin mold, put the butter to melt over medium heat. Add the sugar. Mix gently with a spatula until both ingredients are well mixed.
Make a brown caramel. Let the caramel color to a light golden brown. Remove from fire. (Be careful not to let it darken too much, it will give a bitter taste to your pie.)
Arrange the half apples very tightly in the warm caramel. Keep them upright. Pack them well.
Add cinnamon (optional).
Cook for ten minutes over medium-high heat. Thus, the apples will begin to cook and they will be well mixed with caramel.
Sprinkle flour over your work surface. Roll dough with a rolling pin 3 or 4 mm (1/4-inch) thick into a disc slightly larger than the diameter of the dish.
To make sure of the size of the dough disc, I use here a pie circle that is slightly larger (2 to 3 cm) (¾ to 1-inch) than the tarte tatin mold, and I cut the dough all around.
Lift the dough circle and gently place it on the still hot apples.Tuck the dough edges protruding into the mold. Do not hesitate to push them with your fingers.
With the tip of a paring knife, make a small chimney so that water vapor can escape during cooking.
Bake in a hot oven (180-200 ° C) (350–375 F) for 20 to 25 minutes until apples are completely cooked and the crust is golden brown. This cooking time may vary from oven to oven. The dough is cooked when the caramel starts to rise on the sides. When finished, remove the pan from the oven.
Cover with a serving dish with a light border to collect the juice.
At the same time, catch both dishes with two dry cloths and turn the set in a fast but controlled movement.
Beware of splashing!
Lift the baking dish still hot and you can finally discover this delicious apple tatin tart. Preferably serve warm with a tablespoon of whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Serves: 6

Recipe adapted from chef Alain Ducasse
Serve this beautiful starter with Champagne or sparkling wine.
Tomato confit.

• Ingredients

Tomato confit
2 1/2 pounds large plum tomatoes, quartered lengthwise, seeds and membranes removed
4 large fresh thyme sprigs
3 garlic cloves, unpeeled
1/2 cup olive oil
1 teaspoon coarse sea salt

Marinated tomatoes
1 pound large plum tomatoes
2 large fresh thyme sprigs
2 garlic cloves, unpeeled
1/2 teaspoon coarse sea salt
1 1/2 cups (or more) olive oil
Crust
1 3/4 cups plus 2 tablespoons all purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
10 tablespoons (1 1/4 sticks) chilled unsalted butter (preferably European style), cut into 1/2-inch cubes
2 large egg yolks
2 tablespoons (about) water, room temperature
1 egg yolk, beaten with 1 teaspoon water to blend (for glaze)
Salad topping
8 cups loosely packed assorted mixed greens, including arugula and frisée
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
2 ounces Parmesan cheese, shaved with vegetable peeler (about 1/2 cup)
6 large fresh basil leaves

• preparation

For tomato confit:
Preheat oven to 300°F. Oil large rimmed baking sheet. Arrange tomatoes on baking sheet. Scatter thyme sprigs and garlic cloves over. Drizzle with 1/2 cup olive oil, then sprinkle with coarse sea salt.
Bake tomatoes 45 minutes. Turn tomatoes over; continue to bake until tomatoes shrink slightly but are still plump and moist, about 1 hour longer. Cool completely. Peel off skins. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate. Bring to room temperature before using.)
For marinated tomatoes:
Bring large pot of water to boil. Add tomatoes; blanch 30 seconds. Drain. Cool tomatoes. Peel, quarter, and seed tomatoes. Cut away membranes. Transfer tomatoes to glass jar or bowl. Add thyme, garlic cloves, and salt. Pour enough oil over tomatoes to cover. Let stand at room temperature 2 hours. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Chill. Bring to room temperature before using.)
For crust:
Blend flour and salt in processor. Using on/off turns, cut in butter until coarse meal forms. Add 2 egg yolks and 1 tablespoon water; process just until moist clumps form, adding more water if dry. Gather dough into ball; flatten into disk. Wrap in plastic and chill 2 hours. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Keep chilled. Soften slightly at room temperature before rolling out.)
Preheat oven to 375°F. Roll out dough on lightly floured parchment paper to 12-inch round. Transfer parchment with crust to baking sheet. Pierce crust all over with fork; brush with egg glaze.
Bake until crust is golden brown, about 27 minutes. Cool crust completely on parchment on baking sheet.
For salad topping:
Toss greens with oil and sea salt in large bowl. Place crust on platter. Arrange greens atop crust, leaving 1-inch plain border.
Starting at outside edge and working toward center, alternate tomato confit and marinated tomatoes in slightly overlapping concentric circles atop greens. Top with Parmesan shavings.
Garnish with basil leaves. Cut into wedges and serve.

