Almond Fudge Custard Pie Food

RICH AND VELVETY CUSTARD PIE - 2003 1ST PLACE CUSTARD

Steps:

• Crust:
• Mix all the dry ingredients together and cut in the shortening to resemble course crumbs. Beat the remaining ingredients, except the egg white, together and add to flour. Stir only to incorporate. Wrap in plastic and chill for several hours. Roll out and line pie dish. Bake crust (halfway) in a preheated 350 degree oven for 20 minutes. Brush with an egg white and bake an additional 5 minutes.
• Filling:
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Scald the milk and half-and-half.
• Mix together the eggs, sugar, salt and vanilla. Add the hot milk. Very carefully pour through a fine strainer and into the pie shell. Grate nutmeg over the top of the filling.
• Bake for 10 minutes on the bottom rack and then move to the middle rack and reduce the heat to 325 degrees F. Bake for approximately 25 minutes, or until knife inserted in the middle comes out clean or until the middle of the pie is almost set. It will continue to cook after it is taken out of the oven. Cool on a rack.

ALMOND CUSTARD CAKE

Steps:

• Cut a 9-inch round of parchment paper to line the bottom of a 9 × 2-inch round cake pan. Butter and line the pan. Butter the lining, then flour the pan, tapping out excess; set aside.
• Make the dough: Whisk together 2 1/4 cups flour and the almond flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl; set aside.
• Put the butter and 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix on medium speed until pale and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add 3 egg yolks, 1 at a time, mixing well after each addition and scraping down the sides of the bowl. Add the wine, almond extract, and half the vanilla seeds; mix until combined, about 15 seconds. Add the flour mixture in 2 additions, mixing until just combined (do not overmix).
• Divide the dough in half, and flatten each piece into a disk. Wrap the disks in plastic wrap. Refrigerate 1 hour.
• Make the custard filling: Prepare an ice-water bath; set aside. Fit an electric mixer with the whisk attachment. Put 3 egg yolks and the remaining 6 tablespoons sugar in a clean mixing bowl; beat on medium speed until pale yellow and thickened. Add the remaining 5 tablespoons flour; beat on low speed until combined.
• Bring the milk, remaining vanilla seeds, and zest to a boil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Pour 1/2 cup hot milk mixture into the egg mixture, and beat on medium-low speed until combined. Stir the mixture into the remaining milk in the saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring to reach the bottom and sides of the pan. Cook until thickened, 1 to 2 minutes. Set the pan in the ice-water bath; stir occasionally until cool, about 20 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 375°F. Press 1 piece of dough onto the bottom of the prepared pan and 1 1/2 inches up the sides. Spoon the custard on top, and spread into an even layer.
• On a lightly floured surface, roll the remaining dough into an 11-inch circle. Drape over the pan; trim the edges flush with the pan. Gently press the edges of the top crust to meet the bottom crust; crimp the top edges with a fork to seal. Refrigerate the cake 30 minutes.
• Beat the remaining egg yolk and the cream in a small bowl. Brush the top of the cake with egg wash; sprinkle with almonds. Bake until golden brown, about 35 minutes. Let cool completely in the pan on a wire rack. Invert the cake to unmold; peel off the parchment, and reinvert. Just before serving, dust the cake with confectioners' sugar. Serve with the strawberry-rhubarb sauce.
• Strawberry-Rhubarb Sauce
• Bring the rhubarb, sugar, and 1/4 cup water to a simmer in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally. Cook until the liquid is reduced by half, about 8 minutes. Stir in the strawberries and vanilla; cook until the berries are softened, about 3 minutes more. Serve the sauce warm or at room temperature.

MOCHA-ALMOND FUDGE PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°F. Finely grind chocolate cookies in food processor. Add butter and process until crumbs are moist and stick together. Using plastic wrap as aid, firmly press crumbs onto bottom and up sides of 9-inch-diameter deep-dish glass pie plate. Bake crust 10 minutes. Freeze until cold, about 15 minutes.
• Spread butterscotch sauce over bottom of crust; freeze until firm, about 15 minutes. Spoon ice cream into crust, pressing to compact and mounding slightly in center. Freeze 15 minutes. Spread fudge topping over ice cream; freeze 5 minutes. Press chopped toffee onto topping. Cover and freeze until very firm, at least 6 hours. (Can be prepared 3 days ahead. Keep frozen.)
• Let pie stand at room temperature 15 minutes. Cut into wedges and serve.

ERNIE'S FUDGE PIE

Steps:

• Melt butter and chocolate together on low heat or in double boiler.
• Meanwhile, put eggs in mixing bowl and beat until light and pale in color.
• Beat remaining ingredients into eggs, than add slightly cooled chocolate mixture.
• Mix thoroughly and pour into pie shell.
• Bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes or until top appears dry and filling is set but still somewhat soft inside.
• Do not over bake; pie should shake like custard so it will not be too stiff when cool. It really shouldn't take any longer than 30 minutes.
• For white chocolate drizzle, place baking square in small resealable plastic bag; seal bag.
• Heat in microwave oven at MEDIUM (50% power) 1 minute.
• Turn bag over; heat at MEDIUM 1 to 2 minutes or until melted. (Depending on the chocolate you use, sometimes you may need to add a little shortening for a smoother glaze.).
• Knead bag until white chocolate is smooth.
• Cut off very tiny corner of bag; pipe or drizzle white chocolate onto pie.
• For chocolate drizzle, place chocolate chips in small resealable plastic bag; seal bag.
• Heat in microwave oven at HIGH 1 minute.
• Turn bag over; heat at HIGH 1 to 2 minutes or until chocolate is melted.
• Knead bag until chocolate is smooth.
• Cut off tiny corner of bag; pipe or drizzle chocolate onto pie.
• Let pie stand until chocolate drizzles are set.
• Serve at room temperature or slightly warm without the drizzle.
• This is great served plain, or with a topping of vanilla ice cream.

ALMOND CUSTARD PIE

Steps:

• 1. Cream softened butter and sugar on medium speed of mixer for 2 minutes. Add salt, 1/8 tsp. nutmeg, almond extract, and eggs. Beat on high 2 minutes; add milk; blend well.
• 2. Pour into unbaked pie shell. Sprinkle remaining nutmeg over pie. Bake at 350 degrees for 35 to 45 minutes, or until knife inserted in middle comes out clean. Cover pie crust with pie rim or foil to avoid over-browning if necessary. Remove from oven and cool.
• 3. Drizzle warmed caramel sauce over pie; sprinkle with almonds (you can use toasted sliced almonds if you prefer). Store in refrigerator until well chilled. Serve.