Oh My! Strawberry Pie!

Strawberry Pie!

Strawberry Pie is one of my all-time favorite pies!  It's not just a pie, but a significant milestone in the calendar year.  It means that summer is here, berry season is upon us, and we can go out to the fields with our berry buckets to stock our freezers with a taste of summertime!

A quick rinse to make sure there's no dirt, or little critters!

The great thing about this pie is that it's easy, takes only a few ingredients and can be made really quickly.  Plump, juicy strawberries, dripping with flavor and naturally vibrant.  There's nothing better!

Add a dollop of whipped cream!

Add a fork, and you're ready to go!  Yummm!

Fresh Strawberry Pie
6 cups fresh strawberries, frozen do not substitute
2/3 cups sugar
2 tablespoons cornstarch
2/3 cup water

In a saucepan, mash one cup of berries.  Combine the cornstarch and water until well blended, and add to the crushed strawberries.  Cook and stir over medium heat until misture is thickened and bubbly.  Cook one minute.

Spread about 1/4 of the glaze over bottom and sides of crust.  Arrange strawberries and add remaining glaze over the top, taking care to cover each berry.  Chill for 1 hour.  Top with whipped cream and serve.

Shortbread Crust
1/2 butter, slightly softened
1 cup unsifted flour
1/4 cup brown butter
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Mix together until crumbly.  Press into 9" pie pan and bake at 350 F for ~16 minutes, or until light golden brown.

Photograph © Hearty Appletite

DIY Drumstick Ice Cream

                                               I scream,                            You scream,                        We all scream for ice cream!!!

                                          

My kids introduced me to Drumstick Ice Cream Cones last summer.  I had spent my whole life, blissfully unaware of the deliciousness of boxed ice cream cones, due to the name of them.  When I hear "drumstick," my mind goes to poultry, not creamy ice cream, dipped in melt-in-your-mouth chocolate, topped with sprinkles.

After polishing off a box of them...the whole family, not just me!... I decided it would be fun to make our own.  I made the "magic shell" chocolate coating from chocolate chips and coconut oil, and rolled it around the inside edges of the cones.  (I kept all the cones in the freezer if I wasn't working with them that second). After the chocolate hardened (happens quickly in the freezer), I filled them up with slightly softened vanilla bean ice cream, dunked them back in the chocolate sauce, and quickly doused them with sprinkles before they froze.

From one hearty appletite to another...happy baking!

DIY Drumstick Ice Cream Cones

One package sugar ice cream cones

Half gallon of your favorite ice cream

1 cup of chocolate chips

2 tablespoons coconut oil

Photograph © Hearty Appletite

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

I can only be thankful that my husband doesn't love these cookies, because that means ALL THE MORE FOR ME! :)  This is the best recipe for peanut butter cookies that my family has ever found, and it's no longer in print.  It comes from the original 1963 Betty Crocker's Cooky Book.  There's a new edition of the old book, but they've slightly changed some of the recipes.  Not cool.  Anyway, you won't find fault with these!

Hot from the oven!

Thick and chewy, yet delicately buttery :)  Enjoy!

From one hearty appletite to another...happy baking!

Peanut Butter Cookies, adapted from Betty Crocker's Cooky Book 1963

1/2 cup butter

1/2 cup peanut butter

1/3 cup sugar

1/3 cup packed brown sugar

1 egg

1 1/2 cups flour

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

1 cup chocolate chips (optional)

Mix butter, peanut butter, sugars and egg thoroughly.  Measure flour by dipping method.  Blen all dry ingredients; stir into butter mixture.  

Heat oven to 375 F.  Roll dough in 1 1/4" balls.  Place 3" apart on lightly greased baking sheet.  Flatten slightly crisscross style with fork tongs.  Bake 9-10 minutes.