Me oh my, Strawberry & Peach Pie

One thing I have really enjoyed about life as a married lady is cooking. I love experimenting with all my cool kitchen gadgets and trying new recipes. Now I'm not always successful in my experiments (poor Clark has had to put up with some weird recipes), but I had faith in this pie because Mindy had used this recipe before here. That also meant if I failed miserably - I couldn't blame it on the recipe. It would be my fault entirely. Luckily the pie was a success! And it's pretty easy... except for creating a lattice crust. I should have stuck with an easier crust design. But it's a great pie for anyone to try! As it turns out, making a pie is really fun. Especially if you have wonderful friends to help you out :)

^ My lovely pie-baking friends ^

P.s. - if there is anything in parentheses it means I didn't use it in my pie.

SWEET PIE OR PASTRY DOUGH

One 9- or 10-inch double crust

Stir together: 

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/4 teaspoons salt

3/4 cup confectioners' sugar

Add:

3/4 cup vegetable shortening

3 tablespoons cold unsalted butter

Cut the shortening into the flour using your fingers.  Trust me on this one.  Sprinkle the dough with:

6 tablespoons ice water

Use a fork to blend the water into the dough until it holds together.

^Check out that dough!^

FRESH BERRY PIE

Courtesy of Joy of Cooking

Pick over and hull as necessary

5 cups fresh berries mingled with peaches 

[I used about 2 cups of strawberries and 3 cups of peaches)

(1 1/2 tablespoon fresh lemon juice)

^I love summer fruits^

Combine:

2/3 to 1 cup sugar, or more to taste 

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

(1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon)

If the fruit is juicy, add:

(1 tablespoon quick-cooking tapioca)

Sprinkle this mixture over the berries and stir gently until well blended.  Let stand 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 450 F.  Turn the fruit into the pie shell.  Dot with:

1 to 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into small pieces

^My pathetic attempt at a lattice crust^

Cover the pie with a well-pricked or vented top or with a lattice.  Bake for 10 minutes.  Reduce the heat to 350 F and bake 35 to 40 minutes, or until golden brown.  Cool completely on a rack.

^The final result. It may not look too good, but it tasted great!^