Ma Whats For Dinner?» brown sugar

Farmers Market Strawberry Rhubarb Pie

Alex aka Ma, What's For Dinner — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 11:00:05 +0000

So you all know that I went berry picking with the kiddos. They had a blast and can’t wait for the berry seasons, apple seasons, corn seasons, etc that are upcoming. But to go with my farm fresh strawberries we went on down to the old town farmer’s market. I was so excited. Our town’s first farmer’s market of the season…

Well to say that I was disappointed is an understatement. I know it’s not a huge town but it apparantly boasts quite a number of farms here and to see three tiny little stalls was, well, heartbreaking. So I picked up some rhubarb to couple with my berries and some dandelion leaves that you’ll be seeing in a yummy recipe or two upcoming and went home dejected.

Welcome to the small town I guess. Not like back in LA. Apparantly there are a boat load of bigger ones around. We’ll have to check those out…soon! I did make a yummy pie though. Check it out.

For the pie crust:

1 cup butter (2 sticks), cubed and chilled + 2 T cut into small pieces

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour plus more for dusting

1 t salt

3 T sugar

8 to 12 tablespoons ice water

2 T cream

1 T sugar in the raw

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Put 2 sticks of butter, flour, salt and sugar in the food processor, and pulse lightly just until the mixture resembles wet sand. Add the water, 1 tablespoon at a time, pulsing briefly after each spoonful of water. Keep adding water until the dough just begins to gather into larger clumps. Transfer dough onto counter and split into two equal portions. Wrap each of them separately in plastic wrap and allow to chill in fridge for at least 30 minutes. You can do this the day before if you want.

Remove 1 portion from the fridge to a flour coated surface. Using a rolling pin, roll the dough out to a 10-inch round. Gently fit the rolled dough into a 9-inch pie pan, and refrigerate while you prepare the pie ingredients.

For the filling:

3 1/2 cups rhubarb sliced

1 16 oz container strawberries hulled & halved

1/2 cup (packed) golden brown sugar

1/2 cup sugar

1/4 cup cornstarch

1 t ground cinnamon

1 t vanilla extract

1/2 t nutmeg

1/4 t salt

Combine all the ingredients in a bowl and mix to coat well. Set aside.

Pull the first crust in the pie plate out of the fridge and fill with berry mixture. Top with remaining cut up butter. Top with rolled out second pie crust and crimp edges decoratively. Cut a few slits into the top of your pie to allow the steam to escape. Brush top dough with cream and sprinkle with sugar in the raw. Place pie on a baking sheet and slide into your 400 degree oven. Cook for 15 minutes then turn oven down to 350. Cook for an additional 45-55 minutes, or until golden brown.

Serve warm with whip cream or ice cream. So so good!!

Hey there Tuesday pals. If you’re here from FMBT and TTA please leave me a note and let me know where I can find you and return the love!

Sweet n’ Saucy Sausages

Alex aka Ma, What's For Dinner — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 17:00:57 +0000

Serves: 12 Prep Time: 5 minutes Cook time: 5 minutes

2 links polska kielbasa smoked sausage, sliced

1 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup grape jelly

1/2 cup ketchup

Combine all ingredients in a large microwave safe bowl. Stir to combine. Microwave on high for 2 minutes. Remove from microwave and stir. Return to microwave and cook on high for 2 more minutes. Remove and stir. Return to microwave and cook for an additional minute or until sauce is thick and rich and bubbly.

Pour onto serving platter and serve with toothpicks. Soooo sinful, so good!

Franks n’ Beans

Alex aka Ma, What's For Dinner — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 17:00:01 +0000

Serves: 6 Prep time: 20 minutes Cook time: 30 minutes

6 slices bacon, diced

1 large onion chopped

2 cloves garlic, chopped

1/4 cups brown sugar

1 cup dark beer (I like to use Guinness)

1 cup water

1 cup BBQ sauce

1/4 cup dark brown sugar

1/4 cup mild molasses

½ t dry mustard

1 t paprika

2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

2 tablespoons soy sauce

S&P

4 (28-ounce) cans pork and beans, drained and rinsed

2 cans pinto beans, drained and rinsed

1 link kielbasa.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

In a Dutch oven, cook bacon over medium heat until browned and crispy. Add onions and garlic and sauté until soft with S&P. Allow to cook for a few minutes. Add the beans, water, beer, bbq sauce, brown sugar, molasses, Worcestershire, soy sauce, mustard and paprika, and S&P, to taste.

Place the kielbasa onto a baking sheet to cook alongside beans.

Cook both for 30 minutes at 350. Remove from oven. Slice kielbasa and serve onto of beans.