Saturday, January 12, 2019

A Return to Everyday Life

Christmas has passed once again, and with the arrival of Epiphany, all the decorations and tree are down. Now I am back to the rural northerner's life of winter...quiet nights, observing nature, planning for the Spring to come, working on small projects, and enjoying the preparation and flavors of plain food. No more endless varieties of cookies, cakes, snacks, dips, and appetizers. Now it's time for some old-fashioned farm meals. Yesterday I made one of Mom's recipes, a hamburger pie.


It's basically everything you like in a pie crust. I'm sure you've all made one, and it is a meal in itself. Hamburger, peas, carrots, allspice, sage and some marjoram and oregano. I modified it a little bit by adding mushrooms and dried cranberries. I find something like dried cranberries or raisins enhance the hamburger or whatever meat you use in a pie. 


I made the crust from scratch that I usually do, it makes two double crusts. If you're lacking in time, get a Pillsbury two-crust pack from your local dairy section. I've learned never to let your lack of ingredients or time stop you from making something nice. So if you don't do crust, buy one of these. I find them to be pretty good quality. I'm retired now, so I figure I have the time to make my own from scratch. 


Try one of these or something else you really like now that the pressure is off and we can enjoy some plain food.


Enjoy your winter wherever you live, even in the sunny south.


Peace be with you. Phil





18 comments:

  1. Life here is also back to normal with almost all traces of Christmas gone. The neighbours behind us still have their tree up and lit 24 hours a day. It's been that way for almost a month now and I'm going to miss it when they take it down.
    Your pie looks delicious!

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    1. I also miss the tree and the decorations, but it's good to get back to the hum-drum.

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  2. You almost wrote the same blog post I've been thinking of! Not the same meat pie, but now seems like the perfect time to get back to plain, old-fashioned cooking . . . the kind that tastes so good this time of year!

    I had to put off taking down all our holiday decorations but finally got to it yesterday. All done but the few outside things. Now I'll put up the cozy "winter" decorations and settle in for a couple of months.

    P.S. "Hum-drum" can be very satisfying!

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    1. I like the winter decorations! Thanks for stopping by.

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  3. And with you!

    Plain cooking is always the best and that hamburger pie looks really good. I make a lot of meat pies but never thought about hamburger. Good idea.

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    1. Thanks. Maybe next will be some good soup, I'm thinking potato and carrot soup with plain dumplings. I just use basic dough like for baking powder biscuits.

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  4. That hamburger pie looks delicious! I enjoy making crust from scratch also. Do you use shortening or butter to make yours?

    Have a wonderful 2019 ~ FlowerLady

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    1. I usually use plain Crisco, but I'm sure butter is better for us.

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  5. Would you believe that I've never made a meat pie! Yours looks really good! I am not good at making pie crusts though. Oh, I do make chicken and turkey pot pies in a 9 x 13 dish. Would that count?? :)

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  6. Comfort food! I am not a good pie crust maker...perhaps I should try again! This week I am making Chicken and Homemade Noodles...some to eat and some for the freezer. Your meat pie looks wonderful.

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  7. Winter calls for comfort food. I love home made soup with fresh bread or muffins. Living in the camper these several months has cramped my cooking/baking style--I miss home made bread.
    We like shepherd's pie: ground beef browned with onions and layered with a canned veg such as green beans, can of mushroom soup poured over and topped with mashed potato.

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    1. I'd like to try that, it sounds good for Sunday when you want something nice, but not a big production!

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  8. I am a great fan of a pie in all it forms. The perfect winter warmer.

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    1. I remember some good meat pies when visiting London many years ago.

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  9. You are so right....winter is a time to just slow down and enjoy! The best way is with fresh homemade food! Your pie sounds delicious! Such a pretty wintery photo!

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