Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Spiced Piecrust

 
Our coffee table is set for dessert for two.  A pumpkin bird house is perched  on a stack of books.
 
 
This table runner I've had forever, which has an  old-fashioned scene farm scene.
 
 
Recently Kathleen from cuisinekathleen.com/ had a giveaway and I was the lucky winner!  Thank you so much for sending these, Kathleen!!  I had so much fun using them and will continue to enjoy them for years to come and will think of you when I do.


 
I have never tried adding spices to pie crust, but when I saw this recipe, I knew I wanted to try it with my pie crust cutters that I won in Kathleen's giveaway!  Although I tried America's Test Kitchen's recipe for their vodka pie crust, I wasn't overly thrilled. This recipe from Dash chef Jon Ashton was a dream to work with. Too much water in a pie crust actually forms gluten and can make the pie crust tough.  Vodka replaces some  of the water and makes the crust moist and easy to roll,and it turns out flaky and tender.  Do not worry about an alcohol taste,  for the ethanol in the vodka evaporates in the oven. You could leave out the spice, but for pumpkin pie and even pecan, it's really tasty, and really enhances the flavor of the pie.  I will try other spices for other pies for sure.


Extra leaves were baked separately for decoration.
2 cups flour
1 t. Salt
2 T. Sugar
2 t. Pumpkin pie spice
8 T. cold, unsalted butter, cut into 1/4" slices
4 T. shortening, cut into 4 pieces
1/4 cup water
2 T. vodka

Combine 1 cup flour, salt, sugar and pumpkin pie spice in a food processor until well mixed.

Add butter and shortening and process just until dough starts to from pea-size clumps.

Add remaining 1 cup flour and pulse 5-6 times. Transfer to a medium bowl.

Add water and vodka to mixture. Mix with hands using a folding motion, pressing down on dough until it is slightly tacky and sticks together.

Divide dough into 2 balls. Wrap each in plastic wrap, then flatten into 4-inch discs. Refrigerate for at least 45 minutes or up to 2 days.

When ready to roll out, make sure your work area and rolling pin are well floured. Roll dough to fit a 9-inch pie pan. Carefully transfer and crimp edges.

I followed the recipe for pumpkin pie from the back of the Libby's can, only adding some freshly grated nutmeg in addition to all the other spices.

                                  Happy Thanksgiving blessings are sent to all!


                                                                   I am sharing with:
                                                                 Mix It Up Monday!
                                                               On the Menu Monday
                                                                  Tea Time Tuesday

26 comments:

  1. Hi Kitty, Such a pretty cozy tablescape for desert. I like you set up on the coffee table to be enjoyed in the family room. The runner is perfect for Thanksgiving and I love the little bird house. The pie looks delicious!

    Happy Thanksgiving Kitty
    ~Emily
    The French Hutch

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  2. Kitty ... I can almost smell the spices!!!! Happy Thanksgiving!

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  3. Hello Kitty,
    Now, that's what I call a festive Pumpkin pie! Love Pumpkin pie! It looks wonderful with the leaves added! Your dessert table for two is so inviting and I like your farm scene runner and cute birdhouse. Thank you for joining me at HOME and a very Happy Thanksgiving is wished for you and your family.

    Blessings,
    Sandi

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  4. Your pie is so beautiful! It would be hard to cut into it- thanks for sharing such a cute idea.

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  5. Your pie looks beautiful, Kitty! And I know it tastes good, as the Libby's recipe is my favorite. Happy Thanksgiving!

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  6. Piecrust cutters sounds like a neat new toy for the kitchen, congrats on your win Kitty. I like pumpin pie and the leaf cut outs sure make it look special.
    Happy Thanksgiving.
    Judith

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  7. Hi Kitty, Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours. I just took my pumpkin pie out of the oven. Did not do a fancy edge asI have to transport a lot of food tomorrow so it is easier to pack. I hope it survives! xo

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  8. Your pie turned out beautiful Kitty! I love all of those fun cutters and adding spices to the crust is a great idea. Happy Thanksgiving-enjoy:@)

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  9. OK, so I saw the word vodka and then my eyes just kind of glazed over and my mind just drifted off into martini land! :-) Vodka in pie crust? THAT'S something I'm going to have to try just because it sounds so intriguing. I have to make a pie for tomorrow, so that will be my chance. Mine won't be as pretty as yours, of course, since you got to use those fabulous crust cutters you won! Doesn't Kathleen have really neat handwriting? I hope that you and your family enjoy a wonderful Thanksgiving topped off with fabulous vodka...uh, I mean pie! :-)

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  10. Your pumpkin pie looks delicious, Kitty. I love the pastry leafs. Wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving. ~ Phyllis

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  11. Happy Thanksgiving, Kitty...the pie looks scrumptious!

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  12. WOW! How cool are those cutters? Don't think I've ever seen them before....and adding spice to the crust is SUCH a great idea. Thanks for sharing your pretty tablescape with us. Enjoy a blessed Thanksgiving weekend Sweet Friend. XO

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  13. Just getting ready to make my pies. Your's are beautiful! Visiting from Cuisine Kathleen.
    PuddleJumperCreations

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  14. Looks yummy, Kitty!

    Wishing you a very Happy Thanksgiving!

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  15. I love this! Thanks so much for sharing the recipe. The pie cutters are adorable. I saw them on the Williams-Sonoma site and now they have the Christmas cutters. Trying very hard NOT to succumb to temptation. :) I worked PT at Wms-Sonoma for about a year after I retired. LOVE the store and wanted everything...didn't really "need" it though. Funny, how it seemed I never made any money while there. ;-)

    Have a wonderful holiday! I'm grateful to call you friend.
    xo
    Pat

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  16. Your pie looks great Kitty, so glad you got them in time to use for Tgiving! Have a wonderful holiday!

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  17. Your pie is just beautiful. I like the idea of adding the spices. This really sounds great! Come on over to Dining With Debbie and link up to Merry Merry Munchies.

    Be sure and sign up with Rafflecopter for the giveaways I have going on. http://diningwithdebbie.blogspot.com/2012/11/merry-merry-munchies-2012-week-2.html

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  18. Kitty, congrats again for winning those cute leaf cutters. Your pie looks so pretty. Such a different recipe...Vodka? The spiced crust sounds yummy. have a blessed Thanksgiving.

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  19. Your pie is simply beautiful, Kitty! I would love to try that crust recipe. Congrats on your win, I know you will enjoy using those cutters. I hope you had a happy Thanksgiving Day with your family!

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  20. Kitty, your pie looks almost too pretty to cut. The crust recipe sounds good. Thank you for sharing. I have that same table runner, and I still get mine out in the Fall too. laurie

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  21. Your pie looks great, and congrats on your win! I'd like to try the pie crust recipe. Hope your Thanksgiving was festive. We had a delightful day here.

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  22. I am taking a short break from writing this weekend. How lovely! I am so ready to retire from this grind. Your pie looks delicious, and it's so pretty, too. Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving.

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  23. Your pie is gorgeous! I have a set of those pie crust cutters and love them!!! Thanks for sharing your spiced pie crust and pretty pies at ON THE MENU MONDAY!

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  24. Congrats on winning these cute pie cutters,and they sure make your pie adorable!
    Visiting from StoneGable.

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  25. Kitty, this looks delicious! Thank you for sharing!

    Katie
    www.funhomethings.com

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  26. Kitty,
    This looks amazing! I love the table runner too, it is just gorgeous. The pie crust cutters look very helpful. I have never heard of a spiced pie crust but, I need to try it! I will feature this today at HSH! Thank you for joining Home Sweet Home!
    Sherry

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