Double Crust Nectarine Raspberry Pies Food

NECTARINE-RASPBERRY SLAB PIE

Steps:

• For the dough: Combine the flour, granulated sugar and salt in a food processor and pulse until mixed. Add about one third of the chilled butter and process until thoroughly combined (the mixture will be slightly yellow). Add the remaining chilled butter and pulse until the mixture resembles a very coarse meal with pea-size bits of butter. Add the vinegar in a single pulse. Gradually add the ice water through the feed tube, pulsing just until evenly combined. Squeeze a handful of the dough together, it should just hold its shape and be a little crumbly. If still very powdery, pulse again, adding up to 2 tablespoons ice water.
• Turn the dough out onto a work surface and press it together by hand. Divide the dough in half; wrap each piece in a large piece of plastic wrap, pressing each firmly into a 1/2-inch-thick rectangle. Refrigerate until firm, at least 1 hour or up to 2 days.
• Adjust an oven rack to the bottom position of the oven and put a pizza stone or large baking sheet on it. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• For the filling: Toss together the nectarines, brown sugar, lemon juice, cornstarch, vanilla and salt in a large bowl until the cornstarch dissolves. Add the raspberries and gently toss to combine.
• To assemble the pie: Let the dough stand at room temperature for a few minutes until slightly softened to make rolling easier. Place one piece of dough between two large pieces of floured parchment. Roll into a rough 14-by-12 inch rectangle (if the dough gets too soft, pop it in the fridge to firm up, then continue rolling). Repeat rolling with the second piece of dough.
• Pile the nectarine-raspberry filling into the center of one piece of dough and spread evenly, leaving at least a 1-inch border. Dot the filling with the butter.
• With a 1-inch star-shaped cookie cutter, cut out 4 to 5 stars from the second piece of dough (reserve the cut-outs for decorating). To transport the dough to the pie, roll it up onto the rolling pin and then unroll it over the filling, lining up the edges with the bottom piece of dough as best you can. Pinch the edges together, then fold and crimp to create a tight seal. Brush the top and edges of the crust with the egg; decorate the top crust with the star cut-outs and brush them with egg too. Generously sprinkle the pie with granulated sugar. Using the bottom piece of parchment paper, slide the pie onto another rimmed baking sheet (trim the parchment if there's any overhang).
• Put the baking sheet with the pie directly on the preheated pizza stone or baking sheet (this helps make the bottom crust crisp and flaky). Bake the pie until the crust is deep golden brown and the filling is bubbly, 45 to 50 minutes. (If the crust browns too quickly during baking, cover the pie loosely with foil. Some of the filling may bubble from the vents onto the parchment paper; don't fret-just embrace the rustic charm.)
• Let cool. Slice into wedges and serve warm or at room temperature.

NECTARINE-RASPBERRY PIE

Steps:

• Make the dough:
• Remove the dough for the bottom crust from the refrigerator. If necessary, allow it to sit for about 10 minutes or until it is soft enough to roll.
• On a floured pastry cloth or between two sheets of lightly floured plastic wrap, roll the bottom crust 1/8 inch thick or less and large enough to cut a 12-inch circle. Transfer it to the pie pan. Trim the edge almost even with the edge of the pan. Cover it with plastic wrap and refrigerate it for a minimum of 30 minutes and a maximum of 3 hours.
• Make the filling:
• Place the sliced nectarines in a large bowl and sprinkle them with the lemon juice. Sprinkle on the sugar and salt and toss them gently to mix evenly. Allow to macerate for a minimum of 30 minutes and maximum of 1 hour.
• Transfer the nectarines and their juices to a colander suspended over a bowl to capture the liquid. The mixture will exude a full cup of juice.
• In a small saucepan (preferably lined with a nonstick surface), over medium-high heat, boil down this liquid to 1/2 cup, or until syrupy and lightly carmelized. Swirl the liquid but do not stir it. (Alternatively, spray a 4 cup heatproof measure with nonstick vegetable spray, add the liquid, and boil it in a microwave, about 12 minutes on high). Allow it to cool for about 10 minutes or until warm.
• Meanwhile, transfer the nectarines to a bowl and toss them with the lemon zest and cornstarch until all traces of the cornstarch have disappeared. Stir the Kirsch into the cooled syrup and pour it over the nectarines, tossing gently. Transfer the nectarine mixture to the pie shell and top with the raspberries.
• Roll out the top crust large enough to cut a 12-inch circle. Use an expandable flan ring or a cardboard template and a sharp knife as a guide to cut out the circle.
• Moisten the edges of the bottom crust with water and place the top crust over the fruit. Tuck the overhang under the bottom crust border and press down all around the top to seal it. Crimp the border using a fork or your fingers and make about 5 evenly spaced 2-inch slashes starting about 1 inch from the center and radiating toward the edge. Cover the pie loosely with plastic wrap and refrigerate it for 1 hour before baking to chill and relax the pastry. This will maintain flakiness and help to prevent distortion.
• Preheat oven to 425°F at least 20 minutes before baking. Set an oven rack at the lowest level and place a baking stone or baking sheet on it before preheating. Place a large piece of greased foil on top to catch bubbling juices.
• Set the pie directly on the foil-topped baking stone and bake for 45 to 55 minutes or until the juices bubble thickly through the slashes and the nectarines feel tender but not mushy when a cake tester or small knife is inserted through a slash. After 30 minutes, protect the edges from overbrowning with a foil ring. cool the pie on a rack for at least 3 hours before cutting.
• Store:
• Room temperature, up to 2 days.
• Pointers for success:
• - The nectarines should be ripe but firm so they maintain their texture in a pie. If squishy, they lose their character.
• - As you slice the nectarines, toss them occasionally with the sugar mixture to coat to prevent them from turning brown.
• - The liquid must not be hot when added to the nectarines because it could cause the cornstarch to lump.
• - Be sure to put a sheet of foil under the pie pan, as there is always a little spillover with this much fruit.
• - For a truly crisp bottom crust, bake the pie directly on the floor of the oven for the first 30 minutes.

