Posts Tagged ‘pastry’

Old Fashion Lemon Meringue Pie and Never Fail Pie Dough Recipes

Posted in interesting advices on December 12th, 2009 by admin – Comments Off

Author: Grandma Linda

Don’t be intimated by just the thought of making pie dough. It really can be easy. And to prove that point, below you will find the recipe for Mrs. Olive’s Never Fail Pie Dough. Mrs. Olive was an elderly lady in the community where I grew up. She was known as a great pie baker and one of the reasons was her pie crusts. She graciously shared this recipe many years ago. Now to fill that pie dough, try this delicious old fashion recipe for Lemon Meringue Pie. Perfect for an after dinner treat, to take to “pitch-in” meals, or just coffee and dessert with your girlfriends, you will love this pie.

MRS. OLIVE’S NEVER FAIL PIE DOUGH

This is a recipe from one of the elderly ladies in the community when I was a child.
4 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups shortening
2 tsps salt
1 tbsp sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 cup water
1 tbsp white vinegar
1 egg

Mix together the flour, salt, sugar, and baking powder. Cut in the shortening. Add the water, vinegar and egg. Mix well and chill before rolling out.

Note: This dough can also be frozen for use later.

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Types of Juicer Blenders and Pastry Blenders

Posted in interesting advices on September 6th, 2009 by admin – Comments Off

The British regard blenders as liquidizers. It has various types like pastry blenders and juicer blenders. Learn how these two are different from each other, and the good models you can get in the market.

A blender is also a liquidizer to the British. It is a type of kitchen appliance utilized for puree food or mixing ingredients. It also refers to an upright stationary electrical device that can be distinguished from an electric or hand-powered mixer. You can also utilize blenders in laboratory applications.

The appliance can be made of plastic, glass, porcelain or stainless steel. It also features graduated markings for accurate measuring purposes. There is also a lid located at the top of the container that hinders the ingredients from escaping during the operation. There is also a blade assembly located at the bottom which can be detached during clean-up. If the blades are detachable, the container must feature an o-ring in-between the container’s base and body to actually seal the container and prevent leakage.

The container has a base where it can rest. It is also where the motor is found that makes the blades turn to grind the food. The modern models already feature different possible speeds. For low-powered blenders, you still need to add some liquid so that the blender will function accurately. This is since the liquid can move the solid particles around the jar, bringing it in close contact with the blade. It is the whirlpool-like fluid movement that brings the items from the top towards the bottom portion. As for high powered blenders, they are capable of crushing ice and milling grains without any assistance.

There is a more specific type called the immersion blender. This type does not have its own container but rather a mixing head equipped with blades which can be immersed inside. It has several functions that food processors can adapt. It makes it easier to prepare thicker mixtures like hummus and mayonnaise.

Here are some brands of juicer blenders sold in the market:

Black & Decker 10-speed Cyclone Blender (Black)

This juicer blender features a new technology with its 10-speed operation, push-button controls, concealed cord storage and heat resistant features. It is dishwasher safe and it has a polished plastic finish. It is perfect for protein shakes, dressings and smoothies. This blender costs $29.99.

Jack LaLanne Juicer

This commercial quality juicer can help you make your very own juice beverage, extracting 30% more juices because of its patented extraction technology. It features a round, extra large feeder that enables you to blend even whole veggies and fruits. You don’t need to chop, peel or dice it. Aside from this, it has a super-sized removable pulp collector for healthy sorbets, sauces, soups and breads. It is also dishwasher safe. This blender costs $99.99.

Pastry Blenders

A pastry blender or cutter is a type of kitchen tool utilized for mixing shortening into flour and butter so as to create pastry crusts. This type of tool is made of wire or metal which can be pressed down on items to be mixed. This method is called “cutting in”. It is also utilized for breaking butter and shortening into smaller pieces.

Winco Pastry Blender

This pastry blender is made of stainless steel and it is easy to clean. It has a tubular handle for quicker blending tasks. This pastry blender costs $5.99.

Martha Stewart Collection Pastry Dough Blender

This dough tabletop blender by Martha Stewart can cut through various ingredients and then you can blend it in whole chunks of butter in a matter of seconds. It is made from stainless steel and it is dishwasher safe. It also has a limited lifetime warranty. This tabletop dough blender costs $9.99.

Chrome Pastry Blender with Wooden Handle

This pastry blender has a chrome plated blade and a wooden handle. It costs $3.89.