Strawberry and Rhubarb Pie

With Sour Cream and Brown Sugar Gratin on Top
I can't get enough strawberries this time of year.  We are lucky to have strawberry fields all around us.  Here is a new recipe I just created, I hope you enjoy it as much as we did.

Flakiest Pie Crust Recipe
(an old family favorite)
You will need:

3 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/4 cups shortening

1 teaspoon coarse salt

3 tablespoon sugar

1 egg

2 teaspoons distilled white vinegar

5 tablespoons ice water

How to:

1. In a food processor, mix flour, salt, and sugar.  Add shortening, mix until shortening is incorporated.
2. Beat together egg, vinegar and water.  Mix liquid with flour mixture, one tablespoon at a time until mixture forms a ball.  (Note: You will probably not use all of it.)
3. Cut dough in half.  Save half for another time, flatten and place in baggie and freeze.
4. Roll other half out between two pieces of floured parchment with rolling pin. Prick with fork, add some uncooked rice or dry beans to weight down bottom while cooking.  
5. Bake ar 425 degrees for 15 - 20 minutes, until golden brown on edges.  Pour out rice or beansCool completely.

Strawberry and Rhubarb Filling

You will need:

1 pound of rhubarb, cut into 1/2-inch pieces

2/3 cup sugar

a pinch of salt

1 tablespoon cornstarch

1 cup hulled and sliced strawberries

How to:

1. In a heavy medium saucepan, combine all the ingredients, let rest for at least 15 minutes, until the fruit exudes some juice.
2. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium high heat, stirring constantly.
3. Reduce the heat to low and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the rhubarb is tender and the liquid thickened, 10 to 15 minutes.  Remove it from heat and allow to cool.
4. Pour the rhubarb mixture into the pie crust.

Sour Cream and Brown Sugar Gratin

You will need :

3 cups hulled and sliced strawberries

1 cup of sour cream

1 cup brown sugar

How to:

1. Mix strawberries and sour cream, spoon on top of pie filling.
2. Sprinkle brown sugar on top.  Broil for about 5 minutes, watching carefully so brown sugar melts and begins to caramelize but doesn't burn.
3. Serve right away with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

It is sure to become a family favorite!