Uncle Bills Fig Pie Recipes

Steps:

• Line a 9-in. pie plate with pastry; trim and flute edges. Line pastry with a double thickness of heavy-duty foil. Bake at 450° for 8 minutes. Remove foil; bake 5 minutes longer. Cool on a wire rack. Reduce heat to 300°., In a small saucepan, combine figs and water. Cook and stir over low heat until water is absorbed. Remove from the heat; stir in marmalade. In a large bowl, combine brown sugar and cornstarch. Add the corn syrup, eggs, butter, vanilla and fig mixture; stir in nuts. Pour into crust., Bake at 300° for 1 to 1-1/4 hours or until set. Cover edges with foil during the last 30 minutes to prevent overbrowning if necessary. Cool on a wire rack., In a small bowl, beat cream until it begins to thicken. Add sugar and marmalade; beat until soft peaks form. Serve with pie. Refrigerate leftovers.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F
• On a lightly floured surface, roll out one pastry disk to make a 12-inch round. Fit into a 9-inch pie plate, leaving overhang. Refrigerate for 15 minutes. (Trader Joes store has an excellent pie crust that you can just unwrap and use.).
• Place figs in a medium bowl and sprinkle with lemon juice.
• In a small bowl, combine sugar, flour, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Mix well.
• Sprinkle mixture over figs, and toss to cover.
• Transfer fig mixture to pie crust and dot top with butter.
• Roll out second pie pastry on a lightly floured surface. Cut into 1-inch-wide strips.
• Carefully weave dough strips in a lattice pattern over pie. Trim edges of lattice pastry flush with rim of pie plate. Roll dough overhanging from bottom pastry up over lattice edges and crimp decoratively.
• Bake for 45-55 minutes, or until filling is bubbly and crust is golden.
• Cool on rack and serve warm or at room temperature. Enjoy!

Steps:

• In a large heavy bottom cooking pot, heat olive oil and butter over medium-high heat.
• Add onions, leeks, carrots celery and garlic and cook, stirring for about 3 minutes or until vegetables are slightly softened but not browned.
• Add chicken broth, water, bay leaf, thyme and rosemary.
• Bring to boil.
• Cut chicken into bite size pieces and add to soup along with the diced mushrooms.
• Add noodles and bring soup to boil.
• Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 10 minutes or until noodles are tender and the chicken is cooked through.
• Remove bay leaf and discard.
• Stir in parsley, salt and pepper.
• Adjust seasonings to taste.
• Serve soup hot.
• Refrigerate any unused portions.
• NOTE: Homemade Chicken or Turkey Stock is so much better than purchased broth.

Steps:

