Pies.....pies that make me smile class!

Yesterday, my girls (Kristen, Sharon, Crystal and Melissa) and I we went to Miller Farms for a class titled "Pies...pies that make me smile"! :)

Once class got under way we got a plate of Mexican Quiche, some fresh fruit, some cheeses and also some fruit and fresh mint flavored water. (cleanses your palette so you can taste the foods)

While we ate, Jo (our teacher and owner of Miller Farms) started showing us how to make pies!!

She started by making a quiche. Here it's ready to go in the oven.

Jo also showed us how to make a simple and perfect pie crust. With her recipe you can get 5 pie shells that can be frozen up to 3 months.

Here are 3 shells wrapped with saran wrap. I def want to try this.

Jo made 'Lemon Ice Box Pie' and here she is pouring the lemon mixture into the pie plate.

Finished Lemon Ice Box pie. :)

Finished Blueberry pie. :)

My lemon ice box pie sample. Soooo soooo good. :) My Grandpa Runyon would have loved this. He loved Lemon pie and this def would have put a smile on his face.

My blueberry pie slice sampling. MMMMM.....This was the best blueberry pie I've ever had in my life. And the little scoop of Trickling Springs Vanilla ice cream was just the perfect compliment.

Love the little blueberry on the end of the fork.

After our class we walked around the market....

Lots of farm fresh tomatoes for sale. There were also boxes of tomateos for $10 that are perfect for canning.

Some farm fresh corn. MMMMM :) Love the picture! :D

Cute sign above the freezer.

Lots of farm fresh fruits and veggies. Blueberries, blackberries, squash, zucchini, egg plants, radishes and peppers. MMMMMM

Cute sign! :)

They sell fresh farm eggs at the farm.

And of course farm fresh milk and yogurts.

Spices etc.
Jo crochets scrubbies and sells them in the market. They are great for scrubbing dishes and my friend Melissa likes to use hers in the shower. They are awesome! Jo makes a ton of them and they are huge sellers. I currently have a purple one. :)

Cute little potting shed that's been painted and decorated. :)

So.................after the class we hung out at Sharon and Joe's pool. It was sooooo hot outside but the pool felt good. Sharon and Joe treated us to Papa John's Pizza. After we were done eating we kept hearing thunder so we headed back to Sharon and Joe's and hung out. The girls decided to make a pie so we went to Target to get the ingredients we needed.

We made the 'Lemon Ice Box pie'. :)

All done and cooling on the counter.

mmmmmmm

Jo's Grandmother's Lemon Ice Box Pie

Butter a 9'' pie plate and set aside.

For the crust:

2 cups vanilla wafer crumbs (nilla wafers....all but 30 cookies from box)

Put cookies in a large ziploc bag and crush the cookies with a rolling pin. Add 1/3 cup melted butter and mix until combined. Press into the pie plate. Bake @ 350 degrees for 5 min. Cool completely.

For the filling:

3 large egg yolks- whisk

1/2 cup lemon juice

1 14oz can sweetened condensed milk

Zest of 3 lemons

1/4 tsp lemon extract

pinch of salt

*Be sure toe mix in the order listed until well blended. The eggs will be 'cooked' by the lemon juice and zest.

For the Meringue:

4 egg whites- beat until frothy

gradually add.....

3 tbsp sugar and 1 tsp baking powder

Beat until stiff and glossy. Spread Meringue pie sealing edges.

Baking the pie:

Once Meringue has been spread onto pie, bake @ 350 degrees for 15 min. (light browned)

Watch carefully since ovens vary. Cool on kitchen table for 30 min then store in fridge.

(I will list other recipes from the classes when I make them and blog) :)