Lemon Lavender Pie Food

LAVENDER LEMON BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. In a small bowl, cream butter and confectioners' sugar. Add the flour, almonds, lavender and lemon zest; beat until crumbly. Pat into an ungreased 13x9-in. baking dish. Bake for 15 minutes or until edges are golden brown. , Meanwhile, in another small bowl, combine the sugar, flour, baking soda, eggs and lemon juice; beat until frothy. Pour over hot crust. Return to oven and bake 20-25 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool on a wire rack. Dust with confectioners' sugar. Refrigerate leftovers.

LEMON PIE WITH LAVENDER MASCARPONE CREAM

Steps:

• Sift flour, sugar, and salt together to make sure they are thoroughly combined.
• Cut in the ½ cup of cold butter that has been cubed. I personally use a food processor for this, but you can always do this with your hands or pastry blender.
• Pulse the processor six times so the mixture ranges in size from breadcrumbs to lima beans. Then add in the coconut oil to the mixture. (You can always use vegetable shortening instead, but I personally like the flavor that the coconut oil gives to the crust of the pie. Pulse six times or cut the oil in till it resembles the same consistency as the butter addition.
• Add in the cream cheese and repeat the process. Now it is time to add the chilled water to the mixture. I add a small amount at time to make sure the mixture does not become to wet. The mixture will have a crumbly look to it, but comes together when you work it with your hand on a flat surface. Split the dough in half into packages if doing a double crust. Let the dough chill at least an hour in.
• Bring the heavy cream to a simmer and take it off the heat. Add the lavender into the cream and let it steep for half an hour. (Your kitchen will smell amazing!) After it has steeped for half an hour strain the mixture and chill in the refrigerator over night.
• Baking the Crust.
• Roll out the bottom crust and place into the pie dish. Trim and scallop the edge of the pie crust, then place in the freezer for 15 minutes till the pie crust is set.
• Once the crust has set take it out of the freezer and get you pie weights ready for the blind baking. I use old beans and ceramic pie weights for my pies. Place a piece of foil into the pie crust with the edges of the foil going over the sides of the pie dish. You want it to be easy to remove the pie weights from the center of pie crust.
• Place the pie on the center rack for fifteen minutes. After fifteen minutes remove the foil and pie weights from the pie dish. Then prick the bottom of the pie and the sides if it has started to puff out.
• Bake the crust for 15 to 17 more minutes. If the edges of the crust already look golden at this point, cover the edges with foil so that they do not burn. Take the crust out after it appears fully baked and let it cool on a wire rack.
• Making the Filling.
• Whisk the cornstarch, sugar, and salt together in a medium saucepan making sure there are no lumps of cornstarch. Add the water, lemon zest, and lemon juice to the mixture. Next add the egg yolks to mixture and whisk together to make sure that they are combined completely. Place the saucepan over medium heat. Whisk the mixture constantly until it comes to a boil. Once the mixture comes to a boil lower the temperature. At this point the mixture will visibly start to thicken up and begin to take on a thicker consistency. After lower the temperature continue to whisk the mixture for about a minute. Then pour the warm mixture into prebaked piecrust. Let the mixture cool and then place in the refrigerator to chill.
• Mascarpone Whipped Cream.
• Whip the infused cream till it is slightly fluffy (about a minute). Then add in the mascarpone to the mixture along with the powdered sugar. Whip the mixture till it forms stiff peaks.
• Pipe the cream onto the pie and serve or let it chill overnight.