Serves: 10

Thaw frozen phyllo in the refrigerator for at least 8 hours or overnight before preparing the recipe.

• Ingredients

12 14-by-18-inch or 24 9-by-14-inch sheets phyllo dough
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon plain dry breadcrumbs
2 tablespoons prepared pesto
3/4 cup crumbled feta cheese, (about 4 ounces)
1 large red tomato, cut into 1/4-inch slices
1 large yellow tomato, cut into 1/4-inch slices
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, or to taste
Freshly ground pepper, to taste
10-12 small basil leaves

• preparation

Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a 17 1/2-by-12 1/2-inch baking sheet with parchment paper. Lay one large sheet of phyllo on the prepared pan. (If using the smaller size, slightly overlap two sheets on the pan to form a rectangle.) Keep the remaining phyllo covered with plastic wrap or wax paper and a damp kitchen towel.
Lightly coat the phyllo surface with oil using a pastry brush. Sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon breadcrumbs. Repeat this step, layering the remaining phyllo on top. Brush the final sheet with oil. Carefully roll about 3/4 inch of each side toward the center to form the outer rim of the tart.
Using the same brush, paint pesto evenly on the surface of the tart. Sprinkle about half of the crumbled feta cheese over the pesto layer. Arrange tomato slices, alternating colors, over the pesto layer; season with salt and pepper. Sprinkle the remaining cheese over the top.
Bake the tart until the crust turns brown and crispy, 30 to 35 minutes. Let cool in the pan on a wire rack for 5 minutes.
To serve, lift the parchment paper and slide the tart onto a cutting board or large platter. Scatter basil leaves on top. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Serves: 4

• Ingredients

For filling:
olive oil
3 tomatoes
1 small zucchini
1 red onion, thickly sliced
1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper

For crust:
olive oil
1/2 cup cornmeal
3/4 cup water
1/2 cup milk
1 egg white
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
1/4 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
1/4 cup Emmenthal cheese

• preparation

Preheat broiler to high. Line a baking sheet with foil; brush with oil. Cut tomatoes into 1/2-inch slices; scoop out and discard seeds and juice. Cut zucchini into 1/4-inch diagonal slices.
Arrange tomatoes, zucchini and onion in single layer on baking sheet; brush vegetables with oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Broil until surface of tomatoes appears dry and zucchini and onions are browned. Set aside.
Lightly oil a 9-in pie plate or cake pan; sprinkle base and sides with a little cornmeal, tilting pan to coat entire surface evenly.
Tap pan to remove excess; set aside. In medium saucepan combine 1/2 cup cornmeal and the water; bring to boil over medium-high heat.
Reduce heat to low; cook, stirring constantly, 3 minutes or until mixture thickens and pulls away from sides of pan.
Whisk in milk until mixture is smooth. Set aside 5 minutes to cool slightly. Whisk in egg white; stir in Parmesan cheese.
In small bowl, combine flour, baking powder and salt; stir into cornmeal mixture until well combined.
Spread cornmeal mixture over base and up sides of prepared pan to form 1/2-in thick layer. Sprinkle with half of parsley and thyme. Using a slotted metal spatula, lift vegetables from baking sheet, draining off juices.
Cover cornmeal mixture with half of tomatoes, half of onion, the remaining thyme and all but 1 tablespoon of the parsley.
Arrange remaining tomatoes, the zucchini and onion decoratively on top. Bake in a 375 degree oven for 35 minutes or until crust is puffed and golden. Sprinkle evenly Emmenthal and reserved parsley. Let stand 15 minutes before cutting into wedges.

