Patsy Stone, Pie Dough and Pie Holes

Strawberry Balsamic Vinegar Pie before and after the money shot - and turn of the century role model...Patsy.

What's that saying about good intentions? Paving something or something? Sounds like manual labor and that doesn't fly with me today. 

Anyway I have had the best of intentions to try a recipe suggested to me by my dear friend and wine confident, Winehouse. You may recall her from such great food adventures as our review of The Sample Room here in Minneapolis. At that our first meeting, Winehouse, badgered requested that I try to make a pie dough with vodka. Somewhere in her vast Midwest travels she came across a pied piper of a baker who suggested it to her. I agreed and let more than a year go by before following up with her on the results. And by following up with her I mean we were "sampling liqueurs" about a year later when she asked me if I had tried the damn pie dough again. Again I made a mental note to get back to her in a year. 

In the mean time I have been chilling the damn bottle of vodka for months now. That coupled with a gallon sized bag of frozen strawberries PLUS the fact that the sun has finally decided to make an appearance got me to turn off Netflix for the afternoon to bake a pie. 

Vodka is used for many things. Cocktails, date enhancers, courage, mid afternoon conference call at work palette cleansers and binge watching old episodes of Absolutely Fabulous.   

Vodka Pie Dough (adapted from Cooks Illustrated)

1 1/4 Cups All Purpose Flour

1/2 t Salt

1 T Suga 

6 T Unsalted Butter, Cold and Cubed

1/4 C Shortening, Chilled and Halved

2 T Vodka, Cold

2 T Water, Cold

1. In food processor pulse together 3/4 Cups All Purpose Flour, Salt and Sugar. Add Butter and Shortening. Continue to pulse until you mixture resembles cottage cheese. 

2. Add remaining flour and pulse until there is no flour left unincorporated. 

3. Remove from food processor and put in medium mixing bowl. 

4. Sprinkle Vodka and Water on dough and using a rubber spatula fold into the dough mixture. 

5. Remove from bowl and shape into disc, wrap in plastic wrap and chill 45 minutes to 2 days.    

Okay the dough is chilled - I decided to make a Strawberry Balsamic Vinegar Pie. There was really no recipe for it. I just threw together what I had in the kitchen. Call me for details.  

Tonight I plan on roasting a chicken. Trying some roasted cauliflower for the first time. And then shoving my pie hole full of pie.  

Next weekend is a holiday beeeeeyotchs. What are your plans?!? I plan on grilling and drinking until I'm cute.