Summer Blackberry Pie

 

blackberrypie

CRUST

  1. 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  2. 3 tablespoons sugar
  3. 1/4 teaspoon salt
  4. 1 cup solid vegetable shortening, chilled
  5. 5 tablespoons ice water

FILLING

  1. 2 pints blackberries (1 1/2 pounds)
  2. 1/2 cup sugar
  3. 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  4. 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  5. 1 tablespoon cold unsalted butter, cut into cubes

BAKING INSTRUCTIONS

  1. In a large bowl, whisk the flour, sugar and salt. Add the shortening and, using a pastry blender or 2 knives, cut it into the flour until the mixture resembles coarse meal. Add the ice water and stir with a fork until the dough is moistened. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface and gather it into a ball. Knead the dough 2 or 3 times, just until it comes together. Divide in half; flatten each piece into a disk. Wrap each disk in plastic and refrigerate until chilled, at least 1 hour.
  2. Preheat the oven to 375°. Let the dough stand at room temperature for 10 minutes. Working on a lightly floured surface, roll out one disk of dough to a 12-inch round. Transfer to a 9-inch glass pie plate. Roll out the remaining dough to an 11-inch round.
  3. Meanwhile, in a bowl, stir the blackberries with the sugar, flour and lemon juice, lightly mashing a few berries; scrape into the prepared pie crust and sprinkle the butter cubes on top.
  4. Brush the overhanging pastry with water and carefully set the top crust over the berry filling. Press the edges of the dough together and trim the overhang to 1 inch. Fold the edge under itself and crimp decoratively. Cut 4 slits in the top crust.
  5. Bake the pie in the center of the oven for 1 hour and 15 minutes, until the bottom crust is golden and the fruit is bubbling. If necessary, cover the edge with foil for the last few minutes of baking. Let the pie cool for at least 4 hours before serving.
MAKE AHEAD The baked pie can stand at room temperature overnight.

 

Best Chocolate Coffee Cake

The richest, chocolatiest, moistest, most irresistible chocolate cake ever! The recipe below is for the cake. You can use our own personal recipes for Chocolate Buttercream Frosting, or Chocolate Fudge, to fill and frost the cake, then add berries, jams, any any other fillings and toppings you wish to add your own personal touch to the cake.

Ingredients

  • 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups white sugar (brown sugar is okay too)
  • 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 medium or large eggs
  • 1 cup brewed black coffee
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil or canola oil
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F, 175 degrees C (if you’re using dark non-stick pans, preheat oven to 325 degrees F).
  2. Grease and flour one 9×13 inch pan or a bunt cake pan if you have one.
  3. In large mixing bowl combine the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder and salt and mix well.
  4. Add in the eggs, coffee, buttermilk, oil and vanilla all together, then beat for 2 minutes with a mixer on medium speed.
  5. Pour into your pre-greased baking pans.
  6. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes. After 3o minutes, check with toothpick inserted into center of the cake to see if it comes out clean.
  7. Cool the cake for 10 minutes before removing from the pan.
  8. Finish cooling on a wire rack.  When completely cooled, fill and frost as desired.

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Chocolate Ganache

This recipe is just for Chocolate Ganache. The pure chocolate mixture can be used for so many different deserts. You can use it to dip strawberries and other fruit, cupcakes, pour over a cake or cheesecake … the possibilities are endless!

Ingredients

  • 9 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped into squares (you can use Hershey’s Dark Chocolate, it’s cheap and works well)
  • 1 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 1 tablespoon dark rum (optional – taste great with or without)

Directions

  1. Place the cut chocolate squares into a medium mixing bowl (pyrex or stainless steel is best)
  2. Heat the heavy whipping cream in a small sauce pan over medium heat until it boils.
  3. Don’t over boil, right when it starts to bubble, pull the cream off the flame and pour over the chocolate squares in the mixing bowl.
  4. Whisk the mixture until smooth. If you’re using the optional rum, stir it in at this point.
  5. Allow the ganache to cool slightly before pouring over a cake, cupcakes or dipping fruit in it.
  6. If pouring on a cake, start at the center of the cake and work the ganache outward.

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Angel Food Strawberry Shortcake

Delicious Angel Food Strawberry Shortcake recipe. Fresh, fun, and perfect for Summer!

Ingredients

  • 1 (10 inch) angel food cake
  • 2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
  • 1 cup white sugar
  • 1 (8 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed
  • 1 quart fresh strawberries, sliced
  • 1 (18 ounce) jar strawberry glaze

Directions

  1. Crumble the cake into a 9×13 inch dish.
  2. Beat the cream cheese and sugar in a medium bowl until light and fluffy. Fold in whipped topping. Mash the cake down with your hands and spread the cream cheese mixture over the cake.
  3. In a bowl, combine strawberries and glaze until strawberries are evenly coated. Spread over cream cheese layer. Chill until serving.

