So it probably wasn't the smartest idea to make a cherry pie on the hottest day ever, seeing as the oven makes the kitchen heaps hotter. We have our own cherry tree so whenever they are ready we pick them all and make a pie. Which is awesome because cherries are about $13 for a kilo, it is very pricey especially when you need a kilo of cherries for the pie. I made this pie once and every since I've made up my own recipe which I do a lot, I kind of just wing it. I hate making pastry, when I make my own it is never right so I always use Pampas Shortcrust pastry but I really couldn't be bothered going to the shops to buy some and I have everything I needed in my pantry to make my own. So if you want to make this yourself this is what you will need and need to do; Preheat oven 220 degrees and butter a pie tin. For the filling:
1kg of destoned cherries. Like I said luckily we have our own tree but if you don't want to spend the money on fresh cherries you can buy them in a can and the even better part of that is they are already destoned.
3/4 cup of caster sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp of mixed spice
2 tbsp of cornflour
2 tbsp of water
For the pastry I would highly suggest just using Pampas Shortcrust pastry but if you're feeling it, I'll give you a good pastry recipe I just used because I had no shortcrust pastry. Pastry:
1 cup of plain flour
1/4tsp baking powder
1/2tsp mixed spice
a bit of salt
1/4 caster sugar
50 grams of unsalted butter, make sure its at room temp and even slightly melted, but do not melt it in a microwave! Cut it up into squares.
1 egg beaten
Sift flour, baking poweder and mixed spice. Stir in salt and sugar. Rub butter in with fingers until it is all blended and kind of looks like breadcrumbs. Then make a well and add beaten egg. Stir with wooden spoon, shaped into ball and half it. Roll each half into balls and cover with glad wrap and refrigerate for 30 mins. After 30 mins roll out both balls and use one to cover the pie tin and the other cut into long strips to lattice the top. For pampas just cover tin with pastry and slice another sheet into long strips for the top.
Before cooked
Destone cherries by cutting an 'x' into the tops of each cherry and push out stone. Try to keep the shape of the cherry. Be aware that it is very messy and may stain clothes. Half the cherries and put half into a saucepan with the sugar. Slowly heat it and stir until sugar dissolves. In a small bowl combine cornflour and water and add to cherries and sugar and stir until it boils and thickens. Once thickened take off heat and add the rest of cherries. Put filling into pie. Use the cut strips to lattice the top of pie. Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes and take off foil and cook for another 15. I didn't make enough pastry and had to use puff pastry I found in the freezer for the lattice so the final product won't look as good as it should, but it will still taste as good.
I have started a blog. Now that I'm here I'm not really sure of what to do or what to write about. I'll just talk about myself, I'm Editha. I am 21 and I have a soon to be 3 year old. Yes that means I had him at 18 and I am a teenage mum. I don't consider myself any less of a mother because I had him so young and I wouldn't change it for the world. My son made me grow up fast and I needed it! I am very lucky to have amazing support around me, from my parents and siblings, partner and my amazing friends. My parents help me a lot and I am so blessed. I still live at home which is awesome because I have support near me whenever I need it. Another thing is that my boyfriend/sons Dad is actually my next door neighbour. A lot of people know this if they know me well. It's how we met and it is perfect. Yes I am the 'girl next door' and the sometimes awkward part is I can see his whole house from my bedroom window. No hiding from me ;) Anyway this blog is going to be about so many different things and if you ever want to know anything or want me to blog a how to, just let me know. I bake a lot so there will be lots of food, mostly fattening haha. Actually my first actual post will be making a Cherry Pie, so keep an eye out! Enjoy guys.
