Mixed Berry Pie With Homemade Shortcrust Pastry Food

SUMMER BERRY PIE

Steps:

• Put the flour, butter, icing sugar, ground almonds and zest in a food processor and whizz to crumbs. Mix the yolk with 1 tbsp cold water, then add to the processor and pulse until the dough comes together.
• Split the pastry in half, wrap in cling film, then chill for 30 mins.
• Heat oven to 190C/170C fan/gas 5. Line a 20cm pie dish with half the pastry, add a sheet of greaseproof paper and baking beans and bake blind for 30 mins. Remove the paper and beans. Mix the berries and cornflour with the extra 2 tbsp icing sugar and a squeeze of orange juice, then pile into the pie base.
• Roll out the remaining pastry until big enough to cover the pie with a slight overlap. Whisk the egg white with a fork, then brush a little around the pastry rim. Carefully lift on the pastry lid, trim the edges and press with fork prongs to seal. Use a 2cm cutter, the large end of a piping nozzle or a bottletop to stamp out a few pastry polka dots - discarding the pastry circles you stamp out. Brush all over with more egg white, then sprinkle generously with granulated sugar and bake for 30 mins until golden and the syrupy fruit has started to bubble out of the polka dots.
• Allow the pie to cool for a few mins before serving hot, or warm or at room temperature, with a dollop of clotted cream, ice cream or drizzle of single cream, if you like.

MIXED BERRY PIE WITH HOMEMADE SHORTCRUST PASTRY

Steps:

• To make the pastry, combine the butter, flour and icing sugar in the bowl of a food processor then pulse until the mixture resembles rough breadcrumbs.
• Add the egg yolks and with the motor running, add the ice water slowly. Mix until the pastry comes together in a soft but firm ball.
• Remove from the food processor then form into a disc before wrapping in cling wrap.
• Place in the fridge and allow to chill for 30-45 minutes.
• Pre-heat the oven to 180°c.
• When the pastry has chilled, remove from the fridge.
• Reserve a third of the pastry and roll out the rest on a floured surface. Place the rolled out pastry into a 22cm loose-bottomed tart case.
• Combine all the filling ingredients in a bowl then transfer to the pastry-lined tart case.
• To make the lattice topping, roll out the remaining pastry and cut into strips of around 1cm wide.
• Weave the pastry strips on top of the filling then brush with the beaten egg before placing in the oven.
• Bake for 30-45 minutes until the pastry is golden brown and crisp and the berries' juices are bubbling.
• Remove from the oven then allow to cool to room temperature before removing the tart from the pastry case
• Slice and serve.

MIXED BERRY PIE

Steps:

• In a large bowl, mix flour and salt; cut in butter until crumbly. Gradually add ice water, tossing with a fork until dough holds together when pressed. Divide dough into 2 portions so that 1 is slightly larger than the other. Shape each into a disk. Cover and refrigerate 1 hour or overnight., For filling, in a large saucepan, whisk sugar, cornstarch, salt, water and, if desired, cinnamon until smooth; add blueberries. Bring to a boil; cook and stir 2 minutes or until thickened. Cool slightly., Preheat oven to 400°. Gently fold raspberries, strawberries, blackberries and lemon juice into blueberry mixture. On a lightly floured surface, roll out larger portion of dough to a 1/8-in.-thick circle; transfer to a 9-in. pie plate. Trim crust to 1/2 in. beyond rim of plate. Add filling; dot with butter., Roll remaining dough to a 1/8-in.-thick circle; cut into 1/2-in.-wide strips. Arrange over filling in a lattice pattern. Trim and seal strips to edge of bottom crust; flute edge. Bake 10 minutes. , Reduce oven setting to 350°; bake 45-50 minutes or until crust is golden brown and filling is bubbly. Cool on a wire rack.

BRITISH SHORTCRUST PIE PASTRY

Steps:

• Combine flour, butter, and shortening using a food processor until crumbly. Mix in water 1 tablespoon at at time until dough is soft and pliable.
• Wrap dough in plastic wrap; let rest in a refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before using.

BERRY HAND PIES

Steps:

• Prepare the dough: On a floured surface, roll out each disk of dough into a 10-inch square, each about 1/8-inch thick. Using a 5-inch round cookie cutter, cut out 4 disks from each piece of dough. Transfer disks to a baking sheet (it's OK if they overlap slightly), cover and refrigerate until firm, at least 10 minutes.
• Prepare the berry filling: In a medium bowl, combine the berries, sugar, cornstarch, lemon zest and juice, and sea salt. Stir gently until evenly coated, then set aside.
• Remove the disks from the refrigerator and lightly brush the edges of each disk with the egg wash. Spoon about 1/4 cup berry filling onto each disk, leaving a 1-inch border around the rim. (You might have some extra filling.)
• Working with one disk at a time, leaving one half of the dough on the baking sheet, gently fold the other half of each round of dough over the filling to make a half circle and press the edges together with your fingers to seal. If any of the filling is oozing out of the sides, remove a few berries at a time until the hand pie seals easily. Using a fork, crimp the rounded edge of each hand pie. Repeat with remaining disks.
• Cover the hand pies with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour to set the crusts. Refrigerate the remaining egg wash.
• When you are ready to bake, position a rack in the middle of the oven and heat the oven to 425 degrees. Line another baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Remove the hand pies from the refrigerator and brush the tops with the remaining egg wash. Using a paring knife, cut 3 small slits in the top of each hand pie to create steam vents. Transfer the hand pies to the lined baking sheet. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until the hand pies are golden and the filling is bubbly. Let cool for 10 minutes, then serve warm.
• The hand pies can be cooled completely and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

BASIC SHORTCRUST PASTRY

Steps:

• Sift 225g plain flour into a large bowl, add 100g diced butter and rub in with your fingertips until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs.
• Stir in a pinch of salt, then add 2-3 tbsp water and mix to a firm dough.
• Knead the dough briefly and gently on a floured surface.
• Wrap in cling film and chill while preparing the filling.