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Sweetened Whipped Cream Topping

Preparation Time:  10 minutes
Cooking Time:  10 minutes

Ingredients

1 cup heavy whipping cream
3 tablespoons confectioners’ sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

In a chilled small mixing bowl and with chilled beaters, beat cream until it begins to thicken. Add confectioners’ sugar and vanilla; beat until soft peaks form. Store in the refrigerator.

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Stabilized Whipped Cream Topping

Preparation Time:  15 minutes
Cooking Time:  10 minutes

Servings: 14

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup cold water
  • 1 teaspoon unflavored gelatin
  • 1 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 1 tablespoon white sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

  1. Chill mixing bowl and beaters for at least 15 minutes before using. Place water in a small microwave-safe bowl. Sprinkle gelatin over water and allow to soften 5 minutes.
  2. Dissolve gelatin by microwaving for 3 minutes, stirring after every minute. Remove from microwave and let stand at room temperature for 10 minutes; gelatin must be liquid but not warm when added to cream.
  3. Remove bowl and beaters from refrigerator and pour in cream, sugar, and vanilla extract. Beat together just until beater marks begin to show distinctly.
  4. Add gelatin mixture to cream, pouring in a steady stream while beating constantly. Beat until stiff peaks form. Use immediately.

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Fudge Frosting

 

Preparation Time:  10 minutes
Cooking Time:  10 minutes

Servings: 16

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 (1 ounce) squares unsweetened chocolate
  • 1/4 cup butter
  • 1 1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar
  • 1 egg white
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

  1. Melt chocolate and butter in small heavy saucepan over low heat; stir to blend.
  2. Beat in powdered sugar. Beat in egg white and vanilla, adding a little water, if necessary, to make smooth, slightly soft frosting. Spoon over cupcakes, cake, cookies or any other dessert!

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Chocolate Fudge Buttercream Frosting

Preparation Time:  10 minutes
Cooking Time:  10 minutes

Ingredients

 

  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 1/4 cup shortening
  • 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 2 cups confectioners’ sugar
  • 2 tablespoons milk
  • 1 cup hot fudge topping
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

 

Directions

 

  1. Cream together the butter or margarine with the shortening.
  2. Sift the cocoa with the confectioners’ sugar and add to the creamed mixture. Mix together adding 1 tablespoon at a time of milk to keep mixture smooth. Don’t add more than 1/4 cup of milk.
  3. Add the hot fudge topping and the vanilla extract. Blend until smooth and creamy.

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Strawberry Frosting

Preparation Time:  10 minutes
Cooking Time:  35 minutes

Servings: 12

Ingredients

 

  • 1 (18.25 ounce) package yellow cake mix
  • 1 (3 ounce) package strawberry flavored gelatin mix
  • 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 2/3 cup vegetable oil
  • 4 eggs
  • 1 (10 ounce) package frozen strawberries
  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 4 3/4 cups confectioners’ sugar

 

Directions

 

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour three 9 inch round pans.
  2. In a large bowl, stir together cake mix, gelatin mix and flour. Make a well in the center and pour in water, oil, and eggs. Stir in half of the container of strawberries. Beat on low speed until blended. Scrape bowl, and beat 4 minutes on medium speed. Pour batter into prepared pans.
  3. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Allow to cool.
  4. To make the Strawberry Frosting: In a large bowl combine butter, confectioners’ sugar and the remaining half of the frozen strawberries. Beat on high speed until creamy.

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Pastry Cream Filling

Preparation Time:  10 minutes
Cooking Time:  25 minutes

Servings: 8

Ingredients

 

  • 2 cups milk
  • 1/4 cup white sugar
  • 2 egg yolks
  • 1 egg
  • 1/4 cup cornstarch
  • 1/3 cup white sugar
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

  1. In a heavy saucepan, stir together the milk and 1/4 cup of sugar. Bring to a boil over medium heat.
  2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the egg yolks and egg. Stir together the remaining sugar and cornstarch; then stir them into the egg until smooth. When the milk comes to a boil, drizzle it into the bowl in a thin stream while mixing so that you do not cook the eggs. Return the mixture to the saucepan, and slowly bring to a boil, stirring constantly so the eggs don’ t curdle or scorch on the bottom.
  3. When the mixture comes to a boil and thickens, remove from the heat. Stir in the butter and vanilla, mixing until the butter is completely blended in. Pour into a heat-proof container and place a piece of plastic wrap directly on the surface to prevent a skin from forming. Refrigerate until chilled before using.

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