Cooks Country Pie Crust Recipes

APPLE SLAB PIE (COOK'S COUNTRY)

Steps:

• Toss apples, 1 cup sugar, and salt in colander set over large bowl. Let sit, tossing occasionally, until apples release their juices, about 30 minutes. Press gently on apples to extract liquid and reserve 3/4 cup juice (any excess may be discarded).
• Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position and heat oven to 350 degrees F. Pulse animal crackers and remaining sugar in food processor until finely ground. Dust work surface with cracker mixture. Brush half of one pastry disc with water, overlap with second pastry disc, and dust top with more cracker mixture. Roll out dough to 19 by 14 inches and transfer to rimmed baking sheet. Brush dough with butter and refrigerate; roll out top crust in the same way.
• Toss drained apples with tapioca, cinnamon, and lemon juice and arrange evenly over bottom crust, pressing lightly to flatten. Brush edges of bottom crust with water, and arrange top crust on pie. Press crusts together and use a paring knife to trim any excess dough, leaving a 1/2" rim of pastry; fold pastry under itself and tuck into rim of baking sheet. Use fork to crimp and seal outside edge of pie, then pierce top of pie at 2-inch intervals with fork. Bake until pie is golden brown and juices are bubbling, about 1 hour. Transfer to wire rack and let cool 1 hour.
• For the glaze: While pie is cooling, simmer 3/4 cup apple juice (which you reserved in step 1) in saucepan over medium heat until syrupy and reduced to 1/4 cup, about 6 minutes. Stir in lemon juice and butter and let cool to room temperature. Whisk in confectioners' sugar and brush glaze evenly over warm pie. Let pie cool completely, at least 1 hour longer. Cut into thirds lengthwise, and into sixths widthwise, making 18 pieces each about 4"x3".
• Make Ahead: The pie can be made up to 24 hours in advance and refrigerated. Bring to room temperature before serving.

BANANA CREAM PIE(COOK'S COUNTRY)

Steps:

• 1. Peel 2 bananas and slice into 1/2-inch-thick pieces. Melt 1 tablespoon butter in medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add sliced bananas and cook until they begin to soften, about 2 minutes. Add half-and-half, bring to boil, and boil for 30 seconds. Remove from heat, cover, and let sit for 40 minutes.
• 2. Whisk granulated sugar, egg yolks, and salt together in large bowl until smooth. Whisk in cornstarch. Strain cooled half-and-half mixture through fine-mesh strainer into yolk mixture-do not press on bananas-and whisk until incorporated; discard cooked bananas.
• 3. Transfer mixture to clean medium saucepan. Cook over medium heat, whisking constantly, until thickened to consistency of warm pudding (180 degrees), 4 to 6 minutes. Remove pan from heat; whisk in remaining 3 tablespoons butter and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Transfer pastry cream to bowl, press greased parchment paper directly against surface, and let cool for about 1 hour.
• 4. Meanwhile, roll pie dough into 12-inch round on lightly floured counter. Transfer to 9-inch pie plate, fold edge of dough under itself so edge of fold is flush with outer rim of plate, and flute edges. Refrigerate for 40 minutes, then freeze for 20 minutes. Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position and heat oven to 375 degrees.
• 5. Line chilled pie shell with 12-inch square of aluminum foil, folding foil over edges of dough. Fill with pie weights and bake for 20 minutes. Carefully remove foil and weights, rotate plate, and continue baking until crust is golden brown, 7 to 11 minutes. Let cool to room temperature.
• 6. Peel and slice remaining 3 bananas 1/4 inch thick and toss with orange juice. Whisk pastry cream briefly, then spread half over bottom of pie shell. Arrange sliced bananas on pastry cream. Top with remaining pastry cream.
• 7. Using stand mixer fitted with whisk, heavy cream, confectioners' sugar, and remaining 1/2 teaspoon vanilla on medium-low speed until foamy, about 1 minute. Increase speed to high and whip until stiff peaks form, 1 to 3 minutes. Spread whipped cream evenly over top of pie. Refrigerate until set, at least 5 hours and up to 24 hours. Serve.

