Suggestions, please.

[elleng]

I am NOT a baker (and only occasionally now, since family's elsewhere, a cook,) but thinking of making a pie, w frozen crust and berries (and maybe peaches and apples.)

SO, let me have your suggestions, please, what's best, and what's to be avoided.

Thanks!

[PJMcK]

1. It's simple, elleng

Go to your local bakery. They’ll have a wide selection to choose from!

(wink)

[elleng]

5. Thanks, PJ, but I'm not in a place where a local bakery exists,

or if it does, I haven't found it!

Friend brought a pie to get-together yesterday, he'd promised a good pie, but imo it was AWFUL, so now I want one! My grocery does OK, but I want MORE!!!

[notdarkyet]

2. Refrigerator crust is pretty good.

[dhol82]

3. Why do you want to make this pie?

Inquiring minds and all.

[elleng]

7. As I said up thread,

Friend brought a pie to get-together yesterday, he'd promised a good pie, but imo it was AWFUL, so now I want one! My grocery does OK, but I want MORE!!!

[dhol82]

8. First thing to make a great pie is a great crust!

For a great crust you need either butter or leaf lard. That will give you the wonderful flaky crust.
After that you have to decide on what kind of pie you want.
Decisions, decisions.

[elleng]

9. Decision 1,

do not make the crust myself! I'm NOT a baker! Have checked reviews for frozen crusts, so will look for the 'best available' at grocery store, then probably berries.

[left-of-center2012]

4. Google is your friend

Fruit Pie Recipes

"Browse more than 510 fruit pie recipes.
Find recipes for apple pies, cherry pies, strawberry pies, rhubarb pies, and much, much more."

https://www.allrecipes.com/recipes/808/desserts/pies/fruit-pies/

[elleng]

6. I've done that, and will come up with something,

but not the crust!

[handmade34]

10. blueberry

easy-peasy! use fresh or frozen, heat, add some sugar mixed with cornstarch and a bit of lemon juice...


or mixed berry... I buy the large bag of frozen berries (strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, sometimes cherries


peach is yummy if you can find good peaches... we haven't had any good ones up here in Vermont, yet...


since I gave my son the restaurant I opened last year, I have been doing just the desserts and pies are a favorite...


cheesecake is about the easiest thing to make and you can top it with berries


lemon pie is my favorite and easy

and then you can do pies like pecan, white chocolate/mint pie with graham cracker crust (store bought), banana cream, coconut...…..

[elleng]

11. Yes, likely fresh blueberries,

maybe combine with raspberries, and maybe a peach if good one around.

You probably don't have thought on best 'frozen' crust, right?

[handmade34]

12. Mrs. Smith's

is good... Buy one already in the pie tin, not Pillsbury that is in a box!

or... any brand name... worth spending more and do not buy store brand

nothing wrong with frozen crust... but when you do get around to making your own crust... use grated frozen butter and it is pretty easy in my Ninja

[elleng]

19. Thanks,

looks like Mrs. Smith's a favorite (but for TJ, which is not available where I am.)

[irisblue]

13. Dufours or Pepperidge Farm puff pastry

You can get Dufours at Whole Foods, bit pricey. Pepper ridge Farms is easier to get. I have used both in making 'rustic' style apple & peach pies. Flakey tender crusts.

[elleng]

14. Thanks, will see if it's available at my grocery,

tho hadn't thought of puff pastry; DO want flakey, tender crust.

[Ohiogal]

15. My late aunt who was a great baker

used butter flavor Crisco for pie crust. Use for the shortening in whatever recipe you choose.

[Cracklin Charlie]

16. I have an easy one. Not exact, but you could adapt.

I usually make it like a galette...one crust with the edges folded over, rustic style.

So, I use a store crust, in a roll thing, that is not frozen.

Filling:

Cup or so blueberries
1/4 cup sugar, or sweetener of your choice/taste (can add more, I don’t like too sweet)
A bit of Lemon or lime zest
A squeeze of lemon/lime juice
2 oz or so goat cheese, not too small of crumbles (OMG, do not omit! It’s delicious)
Two tablespoon butter

Gently mix (don’t break goat cheese too much) all ingredients except butter together.

Lay out the crust, put in the filling, leaving a couple inches on outer edge to fold over filling.

Dot the top of filling with bits of butter. Brush crust with butter or egg wash, sprinkle w/sugar.

Cook in hot oven, 400 or so, for 15 to 20 min.

I have cooked it on the grill even! And, it’s really good for breakfast next morning.

[elleng]

18. Thanks!

[Cracklin Charlie]

20. I saw above you may use peaches.

I have also made this with peaches, but I sliced them very thin, so as not to have to change the cook time. It was equally delicious, but blueberry is my favorite! I just love the bubbly warm goat cheese with the blueberries. The goat cheese is just amazing!

Thank you, elleng. I will stop at the market on my trip home tomorrow and get my ingredients...

[elleng]

21. and tell us how it went!

My daughter 're-homed' her goats, so no home-grown goat cheese around!

[Major Nikon]

17. Fruit pies are pretty easy

I suggest you go with apple. Hard to mess up and just about everyone likes apple pie. I like to go with mostly baking apples like Granny Smith but with some sweet apples like Fuji thrown in say at about a 2:1 ratio. Grab some premium vanilla ice cream to go on it when it's still hot and you can make a lot of friends.

[dem in texas]

22. Make a Fruit cobbler

quick and easy, can't fail. Very juicy- Taste heaven.

Put 4 to 6 cups of fruit in deep baking dish that has been sprayed with Pam. Put in frozen blueberries, blackberries, or mixed fruit. I don't recommend peaches if you are using the frozen kind unless you cook them first. Fresh peaches are okay. Fresh Granny Smith apples are good, Use 1/3 to 1/2 sugar cup for each cup fruit Into the sugar, add about 3 to 5 tablespoons flour and few teaspoons cinnamon. If using apples, add a little nutmeg. Stir the sugar mixture so all the flour is incorporated into the sugar.. Pour mixture over the fruit. Stir a few times to mix, dot with pats of butter.

Use refrigerated pie dough, cut it in strips, about 1 inch wide, lay over the fruit criss-cross style. Press end of strips onto the dish, if enough strips left, put around the edge and pinch to flute. Bake in 350 degrees oven until fruit is bubbling and crust is lightly browned. After the cobbler is baked, sprinkle a little sugar on top.

Be sure to have some good vanilla ice cream to serve with the cobbler.

I have a standing request to bring blackberry cobbler to family functions. I even bought myself a fancy French baking dish to use.' .

[elleng]

23. I used to make cobbler often, just for me, well before family,

my first city apartment(s), LONG time ago, so I've misplaced my recipe, and cookware too, how the heck did THAT happen! NOT fancy French, maybe little Creuset; still have the medium sized one. Didn't use any dough, so what did I do? A bit of flour, brown sugar, cinnamon? Used canned peaches, I think.

DO have to replace vanilla ice cream, which I finished last night home alone, after meal with guests (and awful apple pie friend brought.)

Thanks!