Sour Cream Plum Pie Food

PLUM PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• To Make Crust: In a large bowl combine 3 cups flour, 3/4 cups white sugar, baking powder, and 1/8 teaspoon salt. Mix thoroughly, then cut in 2/3 cup butter or margarine with a pastry blender, until pieces are the size of small peas. Stir in eggs, vanilla extract, milk and lemon zest. Mix just until all ingredients are combined. Allow dough to rest in refrigerator.
• To Make Streusel Topping: In a medium bowl mix 1/2 cup flour, brown sugar, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon salt, chopped nuts, and grated lemon zest. Work in butter or margarine with fingers until all ingredients are well combined. Set aside.
• To Make Fruit Filling: Place pitted and sliced fruit in a large bowl. In a small bowl, mix remaining sugar, flour, cinnamon, and nutmeg until thoroughly combined. Pour over fruit and stir gently until all fruit is evenly coated.
• Roll out pie crust and place in a 9 inch pie pan. Trim and flute edges, then pour in fruit filling. Evenly cover fruit with streusel topping and bake in preheated oven for 45 to 55 minutes. Serve warm, or at room temperature.

EUROPEAN PLUM PIE RECIPE

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the butter, sugar, salt, and baking powder. Next, mix in the sour cream until well-combined.
• In small portions, add the flour into the mixture until you get an elastic dough.
• Split the dough into two balls (make one a bit larger than the other).
• Roll out the larger piece of dough for the bottom of the pie place it in a round cake pan, lifting up the dough against the sides.
• Cut the plums into halves and assemble them tightly against one another face down on top of the pie crust. Sprinkle the plums to your desire with sugar.
• Roll out the second, smaller piece of dough and cover the pie with it. Using your fingers, pinch together the sides to seal the crust.
• Bake at 400°F for about 25 minutes or until the crust turns golden brown.

PLUM TART

Steps:

• How To Make The Crust:
• In a food processor: Mix flour, sugar and salt together and place in the food processor. Add cold butter cut into small cubes and pulse a few times until you obtain a mixture that resembles sand or bread crumbs. Do not overmix. Add lemon zest, vanilla extract, the egg and water, one tablespoon at a time pulsing a few times until the mixture holds together.
• By hand: Mix flour, sugar and salt together, then cut the cold butter into small cubes and add it to the flour. Use a pastry tool to incorporate the butter into the flour, or use your fingertips. You should have a mixture that resembles sand or bread crumbs. Add lemon zest, vanilla extract, the egg and water, one tablespoon at a time until the mixture holds together.
• Make the dough into a disk, wrap it and place it in the refrigerator for an hour.
• Preheat oven to 350F/180C.
• How To Make The Plum Layer:
• Slice the plums in half and remove the stone, then cut each half into 4-5 slices. If you can't remove the stone, just carefully cut around it.
• Set aside.
• How To Make The Custard:
• Mix flour, sugar and cinnamon together in a bowl. Separately beat together the egg with milk and sour cream. Pour the liquid over the flour mixture and mix well. Set aside.
• How To Assemble The Plum Tart:
• Butter the bottom of a 9 inch pie or tart pan.
• Lightly dust your work surface with flour.
• Roll out dough on floured board to a 12 inch size. This will fit in a 9 inch pan. Trim away excess.
• Sprinkle walnuts on the dough.
• Arrange the slices of plums in circle.
• Pour over the plums the custard mixture. Add the little cubes of butter on top of the tart.
• Bake for 40-45 minutes until the pastry is golden, the fruit tender and the custard set.

SOUR CREAM PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
• Beat eggs until light & fluffy.
• Add sugar, flour, almond extract. Mix well.
• Fold in sour cream & craisins.
• Pour into pie shell.
• Place on baking sheet & put into oven. Bake at 450 degrees for 10 minutes. Reduce oven temp to 350 degrees and bake for 25 minutes. Pie should be lightly browned and set in the middle. It will still "jiggle" slightly and will firm as it cools.
• Cool, cut into wedges, and serve with a dollop of whipped cream.
• Note: I have also subbed dried apricots (finely diced)for the craisins and added 1/4 teaspoon of nutmeg for a different pie.

PIEROGI WITH ITALIAN PLUM FILLING AND SPICED SOUR CREAM

Steps:

• Cut a slit into (but not through) each plum; remove pits. Fill cavity of each plum with 1/4 teaspoon sugar. Close plum before wrapping in dough. Use 1 plum for each pierogi.
• Mix together sour cream, confectioners' sugar, vanilla extract, and nutmeg. Serve chilled. Makes 1 cup.