Aunt Emma's Never Fail Pie Crust

3 c sifted flour
1 1/4 c Shortening
1 tsp salt
1 egg, well beaten
5 Tbsp water
1 Tbsp vinegar

Cut shortening into flour and salt.
Combine egg, water, and vinegar in a separate bowl.
Pour liquid into flour mixture all at once. Blend with spoon until flour is all moistened.
It can be re-rolled without toughening. Will keep in refrigerator for two weeks or divide into balls enough for one pie and wrap in Saran wrap and freeze indefinitely.

Makes 2 crusts

Thursday, August 4, 2011

How I Spent My Summer Vacation

Today I am happy I learned to love tomatoes.  Not on my list of approved foods when I was younger, but suddenly, in mid-adulthood, they made the list. It helps to try to grow your own,  with a certain appreciation for the miracle dangling from the branch. But my turn-around occurred prior to the garden miracle. Thank goodness!

This week's cooking challenge with French Fridays with Dorie: slow-roasted tomatoes. From page 342 in "Around My French Table". In her text, Dorie describes them as "somewhere between fresh tomatoes and sun-dried tomatoes".  The recipe is super simple and provides another excuse to use other garden items: fresh thyme or rosemary. Alas, it's too late in the summer to use my cherry tomatoes. Luckily, they are plentiful in the stores.



Rockin' the Rental Range.
 GE Profile is a winner!
 Oh, did I mention?  I am not at home. I am in Sedona, Arizona, cooking in a kitchen not my own, using appliances and cookware not my own.  I did think far enough ahead to bring some of my favorite things, however.  I am up for the challenge!
  
Typical Sedona Scenery
On the fly I chose a couple other recipes from the cookbook to go along with the tomatoes.  Probably didn't make the best choices. Oh well.  I'm calling it a success, and it kept us out of the restaurants for two dinners anyway. (Fresh Orange Pork Tenderloin, page 273; and Broth-Braised Potatoes, page 358.)  Both recipes were pretty simple, althought segmenting the oranges was time-consuming. And I didn't bring my microplane, so the zesting was ridiculous. Also, the pork recipe called for those exotic cardamom seeds. Since I forgot to bring mine from home, thanks go to Safeway in Sedona for stocking them. Not cheaply though! Ouch. (If you are one of my local friends reading this, feel free to ask for cardamom pods. I now have LOTS.)
 

Slow roasting intensifies the flavors.


10 comments:

  1. Hope you are enjoying your stay in AZ ... you're not too far from me. :) Good for you to keep cooking while on vacation.

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  2. How nice holidaying in Arizona and roasting this...a perfect summer condiment for the pork tenderloin...I paired mine with pan fried dijon mustard pork chop :) it was fabulous :)

    Have a great holiday,
    Elin

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  3. You're a brave woman roasting tomatoes in the Arizona Summer! Your tomatoes look delicious!

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  4. Arizona looks beautiful, hope you are enjoying your vacation. Cooking in a strange kitchen is always and adventure but it looks like your tomatoes came out perfectly.

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  5. Lovely looking tomatoes! Hope you enjoyed your vacation! :)

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  6. cardamom is cheap here in England! what a great idea to have the toms as a side to that dish!

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  7. What a beautiful place. I'm glad you enjoyed cooking out of AMFT while on vacation. I think these tomatoes are definitely one of the best loved FFwD recipes in a while!

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  8. I was chuckling when I read your cardamom comment because I exhale every time I have to pull my expensive bottle out for another Dorie recipe. For some reason that sticker shock on that one seems to linger on :) And kudos for knocking this recipe out on vacation. Nana and I both enjoyed this and honestly, I am not sure how we managed to not make this recipe (in one version or another...) before. But we will be making it again ~

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  9. I'm so impressed that you're keeping up with your French Fridays recipes on vacation - that's dedication!

    I'm appreciating tomatoes more than I did when I was young, as well. It's funny how our taste buds develop over the years.

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  10. It always makes me so happy when I can cook on vacation!
    AZ looks beautiful - enjoy.

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