Rich And Velvety Custard Pie 2003 1st Place Custard Recipes

FRUITS OF THE FOREST PIE-2003 FIRST PLACE NUT

Steps:

• To prepare crust by hand:
• In a narrow bowl, combine flour, salt and shortening. Using 2 knives scissors-style, cut fat into flour until only small pea-size bits of shortening remain.
• Sprinkle water over flour mixture as you toss with a fork. Don't keep stirring. Turn only about 8 to 10 times. Continue with Step 3 below.
• Or prepare crust using a food processor:
• Chill flour, shortening, butter, water.
• Measure flour into work bowl. Add salt and pulse 3 times.
• Add shortening. Pulse 6 times. Add butter that has been cup up into chunks. Pulse 4 times.
• Add water 1 tablespoon at a time. Pulse after each addition.
• Pour out of bowl onto plastic wrap. Create a 5-inch disk and flatten. Refrigerate.
• After about 15 minutes in the refrigerator, remove your disc. Place a piece of plastic wrap or parchment paper on the counter. Flour it. Cover the disk with another piece of wrap or parchment. Roll out from the center, until disk is about 11 inches in diameter. Remove top wrap, flour the surface lightly and drape crust over rolling pin. Center over pie plate and put it in. Smooth into 9 1/2-inch pie pan. Remove wrap. Trim edge to about 1/2 inch around outside of pan.
• Fold edge under and flute using thumb and forefingers to make a stand up edge. Refrigerate until ready to fill.
• To prepare filling and topping:
• Heat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Coarsely chop macadamias and almonds, put all nuts (separate large nuts from chopped) on cookie sheet and toast 5 to 6 minutes. Cool. Put hazelnuts into a kitchen towel and rub together to remove skins. Chop hazelnuts.
• Combine filling ingredients. Mix well. Sprinkle chopped nuts on bottom of crust. Arrange pecan halves, slivered almonds and cashews in attractive pattern on bottom of unfilled crust. Pour filling into pan deflecting on back of a spoon. Larger nuts will rise up to top. Cover edge of crust with foil.
• Bake for 45 minutes to 50 minutes. Test with a stainless steel knife in center. When it comes out clean, it's done. Cool completely on wire rack. Serve after cooling or wrap in heavy foil and refrigerate until next day to serve.

CARAMEL APPLE PIE - 2003 1ST PLACE APPLE

Steps:

• Pie Crust:
• Chill all ingredients, including the flour and vinegar. Combine the flour, salt and sugar. Cut in shortening with a pastry blender until the mixture resembles cornmeal. In another bowl, mix water and vinegar with the beaten egg. Add the liquid mixture, 1 tablespoon at a time, to the flour mixture, tossing with a fork to form a soft dough.
• Filling:
• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
• Peel and slice apples. Sprinkle with lemon juice. Combine dry ingredients in large bowl and add apples. Toss to mix. Add vanilla and cream. Melt butter in heavy skillet. Add apple mixture and cook approximately 8 minutes, to soften apples. Turn into pie shell.
• Streusel Topping:
• Combine the flour and sugar. Mix in butter with fork until coarse crumbs. stir in the crushed toffee bars. Sprinkle over pie. Add top crust. Seal, flute edge and vent top. Brush with beaten egg white and sprinkle with sugar. Bake for 15 minutes. Reduce heat to 350 degrees F and bake 45 minutes longer.