Fried Pies

Food is something each of us holds near and dear to our hearts. We need food to survive but at times we need it to soothe our hearts and un-ruffle a bad day. There are loads of foods out there, some are really basic and some involve just the right amount of love to come out right, but a comfort food should be something that is as fun to make as it is to eat.....
When I was just a little girl my Mother and Grand Mother set me up for a life time of baking and cooking, I wouldn't know what I would be like if I didn't love to bake and cook as I do.I remember coming home from school some days and there would be all the tables they could get, filled with doughnuts rising, they would then fry them and glaze them and wow what a feast we would all have. Life is different now and most don't make doughnuts that way anymore. The memories I have of my childhood often relate back to food and family.
I think food is probably the one thing in life, other than music, that really spreads a feeling of warmth and love....
So for all of you I present a very low key but good, comfort food, one that's forgotten by most: Fried pies.....
Image from Martha Stewart.com

Fried Pies
Pastry:
2 Cups Flour
1 t baking soda
1/2 t salt
1/2 c shortening2-3 T ice water
Filling:
3 c dried apples or peaches
1 1/4 cuts boiling water
1/2 c sugar
1/4 t cinnamon1/4 t allspice
Powdered sugar
For pastry,mix flour, baking baking soda and salt together. Cut shortening into mixture. Add the water a little at a time.
Roll pastry dough into a ball and chill for an hour.
Roll to 1/4 inch thickness. Cut into 56 inch circles.
For filling, cook fruit in boiling water until tender. Mash cooked fruit with sugar, cinnamon and allspice.
Spread each pastry circle with 2-3 Tablespoons fruit mixture. Moisten edges of crust and fold over. Press edges with a fork to seal.
Fry Pies in hot oil, drain and dust with powdered sugar.

Mama's Fried Pies
8 ounces dried peaches
1 cup sugar
2 tablespoons margarine
1 homemade pie crust, recipe follows, or substitute with ready-made biscuit dough
Oil, for frying Cook fruit in water until tender. Drain and mix with sugar and margarine. Mash well. Refrigerate overnight if possible. Roll out homemade pie crust dough and cut into saucer-sized circles.

Spoon fruit onto circles and fold over into crescent shapes, then close the edges completely with a fork. Fry until golden brown. Place fried pies on paper towels to absorb excess oil.

Variations: For baked pies, place crescents on a lightly-greased baking sheet in a 400 degree oven until golden brown.

For apple pies, use dried apples and add apple pie spice (or nutmeg and cinnamon) and vanilla to taste.

For prune pies, use dry, pitted prunes and add vanilla to taste.

Homemade Pie Crust:
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
Salt
1/2 cup vegetable shortening
1/2 cup ice-cold water
Place the flour and a dash of salt in a mixing bowl. Add the shortening and cut it in with a pastry blender or use your hands, as I do. Add the water, a teaspoon at a time, kneading until the dough is smooth.

Yield: 1 pie crust

Y'all have a real good day and Remember:

Eat cake!