• In a large size mixing bowl, mix together eggs, milk, whipping cream, sour cream and salt and whisk until well blended.
• Add baking powder and blend until incorporated.
• Add flour one cup at a time and whisk well the first two cups.
• Add the third cup and now mix using a large plastic spoon or a wooden spoon.
• Add the fourth cup and continue mixing with a spoon.
• At this point, you may not be able to pick up all the flour, so roll out the contents onto a lightly floured surface.
• Knead the dough until it becomes smooth and shiny.
• If the dough is still sticky add a bit more flour and continue to knead until it is not sticky and does not stick to your hands.
• Break dough off into chunks and roll between your hands to the size of a golf ball.
• On a lightly floured surface, firstly flatten the dough ball with the palm of your hand to about 1/2-inch thickness, then coat each side very lightly with some flour.
• Using a heavy rolling pin, (I prefer a marble rolling pin), start to roll out the dough.
• As you are rolling, the dough should stick to the rolling pin.
• When this happens and the dough is almost all the way around the rolling pin, peel the dough off as it should come off very easy.
• Place the dough back on the rolling surface with the side that was against the rolling pin should now be on the rolling surface.
• Very lightly, dust the top surface ONLY with a bit of flour.
• Start rolling again, roll back and forth, then side to side to try and keep the dough round.
• The dough should now be sticking to the rolling surface and not onto the rolling pin.
• You will note that the dough does not "snap" back to a smaller round.
• Should this happen, just re-roll again.
• When finished rolling, the dough should be about 1/16-inch in thickness.
• Open the Mini Form (photo above) and rub the surface with some flour, this will prevent the dough from sticking to the Mini Form.
• Place the rolled dough over the Mini Form and make sure that the dough is well over the edges of the Mini Form.
• Place about 1 heaping tablespoon of your choice of filling in the center of the dough.
• Pick the Mini Form up and close it slightly.
• If necessary, push the filling down just a bit.
• Now fold the Mini Form completely shut and press tightly.
• Hold the Mini Form closed and remove excess dough with your thumb or finger. This helps seal the edges of the dough.
• Use the excess dough to form more dough balls.
• Open the Mini Form and the perogi should drop out easily.
• Set perogi aside until you prepare more.
• Continue to make perogies with the remaining dough.
• You can use whatever size of Mini Form that you desire, the 3 1/4" or 4". Five and 6" Mini Forms are also available.
• COOKING INSTRUCTIONS.
• In a large cooking pot or pasta pot, fill 3/4 full with water and bring to a boil.
• Add 1 tablespoon of salt and 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil or a good vegetable oil.
• Gently add about 8 to 10 perogies to the pot, stir gently with a slotted spoon and bring back to boil.
• Cook, uncovered for 2 to 3 minutes or until perogies float to the surface.
• Remove with a slotted spoon into a bowl.
• The perogies may be eaten immediately with some butter or margarine, a dollop of sour cream and a sprinkling of chopped green onions or chives.
• The amount of perogies may vary depending on the size of Mini Form you are using.
• If desired, preheat a frying pan to medium-high heat, add 3 tablespoons of butter and 1 tablespoon of olive oil or vegetable oil.
• Add some finely chopped onions to the frying pan and sauté for 2 minutes.
• Now add the perogies, cover and lightly fry until they are lightly browned on both sides, turning once.
• Serve immediately with more butter if desired, a dollop of sour cream, chopped green onions or chives and even some cooked chopped bacon bits.
• These perogies freeze well.
• After the perogies are boiled, place them on a cookie sheet (absorb any water with paper towels).
• Place sheet in freezer for at least 2 hours until perogies are frozen.
• Place them into freezer bags or vacuum seal bags in whatever quantities are best for you and return the sealed units back to the freezer.
• The perogies will last from 6 months to 1 year when frozen.

Steps:

• BASE Preheat oven to 325 F.
• Butter a 13" x 9" oven-proof baking dish.
• In a food processor or blender, pulse flour, sugar, salt and butter and whirl until crumbly.
• Spread into prepared baking dish and pat down lightly.
• Bake uncovered in preheated 325 F oven for 20 minutes.
• Scatter cranberries over warm baked base.
• Sprinkle over with shredded coconut.
• In a medium-size mixing bowl, whisk together eggs, sugar and lemon juice until well blended.
• Gradually whisk in flour and baking powder.
• Pour lemon mixture over top (it will spread to fill dish during baking).
• Bake uncovered in preheated 325 F oven for about 55 to 60 minutes or until middle is set and edges are golden.
• Cool before cutting.
• Cut into 3" x 1 1/2" squares.
• Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days or you may freeze the squares.

Steps:

• Warm pie crust to room temperature according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, combine figs and bourbon; add enough water to cover by 1 in. Cook, covered, over low heat until figs are plump, 15-20 minutes. Remove from heat; drain. Cool 15 minutes and pat dry. Cut each fig into quarters. Set aside., In same saucepan over medium-low heat, combine walnuts with 1/4 cup maple syrup, cinnamon and nutmeg. Cook, stirring constantly, until liquid is almost evaporated, 5-7 minutes. Spread nuts on a baking sheet lined with parchment; freeze until set, about 10 minutes., Unroll pie crusts. Using a 4-in. round cutter, cut 12 circles, rolling and cutting scraps as necessary. Stir vanilla and remaining 1 Tbsp. maple syrup into mascarpone cheese. Spread scant 1 tablespoon mascarpone mixture over half of each circle to within 1/4 in. of edge; layer with 2 teaspoons maple walnuts and 4 fig pieces. Make an egg wash by whisking egg and water; use to moisten edge of crust. Fold crust over filling; press edges with a fork to seal. Repeat with remaining crust and filling. Brush egg wash over pies. Freeze pies on a parchment-lined baking sheet 10 minutes., Remove from baking sheet. Grill pies, covered, on a well-greased grill rack over medium direct heat until golden brown, 5-7 minutes per side.

