Old Fashioned Caramel Pie Food

OLD FASHIONED CARAMEL PIE

Steps:

• Leave oven on from baking pie shells. Whisk together the 1-2/3 cups sugar and cornstarch in a large (at least 2 qt.) microwaveable bowl until there are no more lumps from the cornstarch. Pour the milk into the sugar mixture and whisk together until smooth. Add the butter to the top of the mixture.
• Microwave on high for 3 minutes. Whisk thoroughly. Microwave for 3 more minutes, whisk again. Have the egg yolks in a separate bowl. Beat them slightly. Add a tablespoon full of the hot mixture at a time to the egg yolks, stirring well after each addition. Do this until the yolk mixture is warm. (This will keep it from getting lumpy.) Then add the yolk mixture to the cooked mixture. Microwave in one minute increments, whisking each time, until the mixture is of pudding consistency. Whisk in the vanilla. Set aside.
• Put the 2/3 cup sugar into a small iron skillet. Cook, stirring constantly, on high until brown and bubbling. It will look like it's going to boil over. Pour IMMEDIATELY into cooked filling and whisk thoroughly. Divide between the 2 pie shells.
• Beat the egg whites and cream of tartar (if using) until foamy and slightly holding shape. Turn beaters on low speed. Add the 3/4 cup sugar. After sugar is mixed in, turn beaters on high again. Beat until meringue is hard to shake off a spoon (or it stays on beater when you turn off mixer and pull beaters out of bowl). Spread meringue onto filling all the way to the edges.
• Bake about 10 minutes or until brown. Watch closely. Turn off oven, open oven door slightly, and let pies cool in oven for 1 hour. Let pies cool completely on counter. Spray plastic wrap with Pam, cover pies and refrigerate.

CARAMEL CUSTARD PIE

Steps:

• Line a 9-in. pie plate with pastry; trim and flute edges. Combine brown sugar and flour; press into pastry., In a large bowl, combine the eggs, milk, sugar, vanilla and salt; pour over brown sugar mixture., Bake at 350° for 55-60 minutes or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Cover edges with foil during the last 15 minutes to prevent overbrowning if necessary. Cool on a wire rack; sprinkle with nutmeg. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving.

OLD FASHIONED APPLE PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
• In a bowl combine apples, sugar, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt. Place mixture in a pastry-lined 9 inch pie plate. Dot with butter and adjust top crust that has been vented.
• Place in oven and bake at 425 degrees F (220 degrees C) for 10 minutes. Turn oven temperature down to 275-300 degrees F (135-150 degrees C) and bake 40-50 minutes or until crust is golden brown and apples are tender. Let cool and serve.

OLD FASHIONED CUSTARD PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
• In a large bowl whisk together eggs, sugar and salt.
• Slowly whisk in scalded milk a little at a time to prevent cooking the egg mixture.
• Stir in vanilla.
• Pour, through a sieve, into the unbaked pie shell.
• Sprinkle top with ground nutmeg.
• Bake for approximately 40 minutes or until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean.
• Filling will look wobbly but will set up as it cools.
• Chill thoroughly and serve with whipped cream.

OLD-FASHIONED BUTTERSCOTCH PUDDING

Steps:

• Combine cream, milk and brown sugar in heavy medium saucepan. Whisk over medium-high heat until sugar dissolves. Set aside. Combine 3/4 cup sugar and 1/4 cup water in heavy large saucepan. Stir over low heat until sugar dissolves. Increase heat; boil without stirring until mixture turns deep amber color, brushing down sides of pan with wet pastry brush and swirling pan occasionally, about 10 minutes.
• Slowly pour cream mixture into caramel (mixture will bubble vigorously). Bring to boil, whisking frequently to dissolve any caramel bits. Remove from heat.
• Beat yolks in large bowl. Whisk in caramel mixture. Stir in vanilla and salt. Strain custard. Skim any air bubbles from surface. Refrigerate custard until cold, about 3 hours.
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Divide custard among six 3/4-cup custard cups. Place cups in roasting pan. Add enough hot water to pan to come halfway up sides of cups. Bake pudding until set in center, about 45 minutes. Remove cups from pan. Cool at room temperature 2 hours. Cover; chill overnight. (Can be made 2 days ahead. Keep chilled.)