birdman and the pie

a quick update on the birdman and his helmet and goggles.  have still to work out how the goggles will attach to the helmet, certainly the pins sticking through his ears is not the most elegant of solutions.  i left enough ease in the hat to accommodate hair, but i don't know what type yet....

also, made a blueberry pie this weekend.  i don't think you can tell by looking, but this is - hands down - the worst crust i have ever made.  i think it was due to the heat, it made me forget everything i know about making crust.  most important?  don't work it more than absolutely necessary - i am pretty sure i worked it within an inch of it's life... oh well, the filling was spectacular.

freshy's blueberry pie
a pillsbury bakeoff winner, ca. 1961

1 9-inch pie shell - use your own best recipe, DON'T OVERWORK IT!!!
3/4 cup sugar
2 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch
1/4 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup water
3 cups fresh blueberries, divided
2 tablespoons butter
1 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 cup whipping cream
2 tablespoons confectioners' sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

bake pie shell at 450 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes. cool.

combine sugar, cornstarch and salt in saucepan. blend in water and 1 cup blueberries. bring to a boil; cook, stirring constantly, until very thick. stir in butter and lemon juice. cool.

fold in 2 cups blueberries. cool 1 hour in refrigerator.

beat whipping cream until thick. add confectioners' sugar and vanilla.

spread half of whipped cream over bottom of pie shell. top with blueberry filling. chill about 2 hours. garnish with remaining whipped cream. refrigerate.

i always make a bit more whipped cream so i am not skimping at the end to cover the pie.  i make more pie crust too, so i can be sure i have enough to get a good edge, then there is extra to bake with butter and cinnamon sugar sprinkled on top.  i am pretty sure that in my life i have burned 50% of those little extras.  they are referred to as 'sargent shrivers' in my family.  a friend once told us there were actually called 'general grants' - i have no idea why.  one thanksgiving while making pumpkin pie we were getting ready to burn some of these extras and kept trying to remember what they were called, the only name we could think of was sargent shriver.  that is how those little family oddities come to be.

Comments

[Julie]

birdman is certainly coming along! I imagined him with not much hair, kind of balding! And the pie looks so delicious!!!!

[prairiemouse]

oh yes! love the helmet and goggles. he's looking great.
day 6 for me here sans apple, and i bet they only count working days. still my productivity, well i'm almost embarassed!

[wendy]

I think you could be done for cruelty to birdman by sticking those pins in his head poor chap. Pie looks fab.....

[Daphne]

Both birdman and pie are looking great! Wow, you are a woman of many talents:) Even if the crust wasn't to your satisfaction the filling looks good enough to scoop with a nice big spoon and eaten on it's own!

[momma pajama]

Hi! I have good success with crust and here's the trick (just use a regular recipe): use ice water to dampen the ingredients into dough with a fork, then BARELY touch it with your hands, just enough to shape it into a ball, 5 seconds. Really, it works!

[simple me]

I feel I need to take sometime to explore your whole blog...This birdman made me very curious. Gorgeous man I must say...
and the pie? never mind about the crust it look delicious.