Steps:

• In a medium size saucepan, add cubed potatoes, cover with water and cook until tender; about 15 minutes.
• Drain potatoes when cooked; mash and set aside.
• In the meantime, in a large frying pan, add oil and butter and heat to melt on medium heat.
• In a bowl, combine ground beef, ground lamb, onions, garlic, beaten eggs, Worcestershire sauce and mix well to incorporate.
• Add mixture to frying pan and cook until beef is browned, about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Now add carrots, petite peas, cauliflower florets, chopped zucchini, mushrooms, tomato paste, chili powder, seasoning salt, garlic salt, spaghetti seasoning and dry mustard; mix well and cook for about 5 minutes stirring often.
• Prepare a 7" x 10" or a 8" x 8" casserole dish by rubbing interior with butter or spraying with a vegetable oil.
• Preheat oven to 325°F.
• Transfer beef mixture to prepared casserole dish, level and pat down slightly with a spatula.
• Spread mashed potatoes evenly over the top.
• Bake in preheated 325°F oven for 30 minutes or until potatoes are lightly browned.
• Now sprinkle the grated cheese over the potatoes and return to oven and bake until cheese melts, about 5 minutes.
• Remove from oven and let sit for about 5 minutes to set before cutting into 2 1/2 by 2 1/2 inch squares.
• Serve with a dollop of ketchup if desired.
• Refrigerate any unused portions.
• Reheat 2 squares at a time in a microwave proof dish, on HIGH (full power) for 3 minutes or until nice and hot.

Steps:

• Cut Hoagie bun in half lengthwise and toast lightly.
• Spread butter evenly on each half bun.
• Spread cream cheese evenly on each half.
• Spread lettuce evenly on each half.
• Spread chopped onions evenly on each half.
• Spread sweet red pepper evenly on each half.
• Spread sliced olives evenly on each half.
• Now drizzle with Italian herb dressing to your taste.
• Sprinkle salt and pepper to your taste.
• If desired, you may also layer some thinly sliced black forest ham.
• Also some shredded carrot makes for a very nice taste.
• This recipe doubles or quadruples very easily.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 F.
• In a mixing bowl, combine graham wafer crumbs, vanilla wafer crumbs and 1/2 cup of chopped pecans; mix well.
• Add 6 tablespoons of butter or margarine and using a pastry blender, work the mixture until crumbs are formed.
• Prepare a 9" x 13" x 2" deep, oven-proof casserole dish by spraying the inside with a vegetable oil.
• Dust inside with 3 tablespoons of all-purpose flour, discarding any excess flour.
• Spoon crumb mixture into casserole dish and using a potato masher that has square slots, press to about 1/4" thickness.
• Using a rounded spoon, press the crumb mixture 3/4 of the way up the sides to about 1/4" thickness.
• In a preheated 400 F oven, bake for 15 minutes to set the crust.
• In the meantime, in a large bowl, combine brown sugar and flour.
• Add eggs one at a time and whisk well until smooth.
• Add corn syrup, melted butter, salt and vanilla extract and whisk well to blend.
• Add raisins and 2 cups of chopped pecans and stir well to mix.
• Layer the bottom with 1 cup of whole pecans in no particular pattern; just random.
• Spoon mixture carefully over the pecans.
• Some of the pecans may float and this is okay.
• Reduce oven heat to 375 F and bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until the filling is slightly puffed and golden brown.
• Remove from oven and cool on a wire rack.
• When cooled, refrigerate until ready to serve.
• Serve with a dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of icecream.

Steps:

• In a mixing bowl, combine graham wafer and vanilla cookie crumbs and almonds, mix well to combine.
• Cut in butter using a pastry blender or a fork until mixture is crumbly.
• Prepare a 9 inch oven-proof pie dish by spraying with some vegetable oil, then dust with flour, Shake off any excess flour off the pie dish and discard.
• This prevents the shell from sticking to the dish when baked.
• Spoon wafter mixture into the pie dish; press evenly to the bottom and sides using a rounded soup spoon. Also, use a potato masher with small holes or squares to firm the bottom crumb mixture. The thickness should be about 1/4 inch.
• Place the prepared pie dish in the freezer compartment for 30 minutes.
• Bake for 15 minutes in a preheated 400 F oven to set the crust.
• Cool baked pie crust and continue with your pie filling mixture of your choice.
• Pecans can also be used for some pie recipes.
• Suggested recipes to look at: #87452, #18007, #18795, #18705, #18353, #18457.