10/30/09

Don't waste your kitchen leftovers - Make Stock

We used our old carrot tops, onion peels, and whatever organic leftovers we have from the week and add it to a stock pot with a little water and spoices. We save meat bones or leftovers form the week. WE save it in a fridge for a day or so until something accumulates. Not more than 4 days.

We then boil everything for down for an hour or more. We then strain it with a good strainer or soon out impurities. This way we are using what we have. We just keep a bowl in the fridge and make stock one a week. Sometimes we add other stocks, bullion flavorings to our stock to prepare to make a meal with it. It keeps in your fridge for few days. It freezes well.

Dana's Custard Pie and tart filling and Flaky Crust


Pie Crust
2 pies
or
Two pies and 12-14 tarts


Ingredients

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup (1 stick) butter, 1/2 frozen and diced (or chilled in freezer)
1/2 cup ice water (keep water on the side)

Directions

1. In a large bowl, combine flour and salt. Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs using two butter knives or a pastry cutter.

Stir in water, a tablespoon at a time, until mixture forms a ball. DO NOT OVER MIX.

You can attempt to roll this dougg out but I normally just roll out four circles and then press them into the pan with my fingers. The crt is so tender it is hard to roll. You will LOve this crust. It is flaky, crisp and breaks at the press of a fork.




Dana's Pumpkin Custard Pie and Tart Filling (VERY FULL 9 INCH!)

2 1/2 Cups of Pumpkin blended smooth
1 14oz can of Sweetened Condensed Milk
3 eggs
1/2tsp of salt
1/4 cup of evaporated milk

One teaspoon of each;

Cinnamon
Nutmeg
ginger (optional)


1/4 tsp clove ( a few shakes)

(optional)

Cover edge with foil

(cook...ing)
Bake in unbaked pie shell for 15 min

at 425
Turn oven down to 350 and bake for an

hour to an hour and 15 min.







If you left over filling you can

always freeze it or make little tarts

with your leftover crust


To make tarts roll out dough use a cup to cut and place the rounds in a cupcake pan and fill with leftover crust. You can bake them with your pie but they will only take about half the time. You cover them completely with foil and put them only one step before the bottom of your oven. They are crisp and delicious.