SOUR ORANGE PIE-COOK'S COUNTRY

Steps:

• For the Crust: Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 325 degrees. Process crackers, sugar and salt in food processor until finely ground, about 30 seconds. Add melted butter (easily melted in the microwave) and pulse until combined, about 8-9 pulses. Transfer crumbs to 9-inch pie plate.
• Using bottom of dry measuring cup or glass bottom, press crumbs firmly into bottom and up sides of pie plate. Bake crust until fragrant and beginning to brown, 12 to 14 minutes. Let cool completely, about 30 minutes.
• For the Filling: Whisk all ingredients in bowl until fully combined. Pour filling into cooled crust.
• Bake pie until center jiggles slightly when shaken, 15 to 17 minutes. Let cool completely. Refrigerate until fully chilled, at least 3 hours or cover with greased plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 24 hours.
• For the Whipped Cream: Whisk cream, sugar and orange zest in medium bowl until stiff peaks form, 2 to 4 minutes. Slice chilled pie and serve with whipped cream.

COUNTRY PIE

Steps:

• Crust: Combine ground beef, 1/2 a can of tomato sauce, bread crumbs, onion, green pepper & spices.
• Pat mixture down & up sides of a 9 inch pie plate (I use a deep dish).
• Set aside.
• Filling: Combine rice, all the remaining tomato sauce (1 1/2 cans), 1 cup water & 1/2 cup of cheese.
• Pour on top of crust.
• Cover with foil and bake at 350 for 25 minutes.
• Sprinkle with rest of cheese & bake 10 -15 more minutes or.
• until cheese is melted.

COUNTRY PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• In a large bowl, combine ground beef, onion soup mix, 8 ounces tomato sauce, chopped onion, bread crumbs, 1/2 teaspoon oregano, and 1/2 cup shredded cheese. Mix thoroughly and press into a 9 inch pie plate.
• In a medium bowl, combine instant rice, water, 1 1/2 cups tomato sauce, 1/2 teaspoon oregano, basil, and rosemary. Mix well and pour over meat layer. Cover with aluminum foil.
• Bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes. Remove foil and sprinkle top with remaining 1/2 cup Cheddar cheese. Return pie to oven for an additional 10 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes before cutting.

CHICKEN POT PIE FOR TWO (COOK'S COUNTRY)

Steps:

• Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 450 degrees. Line rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Unroll dough on baking sheet. Use 12-ounce ovensafe ramekin as guide to cut out 2 dough rounds about 1/2 inch larger than mouth of ramekin. Fold under and crimp outer 1/2 inch of dough, then cut 3 vents in center of each crust. Bake until crusts just begin to brown and no longer look raw, about 7 minutes; set aside.
• Meanwhile, melt butter in medium saucepan over medium heat. Add carrots, onion, celery and 1/2 teaspoon salt and cook until vegetables are softened and browned, 8 to 10 minutes. Stir in garlic and thyme and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir in flour and cook for 1 minute.
• Slowly whisk in broth, cream, and soy sauce, scraping up any browned bits. Nestle chicken into sauce and bring to simmer. Cover, reduce heat to medium-low, and cook until chicken registers 160 degrees, 10 to 15 minutes. Transfer chicken to plate; let cool slightly. Using 2 forks, shred chicken into bite-size pieces.
• Meanwhile, return pan with sauce to medium heat and simmer until thickened and sauce measures 2 cups, about 5 minutes. Off heat, return shredded chicken and accumulated juices to pan. Stir in peas, parsley, and lemon juice and season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Divide filling between ramekins and place parbaked crusts on top of filling. Place pot pies on baking sheet and bake until crusts are deep golden brown and filling is bubbling, 10 to 15 minutes. Let pot pies cool for 10 minutes before serving.