Mile High Pecan Pie Food

MILE-HIGH PUMPKIN-PECAN PIE

Steps:

• Make the crust: In a food processor, pulse flour, granulated sugar, and salt until combined. Add butter and pulse until mixture resembles coarse meal, with a few pea-size pieces of butter remaining. Add 1/4 cup ice water in a steady stream, pulsing until dough is crumbly but holds together when squeezed (if necessary, add up to 1/4 cup more ice water, 1 tablespoon at a time). Form dough into a disk, wrap tightly in plastic, and refrigerate until firm, 1 hour (or up to 2 days).
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough just over 1/8 inch thick. Transfer to a 9-inch springform pan, adjusting dough as needed to fit flat against bottom and sides. Trim dough, leaving a 1 1/2-inch overhang (reserve scraps); freeze 15 minutes. Line dough with a double layer of parchment and fill with pie weights or dried beans. Bake on a rimmed baking sheet 30 minutes. Carefully remove parchment and weights; use reserved scraps to patch any holes in crust. Bake until deep golden, 30 minutes; cover edge with foil if overbrowning.
• Meanwhile, make filling: In a large bowl, whisk together brown sugar, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Whisk in eggs, then pumpkin, until smooth. Slowly whisk in milk, cream, and vanilla. Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees. With edge covered with foil, pour all but 1 cup filling into crust, return to oven, and carefully add remaining cup filling; bake 1 hour. Remove pie from oven and top with pecans. Bake until filling is just set but slightly wobbly in center, 20 to 25 minutes more. Let cool completely on a wire rack, about 3 hours. With a serrated knife, cut off overhang and unmold.

MILE-HIGH PECAN PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°. Lightly beat eggs and add all remaining ingredients except pecans, stirring to blend well.
• Add pecan pieces to the mixture and toss to coat thoroughly. Pour into unbaked pie shell and cover piecrust rim with shield or foil and bake at 400° for 10 minutes .
• Reduce oven temperature to 350° for 30-35 minutes or until knife inserted into the middle comes out clean. Remove shield to allow crust to brown about 5 minutes before removing from oven.
• Remove from oven, let cool on rack and serve as desired.

MILE HIGH MUD PIE

Steps:

• Line an 8-quart bowl with overhanging plastic wrap.
• Tip the coffee ice cream into the bowl and smooth the surface. Sprinkle over the chopped pecans and freeze until the ice cream is firm, at least 1 hour.
• Tip the chocolate ice cream into the bowl and smooth the surface. Sprinkle over the chocolate-coated toffee pieces and freeze until firm, at least 1 hour.
• Meanwhile, make the crust: Put the sandwich cookies in a food processor and pulse until fine crumbs. Pour in the melted butter and pulse to combine.
• Tip the vanilla ice cream into the bowl and smooth the surface. Tip the crust on top of the vanilla ice cream, spread it evenly and press down firmly. Freeze again until completely set, 4 hours and up to overnight.
• Turn out the pie onto a board or serving platter lined with 4 squares of parchment arranged so that the paper overhangs the edges of the platter. Peel off the plastic wrap and pour over the chocolate shell ice cream sauce to coat the entire pie. Carefully slide out the sheets of parchment and discard.
• To serve, cut big slices of pie, drizzle over some warm caramel sauce and stick a steak knife into the center standing up.

MILE HIGH PIE

Steps:

• Combine walnuts and biscuits. Add butter and mash thoroughly.
• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Butter a 10-inch diameter springform pan and press biscuit crust into base and 2-inches up side. Cover this crust with waxed paper, cut to fit bottom exactly. Fill pan with split peas, up to height of sides and bake "blind" for 1 hour. Let cool while still filled.
• When crust is cooled, removed pea weights and paper. Meanwhile, whip egg whites with cold water and salt until peaked. Fold in sugar a little at a time. Add vanilla and keep cool.
• Unmold ice cream from containers and cut horizontally through middle of each to yield 4 discs total. Place disks in pie crust, alternating strawberry and vanilla flavors. Top with meringue, letting it fall all around the ice cream. Set in freezer for 2 hours.
• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Remove pie from freezer and place in oven to brown meringue tips. You may also use a blowtorch instead. Serve with chocolate sauce.

