Minnie Pearls Any Kind Fruit Pie Food

MINI APPLE PIES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Place the phyllo shells on a baking sheet and bake until crisp, about 5 minutes. Remove from the oven (keep the oven on) and let cool.
• For the filling: Meanwhile, melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the apples, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt and lemon juice. Cook, stirring often, until the apples start to soften and release some juices, about 4 minutes. Add the sugar and continue to cook, stirring often, until the sugar has dissolved, about 2 minutes more.
• Stir together the cornstarch and 2 tablespoons of water in a small bowl. Stir into the apple mixture and cook, stirring often, until the liquid is very thick, about 2 minutes more. Stir in the vanilla, remove from the heat and set aside.
• For the granola crisp topping: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Stir together the oats, flour, sugar, cinnamon, salt, butter and honey and spread the mixture on the baking sheet, using your hands to form some small clumps. Bake until browned and crisp, about 10 minutes. Remove from the oven, stir in the almonds and let cool.
• To assemble, add a heaping tablespoon of the filling to each phyllo shell, followed by a tablespoon of the topping. Serve warm or at room temperature.

PEAR & BERRY PIE

Steps:

• To make the poached pears, put the sugar in a big saucepan with the lemon peel, cardamom pods, nutmeg, cinnamon and 1 litre water. Bring to a gentle simmer. Lower the pear halves into the liquid and place a circle of baking parchment on top, so they cook through properly. Leave over a medium heat, so that a few bubbles break the surface every now and then, and cook for 15 mins. Allow to cool in the liquid. Can be chilled overnight if making ahead.
• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Dust the work surface with a little plain flour. Roll out the pastry so it's big enough to line a 20-23cm frying pan, pie dish or shallow baking tin. Grate a little nutmeg over the surface, then gently roll again to help it stick. Lift over your dish, press into the corners, then trim the edges. You can give it a pretty crimped edge, if you like, then wrap the off-cuts in cling film and keep in the fridge until needed. Scrunch up a sheet of baking parchment, unfold, and lay it over the pastry. Fill with baking beans and bake for 15 mins. Remove the beans and parchment, brush with some of the beaten egg and return to the oven for another 5 mins.
• Meanwhile, make the filling. Cook the remaining pears and sugar in a small pan until the pears are soft enough to squash with the back of a spoon. Drain off 3 tbsp of the poaching liquid and mix this with the cornflour, then pour back into the pears and continue cooking and squashing for another minute or so, until the filling has thickened.
• Sprinkle the ground almonds over the pastry case, then add the squashed pear mixture and scatter over the berries. Remove the poached pears from their liquid and blot them on some kitchen paper. Arrange them face-up among the pear mixture and berries. Using a mini pastry cutter, cut little shapes from the leftover pastry, then arrange them on top. Brush the pastry pieces with beaten egg and sprinkle with the demerara sugar. Bake for 45-50 mins until the pastry is golden and berry juice is bubbling. Cool for 10-15 mins before serving with custard, cream or ice cream, if you like.

MINNIE PEARL'S ANY KIND FRUIT PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• Sift together, the flour, 1/2 cup sugar, baking powder, and salt.
• Add milk and vanilla and mix until smooth.
• Melt butter in an 8 or 9 inch pie pan in preheated oven.Then remove.
• Pour batter in pie pan, but do not mix.
• Top with sweetened fruit and sprinkle remaining sugar over the top.
• Bake in the center of oven for 10 minutes, then lower oven temperature to 350 degrees and bake an additional 45-50 minutes until pie bubbles and crust is brown.
• Serve with cream, ice cream or plain.