Alright, so. Today I was in a very creative mood... but I wanted to make pie. But normal pie would have been too boring so I set out on the adventure of making miniature apple pies! With my trusty helper Freyja, I couldn't go wrong!

The recipe called for 5.5 ounces of diced and chilled unsweetened butter. (that's 11 tbs.)

Two cups of all -purpose flour.

Sifted into a large bowl.


Add in two tablespoons of powdered sugar to sweeten just a little...


Add in your cubed, chilled butter.

And use only your fingers to rub the butter into the flour. This took me about 10 minutes. It seems a little tedious, but it's actually very relaxing.

This is what it looks like when it's done. Make a well in the center...


...and put in the two tables spoons of cold water. The reason everything in this has to be chilled is because if the mixture gets too warm it won't hold it's shape.


Using a butter knife make cutting motions in the dough while you turn the bowl. Once it is fairly well mixed carefully pour it out onto a lightly floured surface.


Press it into a ball. Press... don't knead. Again, if your hands cause the dough to become too warm it won't stay together well enough.

Press it into a disc and wrap it in plastic wrap. Leave it in the fridge for at least 2o minutes.


While it's in the fridge you can prepare your cupcake pan. I sprayed mine down with cooking spray just to make sure nothing sticks when the pies are baked. Cut up strips of baking parchment and place one under each cupcake liner...


... like so. It will help you lift them out of the pan when they are still warm.

The pan is ready!!!


After rolling out 1/3 of the dough between two pieces of baking parchment, use an item in your kitchen that is roughly 4 inches wide as a cookie-cutter to cut out 6 pic crusts.


I used pre-made pie filling, but feel free to make your own. I imagine that would be even better than the canned stuff!
Fill your little pies.


Use your finger to "brush" the edges of the little pies with some beaten egg.

I used a drinking glass to cut out the top crusts. Press them down around the edges.

Using the leftover dough you can cut out designs to place on top of the little guys!


See!


I also puntched holes in the tops for good measure!

Bake in a 375 degree oven for 25 minutes... and this is what comes out!




I sprinkled a little powdered sugar on top.
Yummy!

Labels: Apple Pie, Creative, Miniature, Pie, Stars

This is the unedited version of my first post for today.
I haven't taken pictures yet... but I will.

I haven't even decided what I want to bake yet.

Hrm... Let me go poke around in my cook books.

Laters!

--*--

Alright... so it's later in the day and here is what I decided to make.

Garlic Pull-Apart Bread




















As most things it starts with pretty basic ingredients... all purpose flour and salt.















In their sifted flour well.















Then you mix some sugar and warm water with the yeast. I like to use unbleached sugar whenever I can.















Here is the yeast... getting all extra active and what not.















Guess what happens next!















That's right... the yeast, sugar and water go into the flour well.















I try to mix it as much as I can in the bowl.















But eventually the kneading is inevitable.















Here is my pretty dough ball!















Another shot of the dough ball. It took a lot of kneading to get it to the right texture.




















Then the dough ball goes into a bowl that has been lightly oiled. Cover with a tea towel or plastic wrap.















While the dough rested, I decided to make my 'garlic and herb' mix.















I chose to use Parsley, Thyme and Garlic Salt.




















Mix about a tablespoon of each in a bowl and leave for later.




















Once the dough has risen... you punch it down and pull it out of the bowl.




















Divide the dough in half and each half into six balls. Flatten out the balls and between each spread on some butter and then place some of the 'Garlic and Herb' mixture.















When you are finished it will look like this. Let it rise some more.




















Then you place it in the oven and bake it. This is what comes out!




















Doesn't it look yummy!?!




















In the end, it turned out very, very yummy!





- Ellie Marie

Labels: Almost Ice Cream, Mint Choco Chip, Muffins