Mini Pies

This was a random creation. We had a container of pie filling, but it was partially used, and I'm not one to just eat pie filling. So I decided to try and make little mini pies. These two came out best. My biggest problem was adding too much filling, which made them messy.

Ingredients

Any pie filling of your choice

2 cups flour

1 tsp salt

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1/4 cup cold water

Sift flour with salt. Combine oil and water in measuring cup. Beat rapidly with fork until thick and creamy. Pour over flour, all at one time. Toss and cut with fork until blended. Form into ball, divide dough in half. Form into balls. Roll between sheets of waxed paper to 1/8 inch thickness. Remove top paper. Cut out desired size shape for pies. Use any bowl as stencil and cut around it. Put a small amount of filling into center, and cover with another circle shaped pie crust piece. Seal edges with fork, pierce top for venting. Bake according to pie filling instructions.

These were really fun to make and pretty darn simple if you're familiar with making pie crust. Of course, you can always substitute a homemade crust with some from the store. And you can cut the pie crust recipe in half if you don't have a lot of the filling, or use a full recipe for most of a can full.

Kolacky

This is an old family recipe from my Mother-in-Law.  Fortunately it is not a secret family recipe, so I am free to share it.  I was not originally planning on posting it, or else I would have taken a picture or two of the rolling process so you can envision it a little better.  But hopefully with looking at a picture of the finished product you'll be able to figure it out.  If you have any questions, leave a comment and I'll try to explain it better.

Ingredients:
1 serving yeast (1 envelope, 1 cake, etc.)
¼ cup warm water
6 cubes butter
5 cups flour
4 eggs
Boysenberry jam or other preserve of your choice
Sugar

Dissolve yeast in water. In the meantime, cut butter into flour until it’s the size of peas. Add yeast mixture and eggs. Mix together; frankly it’s easiest done with your hands. Take off your rings first, though ‘cuz it’s pretty gooey! Put dough in the fridge for at least one hour.

Roll dough out between two sheets of wax paper until thin; it’s kinda like rolling out pie crust. Cut dough into 3 or 4 inch squares with a cookie cutter. (I did 4 inch squares this time and I think they’re too big. Next time I’ll probably stick to 3 inch.) Put a scoop of jam in one corner. Fold the square in half so it’s slightly off-center, turning the corner with the jam.  Seal the edge and then roll it up and bend the corners like a croissant. Roll each kolaky in sugar to coat thoroughly. Bake in 350 degree oven for 10-15 minutes. Cool on wire rack.