i don’t know if you are like me, but i am often on the phone with my mom at the grocery store.
i know you are like, “well yeah, i chat at the store…”
no. i mean, i call my mom and say, “what should i do about this…? i am holding a little heart pastry press/punch thing in the valentine-y isle and i have no business buying it, but wouldn’t that be fun?!”
she will almost always say, “you need that. you’d better get it immediately and just stop worrying about it.” {it’s one of the many reasons i like her}
so, all week long i thought about strawberry pie, and how cute and red and how they can be cut into hearts….
i was getting homesick for my mom’s sweetheart dinners she throws every year for all the couples on valentines day…
if i were in town, we would go and they are always hilarious and fun and she thinks up the theme and food way early so it never disappoints. truth be told, i really should be throwing my own here, but i can’t host too many couples at the same time in my tiny place, so it would really need to be sometime when i am in a house… [sigh]…
so, to make myself feel a little better, and since it’s kinda a cloudy gloomy day here in san diego, i whipped up these cute things using fresh strawberries and my new little gadgety guy and they are super yummy AND cute. win win. note: i got my little heart press at vons, so your vons/safeway might still have them…
mini strawberry pies {hearts}
1 recipe of pie crust or store bought {2 rounds}
1 lb strawberries, cut in small pieces
1 tbs corn starch
1/3 cup sugar
1 tbs lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 teaspoon almond extract
pinch of salt
1 egg yolkwhat to do:
1. preheat oven to 350
2. take about 1/3 of your cut strawberries and place them in a saucepan on medium heat. mash them with a potato masher until broken down, then add remaining ingredients and turn the heat down, stirring constantly until soft and syrupy.
3. pour mixture into a blender and mix for a few seconds until smooth. set aside to cool to room temperature.
4. roll out your pie crust, and using a cup or a cookie cutter, cut the dough into circles or hearts, about 4 inches wide.
5. make an egg wash in a small bowl with an egg yolk and a tiny bit of water to thin it. beat until runny.
6. toss cooled strawberry mixture over the remaining strawberries until well coated.
7. paint the edges of the shape with the egg wash, then place a small amount of the strawberries in the middle, cover with another shape and press together, either with a press or just your fingers and use a fork/your fingers to make a cute pie edge. brush the tops with the egg wash, cut shapes in the top if you want, and place on parchment paper on a cookie sheet. put in the oven for 10-12 minutes or until golden.makes 7-8 mini pies, or double it for a full size pie.
recipe adapted from inspired taste