MILE HIGH PEACHES AND CREAM PIE

Steps:

• Pastry:
• Use your favourite pastry recipe or purchase ready-made pie shells.
• Place rack in bottom third of oven and preheat to 400°F
• In a large bowl, combine white and brown sugar, flour and cinnamon. Add peach slices and gently toss to evenly coat.
• Roll out half the pastry on lightly floured surface large enough to fit 10 inch deep dish pie plate.
• Brush rim with water. Spoon filling, tucking diced cream cheese in between layers of peaches. Roll out remaining pastry and fit over top.
• Trim 3/4 inch from edge. Tuck pastry under and flute the edges. Brush with milk and sprinkle with 1 tbsp sugar. Cut steam vents in the centre.
• Place pie on a baking sheet and bake for 45 minutes.
• Cover crust edges with foil to prevent over-browning and continue to bake for about 1 more hour or until crust is golden and juices bubble thickly.
• Cool completely before serving.

MILE HIGH LIME PIE

Steps:

• In a bowl, combine the milk, sour cream, lime juice, and food coloring if desired. Fold in whipped topping. Pour into the crust and refrigerate for at least 12 hours. Preparation time does not include refrigeration time.

PECAN PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• In a medium saucepan, combine the sugar, corn syrup, butter, water, and cornstarch. Bring to a full boil, and remove from heat.
• In a large bowl, beat eggs until frothy. Gradually beat in cooked syrup mixture. Stir in salt, vanilla, and pecans. Pour into pie shell.
• Bake in preheated oven for 45 to 50 minutes, or until filling is set.

MILE-HIGH APPLE PIE

Steps:

• Prepare pastry: In large bowl, combine flour and salt. Cut vegetable shortening and butter into flour mixture until coarsely blended. Slowly add water, mixing, until dough binds. Form dough into two balls, one slightly larger than the other; wrap and refrigerate.
• Make apple filling: Cook apple slices in a large pot over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until barely tender-about 10 minutes. Watch so they don't burn! Drain apple slices completely. Transfer to large bowl and add sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla; stir to blend. Set aside.
• Prepare Pecan Crumb Topping: In medium-sized bowl, combine flour, brown sugar and salt. Cut butter into flour mixture until mixture resembles cornmeal. Add pecans and mix.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Roll out out both pieces of dough. Place the smaller round in bottom of dish. Carefully fill pie dish with apple filling. (It will be quite full!) Roll our larger piece of dough to a 12-inch round and cover top of pie. Trim and pinch together edges of bottom and top crusts.
• Brush top crust lightly with water. Top with crumb topping and carefully press into crust. Make several slits in top pie crust.
• Put a tray beneath the pie to catch any overflow during baking. Bake 45-50 minutes or until crust is golden brown. Cool at least 25 minutes, sift confectioners' sugar over top, and serve.

MILE HIGH STRAWBERRY PIE WITH PECAN CRUMB CRUST

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350. Mix melted butter, pecans, flour and brown sugar in medium bowl with fork until thoroughly mixed. Will be crumbly.
• Place crumb mixture onto 10x15x1" cookie sheet, carefully spreading without packing to cover pan. Bake 10-15 minutes, stirring periodically to brown crumbs and avoid burning.
• Remove crumbs from oven when lightly browned and set on cooling rack to cool, stirring periodically so that crumbs do not compact.
• Next, place egg whites, partially frozen berries and lemon juice in large mixing bowl, beating with electric mixture at high speed for 15 minutes, until filling is a pink 'cloud'.
• Fold whipped topping into strawberry mixture, carefully folding to not 'flatten' cloud.
• Spread 3/4 of crumb mixture into 9x13 pan. Fill with strawberry mixture. Sprinkle remaining crumbs over top. Cover and freeze at least 4 hours, preferably day before serving. Cook time is minimum freezing time.
• Note: Can replace frozen strawberries with 2 Cups sliced fresh strawberries, macerated with 1 Cup sugar. I prefer to use frozen strawberries that are set on counter while crumbs are prepared and baked. I have also substituted Whipped Cream for frozen topping. Place in cold bowl 1 cup heavy cream, and while beating add 2 tablespoons confectioners sugar, 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. Fold into strawberry cloud in step 5.
• 2nd Note: Can use two 10" deep dish pie plates instead of 9x13" pan. Makes a great dessert to take to church suppers or dessert for a meal taken to sick friend.