Pie Crust without a Mixer

So we are newly weds, and we do not have the room or funds for a big fancy blender. Its probably a good thing my mommy taught me to use this amazing little tool called a pastry blender. They aren't popular anymore, but when you are short on time and funds pastry blenders can be the difference between delicious homemade baked goods. I purchased mine at a antique mall (made in the 1920's) but you can find them in the baking section at any retailer. Make sure that you do not get one that wobbles or swivels when you are cutting your butter or shortening into your flour.

Pastry blender from the 1920's. If you get an antique pastry blender be sure to wash it by hand  to make it last longer.

So the recipe that I have started using for pie actually comes from The Chew's Carla Hall, with a few minor changes. 

Ingredients:

• 2/3 c warm water
• 2 tbsp sugar (for desserts, for pot pie only use 1tbsp)
•  1 tsp fine salt
• 1 c wheat flour and 1 c white flour sifted
• 1/4-1/2 c flour for board
• 8oz cold butter, cut into cubes

First dissolve the sugar and salt into the water. Then put the water in your refrigerator. 

Next mix your wheat and white flour together. I use these two types of flour as a way to make it healthier, without loosing flavor or texture. Add your butter to the flour and cut with a pastry blender. When the butter is completely incorperated it will look sandy.

The last step is to take the water out of the fridge and pour it in the center of the bowl. Work your flour-butter mixture into the water with the pastry blender until it is incorporated completely. Divide in half and wrap in plastic wrap. Let them chill in the fridge for 30 minutes before using them because your dough will be sticky at room temperature. Soooo..... That only took me 15-20 minutes. The dough will freeze well if you want to make a large batch. Just remember. You don't need a Kitchen Aid to make delicious crust. You just need a pastry blender and some time. 

How to use your Dough?

Roll it out to be the same size and shape as your baking dish. Don't forget about the sides and leaving some extra to pinch at the end! Pre-bake this crust for about 15 minutes. Then add your filling and bake your pie according to your recipes. 

Cream Cheese Dip for Berries

I originally made this as a frosting to put on cinnamon rolls and now have found that it is amazing on fresh fruit. Try a drizzle on a cup of fresh strawberries or raspberries for a decadent but delicious snack.

Cream Cheese Dip

8oz cream cheese at room temperature
1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
2 tbsp vanilla extract
1/4-1/3 c of milk

Cream the sugar, vanilla, and cream cheese together in a bowl. Move mixture into a heavy bottomed sauce pan and add milk a splash at a time. Stir mixture until everything is incorporated and add milk until dip is the consistency you desire.

Store excess in a glad ware container in the fridge, after it cools.

Yummy for Dessert or Breakfast! 

Scrap Quilt

Finished Quilt on our Bed.

Any good crafty person will probably have a few projects going at once. A bad crafty person will let them sit and never finish them. I make sure to set deadlines and goals for finishing my projects. Sometimes I have to adjust them to be more realistic, but I always try to finish them. 

First completed row of the quilt.

This Quilt is just one example of that in my own home. While my husband was deployed I worked on this to keep me busy. Any other military spouses know what I mean? Those long nights when you can't sleep so you work yourself into exhaustion? Well, its one of the things that works for me. I used a someone else's pattern so I wont be posting it for sale on etsy, but I can make pillows after altering the size of the motif a bit if anyone is interested. I made it a point to use this project as a "stash buster." I only used remnants or leftovers from other projects to make all of the squares. Tonight I stitched on the batting and the backing to make a soft quilt. I hope this inspires a few of you to use your scraps too :)

DIY Plunger Caddy

Please tell me that I am not the only one who is grossed out by putting a dirty plunger on the bathroom floor. Well, I have come up with a re-purposed solution to our problem, but be sure to do it ahead of time and save yourself extra sanitizing. But don't forget to sanitize when you clean the bathroom if you had to use it!

You Will Need:

• clean, plastic 1 gallon milk jug
• heavy scissors or a craft knife
• marker

So this is really simple. Use the marker to draw the line you will be cutting on the judge. Cut the jug. This is the remains of mine when I was done cutting.

 

Round of the edges edges off so your plunger does not get caught. And you are done. I plan to go back and spray paint a replacement for this later. But now it is functional and easy to clean. Try it !