DOUBLE-CRUST NECTARINE RASPBERRY PIES

Steps:

• Make pastry:
• Blend together 2 1/2 cups flour, 1 1/2 sticks butter, 1/4 cup shortening, and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a bowl with your fingertips or a pastry blender (or pulse in a food processor) until mixture resembles coarse meal with some roughly pea-size butter lumps. Drizzle evenly with 5 tablespoons ice water and gently stir with a fork (or pulse) until incorporated.
• Squeeze a small handful: If it doesn't hold together, add more ice water to dough, 1 tablespoon at a time, stirring (or pulsing) until just combined. (Do not overwork mixture, or pastry will be tough.)
• Turn out dough onto a work surface and divide into 6 portions. With heel of your hand, smear each portion once or twice in a forward motion to help distribute fat. Gather all of dough together with scraper and press into 2 balls, then flatten each into a 5-inch disk. Make 2 more disks in same manner with remaining 2 1/2 cups flour, 1 1/2 sticks butter, 1/4 cup shortening, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Chill dough, each disk wrapped tightly in plastic wrap, until firm, at least 1 hour.
• Prepare filling while dough chills:
• Cut nectarines into 1/2-inch-wide wedges, then toss with raspberries and lemon juice in a large bowl.
• Grind tapioca to a powder in grinder, then whisk together with cornstarch, salt, and sugar in a small bowl (do not toss with fruit until dough is rolled out).
• Roll out pastry and prepare pies:
• Put oven rack in lower third of oven and put a large sheet of foil on rack. Preheat oven to 425°F.
• Roll out 2 disks of dough, 1 at a time (keep remaining disks chilled), on a lightly floured surface with a lightly floured rolling pin, into 13-inch rounds, then fit into pie plates (do not trim) and chill until ready to use.
• Roll out remaining 2 disks (for top crusts) in same manner and set aside (keep flat).
• Gently toss sugar mixture with fruit and divide between pie shells.
• Cover pies with pastry rounds and trim edges with kitchen shears, leaving a 1/2-inch overhang. Press edges together, then crimp decoratively. Brush pastry tops with milk and sprinkle all over with sugar (2 tablespoons total). Cut several steam vents in top of each pie with a small sharp knife.
• Bake pies on foil 20 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 375°F and continue to bake, checking frequently and covering edge of each pie with a strip of foil or pie shield if crusts are browning too fast, until crusts are golden brown and filling is bubbling, about 40 minutes more.
• Cool pies to room temperature on racks, at least 2 hours.

NECTARINE, PLUM, AND RASPBERRY PIE

Steps:

• Pastry:
• Blend together flour, butter, shortening, and salt in a bowl with your fingertips (or pulse in a food processor) until mixture resembles coarse meal with some roughly pea-size butter lumps. Drizzle evenly with 5 tablespoons ice water and gently stir with a fork (or pulse) until incorporated.
• Squeeze a small handful: If it doesn't hold together, add more ice water, 1 tablespoon at a time, stirring (or pulsing) until just combined. (Do not overwork mixture, or pastry will be tough.)
• Turn out dough onto a work surface and divide into 6 portions. With the heel of your hand, smear each portion once or twice in a forward motion to help distribute fat. Gather all of dough together with scraper and press into 2 balls, then flatten each into a 5" disk. Chill dough, each disk wrapped tightly in plastic wrap, until firm, at least 1 hour.
• Filling and assembly:
• Toss nectarines, plums, raspberries, lemon juice, and 1/4 cup of sugar in a large bowl.
• Grind tapioca to a powder in grinder, then whisk together with cornstarch, salt, and remaining 1/2 cup sugar in a small bowl (do not toss with fruit until dough is rolled out).
• Roll out 1 disk of dough on a lightly floured surface with a lightly floured rolling pin, into a 13"-14" round, then fit into a 9" pie plate and trim edge, leaving a 1" overhang.
• Roll out remaining disk to a 14" round. Slide round onto a baking sheet. Cover and chill both crusts for 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 400° with rack in lower third. Toss sugar mixture with fruit and transfer to chilled pie shell.
• Using fluted pastry wheel (or other utensil), cut chilled dough round into 3/4"-wide strips. Weave strips over filling, forming a lattice. Trim strips 1/2" shorter than dough overhang. Fold overhang over strips and crimp edges decoratively.
• Brush beaten egg over crust edges and lattice. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon sugar over crust. Set pie on a large rimmed baking sheet lined with foil.
• Bake pie 30 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 350° and continue to bake, checking frequently and covering edge with a strip of foil or pie shield if crusts are browning too fast, until crusts are golden brown and filling is bubbling, 40-50 minutes more.
• Cool pie to room temperature on a rack, at least 2 hours.