Strawberry Hand Pies

It has been just a little while since my last post… but I have valid reasons! I have been incredibly busy with school (who decided taking summer courses was a good idea????????), baseball (Adam and I both play on two seperate teams, so three or four nights a week we are at one game or another) and everything else you could think of. Adam and I went to Osoyoos for a weekened, there have been wedding showers for Adam’s cousin who is getting married this summer (next month!!) and Birthdays.

Yup, It was MY birthday this month =) In fact, a week ago. June 5. I decided this year I wasn’t going to make my own birthday cake, mainly because that was also a very busy weekend! The Friday night Adam had two baseball games, and then Saturday I was part of a fundraiser for our baseball team, and It also happened to be a Vancouver Canucks playoff game night! In case you didn’t notice, or are not from Vancouver, the Canucks are ALMOST the Stanley Cup Champions. We have one more game to stress over tomorrow night! We actually went downtown last night to take part in the festivities, but alas, we did not win. So there was no celebrating. Anyways, back to more important things, like my birthday =). So by the time Sunday rolled around, I was in no mood to make a cake. As well, back to summer school, who decides to have an assignment due on a Sunday!? Didn’t they realize it was my birthday… hehe.

So I woke up bright and early to finish an essay, and then spent the rest of the day celebrating. It is also my friend Alysha’s birthday the same day! Same name (spelt differently) and same birthday. A year apart. So we have spent the last few together for at least part of the day. We went and had our nails done with my mom, and then had lunch. Afterwards, Adam had planned dinner and a surprise. We drove to Stanley Park and enjoyed a ‘drink’ on the Seawall in plastic champagne glasses, and some dessert! He knows me well =) After that, we went to Seasons in the Park a beautiful restaurant in Queen Elizabeth Park. It was really delicious, and the view was awesome.

As you might remember, Adam wanted birthday pie for his birthday dessert. And I thought I would carry on the tradition and make myself some little hand pies. They were just so cute and I had been wanting to make them since last summer. We are also having our good friends over for dinner tonight, so obviously I needed to have something sweet for post-dinner discussion.

These are extremely easy, and I even made it with whole wheat flour to make it ‘healthy.’ It has fruit! And whole wheat flour, its gotta be good for you! You could do it with any fruit im sure, and I love how the little pies look like Sand Dollars! So cute.

This one  looks like it got bitten by a Vampire! hehe

Whole Wheat Strawberry Hand Held Pies

recipe for basic pie dough as I have used before here

Ingredients:

• 1¼ cups whole wheat flour (or a mix of AP + WW)
• 1 tbsp. sugar
• 8 tbsp. cold, unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
• 3 tbsp. very cold water

Directions:

1. Combine the flour, and sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment.  Mix briefly to blend.  Add in the butter pieces and mix on medium-low speed to cut the butter into the flour until the mixture resembles coarse sand and the largest butter pieces are not much bigger than peas.  Mix in the cold water on low speed just until the dough comes together.
2. Shape the dough into a ball, wrap in plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.

*makes about 7-8 hand held pies, double recipe for more

Strawberry Filling

• approximately 1 1/2 cups strawberries, cut into small pieces
• 3-4 tbs sugar, more or less as you desire
• zest of a lemon
• 1 *scant* tbs of flour

Directions:

In a small saucepan, on medium heat combine all ingredients. Let simmer for about 10 minutes, sitrring occasionally. Allow to thicken.

Once it has reached desired consitency, remove from heat and cool slightly.

******
To Assemble Hand Pies:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

*You may wish to have an egg wash, simply mix one egg with a splash of water and whisk. Alternatively, you can use water only*

Remove dough from refrigerator. Roll out onto slightly floured surface. Using a round cookie cutter, cut out disks. Place one disk on a greased cookie sheet, (optional, you can add a pinch of graham cracker crumbs on top to not get a soggy bottom), and using a spoon place a dollop of the strawberry filling in the middle leaving a border around it. Place another disk on top of the filling, and using your fingers pinch the sides together slightly. Some of the filling may ooze out, but that’s ok. Repeat for remaining disks and filling.

You may wish to use the egg wash or water, and brush the tops of the hand pies. You can also sprinkle with sanding sugar, or regular granulated sugar. Use a knife to create vents in the top carefully.

Place in pre-heated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes depending on how brown you would like them. I took them out at 20 minutes, however if you decide to use regular AP flour, they may take a little longer to become flaky and golden brown.

Once baked, let cool slightly on pan and carefully transfer to a cooling rack.

Enjoy! These would be delicious with a scoop of ice cream!