Serves: 6

• Ingredients

3 lbs of ripe tomatoes
puff pastry (ready to use)
1 organic lemon
4 tablespoons of black olive tapenade
2 garlic cloves
20 pitted black olives
2 shallots
fresh thyme, fresh oregano, rosemary
1 teaspoons of coriander seeds
1 tablespoon sugar
olive oil
salt and pepper

• preparation

Toast the coriander seeds, crush them and add 2 tablespoons of olive oil.

Brown the chopped shallots for 5 minutes with 2 tablespoons of olive oil.

Plunge the tomatoes in boiling water for 1 minute in order to remove the skin easily. Once cooled, cut tomatoes in haves and squeeze out the seeds and juice. Chop coarsely and cook uncovered in a frying pan with olive oil, chopped garlic, sugar, fresh herbs, salt and the pepper. Stir until it becomes a thick purée.

Wash the lemon, remove 2 strips of peel and boil for 3 minutes. Keep one of the lemon peels for decoration and chop the other one.
Place parchment paper on the bottom of a pie dish and oil it with olive oil.

Mix the tomatoes and chopped lemon zests.
Pour the tomato preparation onto the parchment paper and leave a space on the circumference.
Place the pitted black olives on top.
Then coat with olive tapenade.

Slowly place the puff pastry on the filling, slide the edge of the dough to the bottom of the mold. Prick the dough with a fork. Cook 30 minutes in the oven at 425 F.

Let rest outside of the oven for 20 minutes and then turn the pie over on a flat dish.

Sprinkle a little bit of coriander-perfumed olive oil. Decorate with some lemon peel and serve immediately.

Serves: 6

• Ingredients

1 cup ricotta cheese
1/2 cup grated Romano cheese
1/2 cup fresh bread crumbs
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
1 egg, beaten
1/4 teaspoon each, salt and pepper
3 plum tomatoes, thinly sliced
1 zucchini, thinly sliced
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 tablespoons small fresh basil leaves

ROASTED GARLIC PASTRY:
1 whole head garlic
2 teaspoons olive oil
1 3/4 cups flour
1/4 teaspoon salt pinch pepper
1/2 cup shortening
1 egg yolk
1 teaspoon white vinegar
ice water

• preparation

Roasted Garlic Pastry:
Separate garlic cloves; leaving skin on; place in small saucepan and toss with oil. Cover and cook over low heat, tossing occasionally, for about 30 minutes or until softened. Let cool; peel and set aside.
Stir together flour, salt and pepper. Cut in shortening until crumbly; set aside. Mash garlic; whisk in egg yolk, vinegar and enough ice water to make 2/3 cup. Sprinkle over flour mixture, tossing with fork until dough holds together.
Press into disc; wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 30 minutes. On floured surface, roll out pastry into 14-inch circle and place on 12-inch round pizza pan, leaving overhang.
In large bowl, stir together ricotta and Romano cheeses, bread crumbs, chopped basil, egg, salt and pepper; spread evenly over pastry, leaving 2-inch border.
Top with alternating circles of tomato and zucchini, overlapping slices. Brush with oil. Fold pastry border over filling.
Bake at 450 degree oven until crust is golden brown. Let stand for 5 minutes. Sprinkle with basil leaves.

Serves: 8

• Ingredients

1 recipe NEVER FAIL PIE CRUST
2 cups blueberries
4 cups strawberries
1 cup raspberries
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup tapioca
1 top pie crust strips
1 egg
1 tablespoon sugar

• preparation

Roll the dough into a round 1/8 inch thick on a floured surface, drape it over a rolling pin, and fit it into a 9-inch pie pan. Press the dough firmly into the pan and cut off any excess with the floured rolling pin. Save remaining dough for strips on top.
Preheat oven at 350 degrees.
Stem strawberries and cut in half. Toss berries, 3/4 cup sugar and quick cooking tapioca in large bowl.
Let stand 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Mound filling in crust.
Place dough strips atop pie, forming lattice; trim excess.
Gently press edges to crust. Brush with egg glaze.
Top with 1 tablespoon sugar. Bake until crust is golden and filling bubbles at edges, about 40 minutes.