Make Ahead Southwest Cattle Ranchers Pie Recipes

Steps:

• For the pie dough: Pulse the flour, 4 tablespoons of the butter, the lard, sugar and salt in a food processor until the mixture has the consistency of a fine meal. Add the remaining 8 tablespoons butter, and pulse until you have pea-sized pieces. Sprinkle the vodka and water over the mixture, and pulse until the dough just comes together. Evenly divide the dough between 2 pieces of plastic wrap, and gently press or pat into rounds. Wrap tightly, and refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour up to overnight. (The dough can be frozen for up to 2 months.)
• For the filling: Peel and core the apples, then cut them into 1/2-inch-thick slices. Toss with the sugar and lemon juice in a large bowl. Melt 4 tablespoons of the butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the apples, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the firmer apples soften but hold their shape, 15 to 18 minutes. (The softer apples, like McIntosh, will get very soft and saucy.) Add the flour, cinnamon, cream and salt, and stir until the juices thicken, about 2 minutes. Remove from the heat, and let cool completely. (The filling can be refrigerated, covered, up to 2 days ahead.)
• To assemble: Roll out 1 disk of dough into a 13-inch round on a lightly floured surface or between 2 pieces of floured parchment or wax paper. (If the dough gets too warm, refrigerate it to firm it up.) Ease it into a deep 9 1/2-inch pie pan. Mound the cooled filling slightly in the center of the dough, and dot with the remaining 2 tablespoons butter.
• Roll out the remaining disk of dough into a 12-inch round. Place it over the filling, and press the 2 crusts together around the edge. Fold the overhanging dough under itself, and crimp as desired. Brush the top and edges with heavy cream, and sprinkle generously with sugar. Pierce the top with a knife a few times (or make decorative cutouts) to let steam escape. Refrigerate at least 1 hour.
• To bake: Position an oven rack in the bottom slot of the oven, set a baking sheet on it and preheat to 425 degrees F for at least 30 minutes. Place the pie on the hot baking sheet, and lower the heat to 375 degrees F. Bake until the pie is golden and the filling is bubbly, 1 hour 10 minutes to 1 hour 20 minutes, rotating as needed. (Cover the edge of the crust with foil if it browns too quickly.) Transfer to a rack, and let cool until set, 3 hours.
• Serve the cooled pie, or wrap it tightly in foil, label and date, and freeze for up to 2 weeks. Warm it in a 350-degree-F oven for 20 minutes before serving.

Steps:

• In a large nonstick skillet, sauté the onion, garlic, carrot, and mushrooms over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are wilted and pan liquids are absorbed, about 6 minutes.
• Crumble in the ground sirloin and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until the beef is well browned, about 5 minutes.
• Drain off any excess fat.
• Add the oregano, thyme, cumin, and pepper.
• Sprinkle the flour over the beef mixture and stir.
• Add the beef broth, wine, and tomato paste.
• Stir until well combined.
• Line a 2-quart casserole with a piece of heavy-duty aluminum foil large enough to completely enclose the casserole.
• Lightly spray the foil inside the casserole with cooking spray.
• Transfer the meat mixture to the prepared casserole.
• Set aside while you prepare the topping.
• Place the potatoes in a pot of boiling water to cover.
• Reduce the heat and simmer until tender when pierced with a fork, about 15 to 20 minutes; drain.
• Mash the potatoes, adding sufficient skim milk until the potatoes are fluffy.
• Stir in the salt (if using), minced jalapeño chiles, cilantro, and scallion.
• Spoon the potato mixture onto the top of the meat mixture, making swirls with the back of a spoon.
• Sprinkle with paprika and cheese.
• Cover the casserole and freeze until solid.
• Lift the food out of the casserole (the foil will adhere), wrap securely in the foil, then slip the package into a self-sealing plastic freezer bag or overwrap in additional foil or freezer paper.
• Label with the casserole name and the date.
• Use within 3 months.
• When ready to bake, unwrap the casserole and place back in the casserole dish to bake.
• Defrost completely.
• Then bake at 375°F for 40 to 45 minutes, until golden and bubbly.
• (Since the casserole will be full, it may bubble over, so place a sheet of aluminum foil under the casserole to catch any drips.) Serve hot.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Press pie crust pastry into a 9-inch pie pan.
• Combine crushed pineapple, sugar, coconut, margarine, eggs, and flour in a bowl; mix with a fork until well blended. Pour into pie crust pastry.
• Bake pie in the preheated oven until the middle is set and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 1 hour.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400°F. Spray 8-inch square (2-quart) glass baking dish with cooking spray.
• In 12-inch nonstick skillet, cook beef over medium-high heat 4 minutes, stirring frequently. Add onion and carrots; cook 4 to 6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until beef is browned and onion and carrots are softened. Add flour, thyme, salt and pepper; cook 1 minute, stirring frequently.
• Gradually stir in broth; heat to boiling over medium-high heat. Cook until thickened, stirring frequently. Remove from heat; stir in frozen peas and corn; transfer mixture to baking dish.
• Make mashed potatoes as directed on pouch. Spread potatoes evenly over mixture in baking dish. Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until heated through (165°F in center) and top is lightly browned. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.
• To freeze: Cook beef filling as directed in recipe, but do not add frozen peas and corn. Cover and refrigerate 30 to 40 minutes. Transfer to 1-quart freezer container; freeze up to 2 months. To bake: Heat oven to 400°F. Spray microwavable 8-inch square (2-quart) glass baking dish with cooking spray. Place frozen beef filling container in large bowl filled with hot water about 5 minutes or until filling can be slid out of container into 8-inch square dish. Cover with plastic wrap; microwave on High 5 minutes; stir well. Cover and microwave 3 minutes longer; stir well. Continue heating another 3 to 4 minutes (checking and stirring every minute) until heated through. Stir in frozen peas and corn. Continue as directed in recipe.

Steps:

• Combine eggs and milk in a large bowl. Stir in cheese, onion, pepper and bacon. Pour into a greased 9-in pie plate. Toss potatoes with salt and pepper; sprinkle over egg mixture. Drizzle butter over the potatoes; sprinkle with paprika.
• Bake at 325 degrees for 40 minuites or until a knife inserted in center comes out clean.

Steps:

• 1. Preheat oven to 350. Stir together the sugar, pineapple, eggs, flour & coconut. Melt butter & add to other ingredients.
• 2. Pour filling into pie shell. Bake for approx 1 hr or until filling is set & browned.
• 3. Tip: Before filling raw pie shell, I rub a little egg white or milk onto bottom of pie shell. This will help brown bottom of curst & prevents it from being soggy.