Recipe

Dried And Fried Fruit Pies Recipe

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Ingredients

1/4 c unsalted butter, chilled .
1 tsp salt .
2 c soft wheat flour, such as white lily flour or pastry flour or cake flour, preferably or all-purpose flour .
sugar .
1 1/2 c dried apricots .
FLAKY PIE CRUST .
FILLING .
1/4 c vegetable shortening, preferably Crisco, chilled .
vegetable shortening, preferably Crisco, for deep frying .
5-7 tbsps ice water .
1/4 c lard, chilled .
1/4 c finely minced pecans or dry breadcrumbs .
1/2 c apricot jam or preserves .
1 1/2 c water

Directions

Step #1 In a small, heavy saucepan, mix the apricots with the water.
Step #2 Simmer over low heat/flame until the fruit is plump & soft & most of the water has been absorbed, about 25 mins.
Step #3 Add more water if needed.
Step #4 Drain the apricots & chop them.
Step #5 Mix the apricots in a small bowl with the jam or preserves, & the nuts or bread crumbs.
Step #6 Refrigerate the filling, if you wish, for as long as 24 hrs.
Step #7 Roll the pie dough out 1/8 to 1/4 inch thick.
Step #8 Cut it into rounds with the top of a coffee can or with a large round biscuit or cookie cutter.
Step #9 Spread equal portions of filling on each round, moisten the dough edges lightly, & fold the rounds over into half moon shapes.
Step #10 Crimp the edges with a fork.
Step #11 In a heavy saucepan or Dutch oven, heat at least 4 inches of shortening to 350°F Fry the pies in batches, turning them over midway through the cooking, after they rise to the surface.
Step #12 Remove them when they are golden brown & crispy, about 3 mins.
Step #13 Drain them, & sprinkle them with sugar.
Step #14 Let them cool for at least 5 mins before eating.
Step #15 Makes 8 pies.
Step #16 Variations: The pies can be baked rather than fried.
Step #17 Place them on a greased baking sheet, & bake them at 375°F for about 20 mins, sprinkle them with sugar, brush them with a little beaten egg (1 egg is enough for this batch of pies), or until they are lightly browned.
Step #18 Experiment with other dried fruit or jam fillings.
Step #19 Try dried peaches simmered in peach nectar with a touch of jalapeno jam, or dried apples with cider, a splash of applejack, & cinnamon.
Step #20 FOR THE PIE CRUST: Using a food processor/blender, cut the lard, a bowl with a pastry mixer, or your fingers, butter & vegetable shortening into the flour & salt.
Step #21 Whatever method you choose, be careful not to overwork the dough, which would reduce flakiness.
Step #22 Add the water a few tbsps at a time, until the dough just holds together.
Step #23 Divide the dough into two mounds, wrap them in plastic, & put in the fridge them at least 30 mins (or wrap one mound for the freezer, if you don’t plan to use it in the next couple of days).
Step #24 If the pie crust is to be baked, preheat the oven to 400°F On a floured board or pastry cloth, roll out the dough in a circle a couple of inches larger than the pie pan.
Step #25 To avoid stretching the dough excessively, roll it from the center outwards, lifting the rolling pin after each stroke rather than rolling back over the dough in the opposite direction.
Step #26 Loosen the dough, drape it around the rolling pin, & center the crust over the pan, dropping it carefully into place.
Step #27 If you’re making a one crust pie, crimp the edges decoratively.
Step #28 If your pie is to have two crusts, roll out the second mound of dough, too.
Step #29 For a single pre-baked crust, prick the dough in several spots.
Step #30 Cover up the pie shell with foil wrap, & weight the foil wrap with dried beans or pie weights.
Step #31 Bake the crust for 10 mins, & then lower the temperature to 350°F & bake for an extra 15 mins, or follow the directions in your pie recipe.
Step #32 One cowboy commented that a chuck wagon cook “is a sort of human that was kicked in the head by a brindle cow or a cross-grained mule when very young…They’re temperamental as wimmin too; an’ like the bosses, don’t need no sleep neither.
Step #33 ” –Quoted in Ramon Adams, Come & Get It.
Step #34 Texas Home Cooking.
Enjoy the Dried & Fried Fruit Pies recipe

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Dried And Fried Fruit Pies Recipe

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