Sunday, January 9, 2011

Pie, Anyone? My First New Recipe of the New Year.

Well, here’s it is, the start of the second week of the new year and I’m following through on one of my resolutions. I made my first blueberry pie last weekend and it turned out great. It was easy too, in part because I had my pie crust already made. Back in October when I was doing a bunch of baking I made up a whole batch at once and then froze the extra in disk shapes, enough for one pie each. They are so handy and convenient to have on hand.
Here’s the recipe I used. It is my adaptation of one I found in the summer 2006 edition of Homemakers magazine.

Blue Berry Pie

Ingredients
5 cups blueberries
2/3 cup sugar
2 tbsp cornstarch
1 tbsp lemon juice
2tbsp orange juice
1 tsp orange zest
2 tbsp butter
2 pie crust doughs

Directions
Roll out dough into 2 rounds, ¼ inch thick and press 1 into the bottom of your pie plate. Toss the berries with the rest of the ingredients and pour into the pie shell.
Dot with the butter and then top with the 2nd piece of dough. Trim the edges and then crimp them together. Cut some steam vents in the top.
Bake in the lower third of a 425 degree oven for 15 minutes and then reduce the heat to 350 degrees until the pastry is golden and the filling is bubbly, about a further 40 minutes. You’re done!

 My first ever blueberry pie!
My first ever blueberry pie!


This is the easiest pie ever to put together and even better, blueberries are supposed to be great for your health! Look at that beauty, you know you want some. With the snow falling down around us today it helps to think about late summer when these August Blues were harvested. Oh August, that’s vacation time right? Sorry, memory lapse, I was thinking vacation already, sigh.

Yesterday we took down the Christmas tree. It’s always a sad thing to see it going away again, the living room looks so bare. We also put away all the decorations pertaining to Santa Claus. Snowmen get to stay because, well, um, they just do. That’s my rule and I’m sticking to it.

Here are some of the guys who will be hanging around for awhile. Try not to think about that pie while you’re looking at the snowmen. I bet you want some pie.

 Warm Winter Wishes
Warm Winter Wishes

 This is the wall hanging I bought in the Big City last fall.
This is the wall hanging I bought in the Big City last fall.

 This is one of my all-time favourite decorations.
This is one of my all-time favourite decorations.

 What do you suppose snow actually smells like?
What do you suppose snow actually smells like?

 My brother gave me this skating snowman for Christmas this year.
My brother gave me this skating snowman for Christmas this year.

 Over The River
Over The River

 This guy usually carries a Merry Christmas banner but it has been put away for now.
This guy usually carries a Merry Christmas banner but it has been put away for now.

 I don’t necessarily agree with this sentiment.
I don’t necessarily agree with this sentiment.

I love this little snowman lamp!
I love this little snowman lamp!

 This guy will play Jingle Bells when you press his belly.
This guy will play Jingle Bells when you press his belly.

 This guy is on the back of the front door.
This guy is on the back of the front door.

 This was a fun craft to make!
This was a fun craft to make!

 This star is made from dogwood branches.
This star is made from dogwood branches.

 He should be saying Let It snow Like Crazy SOMEWHERE ELSE!
He should be saying Let It snow Like Crazy SOMEWHERE ELSE!

 Husbands, too.
Husbands, too.

 This is one of this year’s Christmas presents from Hubby.
This is one of this year’s Christmas presents from Hubby.

This guy is actually a candle holder.
This guy is actually a candle holder.

Okay, thanks for looking. Here’s your piece!

 It was as tasty as it looks.
It was as tasty as it looks.

11 comments:

its me, sam said...

your pie looks yummy! the snowmen are cute too. I have an aunt who's an avid collector , and she leaves her's up through out the winter too!

Jolie said...

Wow that's a snowstorm worth of snowmen :P I have a plate similar to your 'let it snow' plate.

the pie looks great. My mom makes the best saskatoon berry pie in our family so the rest of us don't even try LOL

The Witch said...

Hey Jolie. Welcome to The Witch's Island!

I've never had Saskatoon berries but I hear they're great. We actually found a farm this summer that was growing them but we never went back to get them when they were in season. How do you use them? How about recipes, got any? :)

~Kim at Golden Pines~ said...

To start I also collect snowmen and would have a hard time picking which of yours would be a favorite--They're all wonderful and I have mine out in January too!!

For your first attempt the Blueberry pie looks scrumptious and delicious and yes I would love a piece--I would share my cheesecake with you! :-)
By the way, I had chocolate mousse cheesecake--Layers of chocolate mousse in between layers of cheesecake--And I brought home a piece of Reese Peanut butter cup cheesecake for Carl--Do you think it made it until he arrived? :-)

The Witch said...

Aw crap, Kim. We just finished the last piece of the blueberry pie for dinner and now all I can think about is Reese's cheesecake. I hope you're happy now and by the way, when did you say you were bringing that over?

Gill - That British Woman said...

yes that pie does look good, and please tell all your snowmen to stop saying "let it snow," as I don't want it to snow anymore!!

Gill

Canadian Saver said...

Your pie does look delicious :-) I am also not surprised at all your snowmen still up! You have a beautiful collection of them :-)

It would be nice if it would quit snowing though!

Nakamuras on Saipan said...

Ok...how long do you think it will take to send a piece from Canada to Saipan..?? I'll wait! and the snowmen...how CUTE! I would love to take a tour through your home...I'll bet it is just darling!

Jane said...

That was just downright cruel!!About the only way you can make up for that is to invite me over for pie when I move there. Maybe two pieces, that should do it:)

Gill - That British Woman said...

thanks for popping by my blog........hope things are well in your neck of the woods?

Gill

Leanne said...

mmmmmmm I will harvest some blueberries & blackberries this summer & pop them in freezer for a winter pie & think of you!

Love Leanne Nz

Keep warm!