Stars and Stripes Strawberry Peach Pie

I got up this morning, planning to make a peach cobbler to go along with the Homemade Ice Cream Jeff is planning to make this evening. We have two peach trees here at home and we've been anxiously awaiting them to ripen and today was finally the day and it just happens to be 4th of July and we have a family cookout tonight! I mean, whats Independence Day without peaches and ice cream???

I shared a picture from my last years red, white, and blue stars and stripes pie and I really wanted to make something prettier than just a cobbler. I usually cook pretty simple stuff, but when I decide to really cook, I go all out. (We have chicken marinating for Jerk Chicken on the grill tonight, I've made herb butter for corn on the cob, baked a pie, and prepared corn to take to our 4th of July get together already today plus started a batch of homemade herb and citrus cleaner.)

So I got to thinking - Last years pie was strawberries and blueberries... Could I do strawberries and peaches? I looked on pinterest and saw a few recipes for a Strawberry and Peach Pie, so I decided I was going to make my own version. I must confess, I've never had this combination of fruit pie, but its worth a shot, right? Jeff picked fresh peaches and we bought strawberries on sale yesterday, but I didn't have a crust on hand.

I can make homemade pie crust, I've just got lazy about doing it and have been buying store bought crust. Want to know my secret to pie crust? It's a pastry mat! Grandmama could make the perfect pie crust and roll it out just right and never measure. This girl needs some help and the pastry mat keeps me from rolling out the crust to far (and making it too thin) and then I can cut the size I need and it fits right in my pie plate. Also great for homemade pizza crust!

I also double my pie crust recipe almost anytime I make it, more especially since this one was going to have a top on it.  I rolled out the one for the bottom, then took cookie cutters to cut out stars and used a knife to make stripes. I had plenty of extra crust, so I outlined the entire pie with stars. 

I brushed the crust with some buttermilk (we don't have any regular milk on hand,) then sprinkled some sugar on top and into the oven it went!

 Oh my Stars and Stripes!!! Can't wait to cut into the pie tonight, with a dollop of homemade ice cream on top!

Janice's Pie Crust Recipe:

2 cups flour
3/4 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup shortening
6-7 tablespoons cold water

Mix flour and salt. Cut in shortening with pastry cutter. Add water till ball forms (the less water, the better.) Roll out on pastry mat and cut to exact dimensions of pie plate.

Recipe can be doubled to make 3 small crust. I used a double recipe for this pie and then had a few scraps leftover and baked them with sugar and cinnamon. I loved it when Grandmama baked the extra scraps of crust and let me have them!

Stars and Stripes Strawberry Peach Pie Recipe:

2 cups fresh strawberries
4 cups fresh peaches
1/3 cup flour
1 cup sugar plus some for sprinkling on top.
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon (or a big dash if you like a lot, like we do)
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
dash salt
2 teaspoons lemon juice
tablespoon cornstarch
milk for brushing on crust

Cut up fresh fruit, toss with lemon juice, then mix with all dry ingredients. I added a little bit of cornstarch to thicken up the juice.

Pour mixture into prepared pie crust. Now the fun part - decorating the top! I had prepared my stars and stripes ahead of time, so my fruit wouldn't be sitting on the pie crust, while I made the decorations. I layered the cutouts, then brushed with buttermilk. (Could also use egg or regular milk, I chose to use buttermilk, since that's what we had on hand.) Sprinkle with additional sugar. Bake at 375 degrees for 40-50 minutes. After 30 minutes, I covered the edges of the crust with foil, to keep them from burning. Remove from oven and let cool.

You could cut any shapes or decorations out for the top of the pie and serve it anytime you wish or simply make a lattice top. 

Scenes from the 4th

Hoping you all had a Happy Independence Day! 

Occasionally I like to cook and get creative in the process. I found this recipe for a Patriotic Pie on Pinterest and decided to give it a try and it turned out great! You might have seen my picture before it went in the oven on Instagram or Facebook.

The recipe called for fresh blueberries, strawberries, and raspberries. I couldn't find fresh raspberries at the grocery store in town (that's a whole other story in itself) and I refused to use frozen ones, so I just added more strawberries. It still turned out great - yummy, juicy, tart, not too sweet, pretty, and patriotic!

Oh, and I didn't make my crust, but Jeff said it best "but you did roll that crust right out of the box and made the stars and stripes at home", so it was Home Made! That boys a keeper! I would definitely make this pie again - if it wasn't for the 4th, I'd probably mix all the fruit together and use a lattice top. It served up kind of messy, but I was able to dish out the blueberries and strawberries on each plate. Our family has decided that messy desserts taste the best anyways!  

Jeff and his brother replace their mom's flag for her. 

It was suppose to be supper and someone said "we will be home by dark." Ha! We had no idea that they were planning to pop some fireworks. If I had known, you can bet I would have taken my better camera and tripod, but I didn't, so here's a few pictures taken from my phone.

I love that I was able to get the new flag in a few of the firework pictures! 

We had a good time and glad we got to spend some time with family on the fourth.

4th of July

Wishing you all a Happy and Safe 4th of July! 

 As our nation celebrates its independence, I realized the date holds another significance in my life. It was 25 years ago today, I received my first paycheck.

That morning in 1992, my dad woke me up and ask if I wanted to learn how to drive a tractor that day. A few lessons driving out beside the house and I was in the hay field that afternoon. My Granddaddy stood on the draw bar of his Farmall tractor, giving me instructions on where to go and made me so nervous. I raked hay for an hour and a half and received a paycheck for $7.50! I was paid in the field, that very afternoon.

My family had a commercial hay baling operation and that day they needed two crews running and I became the new hay raker, at 11 years old! The first summer or two, I just raked for the square baler, but before long, I was in the out there everyday. I proudly sported a "farmer's tan" every summer and learned a strong work ethic from my family. I drove my Granddaddy's Farmall 140 when we baled square hay or "Little John," my favorite John Deere tractor when we baled round hay.

I've earned a paycheck ever year since and by junior high I had a checking account and buying most of my own clothes and remember writing a check at the book fare and paid cash for half of my first truck, before I turned 16.

I wish I had pictures of those tractors and events, but back then, the camera didn't get taken out very often, so this is a picture from the hay field a couple years ago.

Now, if you think that was the day I became a farm girl, you are wrong... I actually started driving a truck when I was 4 and you can read about that farm adventure here! 

Fireworks!

Thanks to several of our neighbors, we were able to photograph 3 separate fireworks shows from our yard tonight! Last night, we watched two t38/f5 jet airplanes as they made several loops just west of our house, as they were stalling before their appearance at the airshow in town. We didn't leave home and still had a good 4th! 

Notice a few tree limbs? 

I was anticipating the neighbors fireworks, so earlier in the day, I got my camera battery charged, set my manual settings and found my tripod. 

We sat outside and watched the sunset this evening. This was the view from our driveway, with just a couple minor edits. (Taken with my phone.) When I heard the first firecrackers, I went inside and grabbed my camera. 

I was excited to catch a few good shots, since it wasn't a continuos show and I didn't know which direction to focus on. 

Through the pines - this was the farthest away and what was visible over the pine trees in the distance. Kind of like a Christmas tree topper!  

Hoping you all had a wonderful weekend! 

Happy 4th of July

 Hoping you all have a Happy and Safe 4th of July!