Blueberries, Yes Please!...

So, I ended up with some blueberries I needed to use up.

I was searching Pinterest for 'blueberries' and to my surprise, there wasn't very many options!!! I did see what they called 'Blueberry Slab Pie'  ..that name isn't real appealing...but the taste is!  I'm renaming it Blueberry Pie Squares!  The original post is from Martha Stewart's website....but I changed it, so don't tell Martha!  

Here is the change...and lets just say....if I can make this--anyone can...I usually shy away from pastry recipes and especially blueberry ones...they look beautiful till I cut into them and take out the first slice...that's when all the filling rushes into that open spot...lovely!!!!

After this experiment, I'm thinking of applying at the Essenhaus to work as a pie maker...what do you think?? Okay. so maybe that's a bit overboard!?!?

Blueberry Pie Squares!

Crust--

6c flour

4 1/2 T. sugar

3 t. salt

1c. shortening

1/2 c. butter

1/2 c. margarine

Mix 1st 3 ingred. together.  Cut in shortening, butter, marg. till it resembles coarse pea size pieces.(you can use all shortening)  Add 3/4 c. COLD water. Mix...it should start to form a dough.  If too dry add 1 T. of water at a time, till if forms a nice dough ( I added 2 T.)

Divide dough in 1/2--wrap each 1/2 in plastic wrap and chill in fridge for at least 1 hour.

After 1 hour remove 1 ball of dough.  Roll out on flour dusted counter to fit a 10x15 jelly roll pan.

Filling--

8 c. blueberries

1 T. lemon juice

1/4 c. cornstarch

1/2 c. sugar

While letting dough chill sprinkle blueberries with lemon juice and set aside.  After you roll out dough.  To blueberries add cornstarch and sugar (if you like them sweeter or if you have tarter berries add more sugar) toss gently to coat berries.  Pour berries on crust.  Roll out 2nd crust and top berries.

Bake 350 for 25-30 minutes.  Let it semi-cool before cutting into slices! Enjoy!!!

* you can also top with a milk/powdered sugar glaze..if desired*

blueberries in pan

"B" for blueberry or Buckner!?! 

so I have a couple different rolling pins...1--I got when I got married  2--when my mom passed away I have her pin  3--this Tupperware one I picked up at Goodwill a couple months back (I don't think they make it anymore?)  I used the Tupperware one for this reason...you can put ice water inside of it which makes it work well for pastry rolling...I have to say it rolled out marvelous!!  I don't know if it was the shortening/butter/marg combination, the 'chilling' or the ice water rolling pin??  I am no Pastry Chef so if I can do it, you can too! 

The finished product!!  or should I say what's left of it?

Hurry, go get your self some blueberries! 

Now I have to say .....My family doesn't have a huge sweet tooth and 2 of the kids can't eat this because it wasn't gluten free...but we are polishing this off in no time..so it must be a keeper!!!

Hope you enjoy it!

here is Martha's link...

http://www.marthastewart.com/317688/blueberry-slab-pie

The Search is Over

Someone once told me, I know a lot of things...Hahahaha...I replied, I only know 4 things--I just share them with everyone I know! ( I hope that made you smile!!)

So with that intro..I wanted to share this recipe with you that I really really like....

Moist Banana Bread

1 1/2 c sugar

1/2 c butter

2 eggs

1/4 t baking powder

1/2 t baking soda

1 1/2 c flour

3 large rip bananas--mashed

1/2 c of walnuts roughly chopped

1 t vanilla

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Preheat oven to 375 F

Beat sugar, butter and eggs

Add dry ingredients

Add mashed banana, chopped nuts and vanilla.

Mix well to combine

Pour into a well greased and lined loaf tin. 

Cook for 1 hour or until a skewer comes out clean. I had to cook it for a further 10 minutes but topped it with baking paper to keep the crust a nice color.

This bread cuts beautifully when fully cooled. If you want to eat it still a little warm slice it very carefully.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My comments....
****My secret ingredient...Banana Baby food!  The recipe calls for 3 banana's, as luck would have it, I only had 2! So I added a 4 oz jar of baby food to replace 1 of the bananas.  I'm wondering if you could make it with only baby food?  ..or maybe peach bread? or how about tropical delight bread?  Could someone try that and get back with me? I actually think this adds to the moistness (call me crazy!!!)

****Make sure you grease the pans REALLY REALLY well...both times I have made it, it has stuck to the bottom of the pan...=(

****You can make muffins or 2 smaller loaves..if you prefer...duh! Lower the baking time accordingly...duh!

This was my finished loaf....keep in mind, I made a large (to give away) and a smaller (one for us) so this one isn't really tall....also, I obviously didn't cover it with the 'baking paper' the recipe calls for!  I thought about it..does that count for anything?

For those of you that want to print it from a word document....

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/67296291/moist%20Banana%20Bread.doc

Steve made this link, so I have no idea if it works right or not...let me know if you can't get it to work!

Steve Stats

Yesterday Steve went to the Dr (well, he didn't really see the Dr. he saw his "assistant"..apparently the Dr only does surgery.... because when we went to his first follow up appointment...we saw some other lady??)  He is 8 weeks post surgery.  The suture is all healed up and looking great!

As of now, he has been allowed to walk on the boot with 50% weight with crutches to assist. (most of the time..=))  The Dr (will just call him that for simplicity sake!) promoted him to walking on the boot without crutches (which Steve threw in the back seat on the way home!) for the the  next 1 1/2...then transitioning to no boot indoors while wearing the boot when he goes outside for 2 weeks.  Then he should be ready to walk on it unassisted (eeekkkk!!!!) at about week 12!

This is one of those injuries that has a loooong recovery time! I guess you can say he's on the Home Stretch! He says his heel hurts him a lot and it still gets swollen and he has to ice it daily.

I think I can safely say...he (we) hopes to NEVER have to go through this again...but if we do, God will give us the strength to do it!