More pie pageantry

For entry to the Pie Pageant, pie charts were (naturally) required. Much informative data was thus encapsulated. Here are two of the 15 or so we prepared:

And here are the recipes we used. I don't cook with meat a whole lot, but when I have ground beef to use up, this is one that everyone likes:

Cheeseburger Pie

1 pie crust (uncooked) (see below for a crust recipe)
1 lb. ground beef

1/2 c. chopped onion

1/4 c. chopped gr. pepper (opt.)
1 t. salt
½ t. oregano
1/4 t. pepper
½ c. dry bread crumbs
1 (8 oz) can tomato sauce

Cheese topping:

1 egg

1/4 c. milk

Beat together, then stir in:

½ t. each salt, dry mustard, Worcestershire sauce

2 c. shredded cheddar cheese

Prepare pie crust. Brown the ground beef and onions (and green pepper, if using.) Stir in the bread crumbs, seasonings, and tomato sauce. Spread into unbaked pie crust. Top with cheese topping. Bake at 425 for 30 minutes. Serve with additional tomato sauce on top, if desired.

My favorite Pie Crust

1 c. flour, sifted
1/3 c. plus 1 T. shortening
½ t. salt
2-4 T. cold water
Cut shortening into dry ingredients, then add water until dough forms a ball. Roll crust out between pieces of waxed paper. Put in pie plate and flute edges.

And for dessert: (not a very good picture, but it is a really yummy pie--and easy)

Cream Puff Pie

½ c. butter or margarine
1 c. water
Combine in saucepan; bring to a boil, then remove from heat.

Add 1 c. flour, stir till it forms a ball
Add 4 eggs, one at a time (keep stirring, it will stop being slimy eventually)

Spread into bottom and up sides of large pie pan. Bake at 400 for 30 minutes. Cool completely. (It will puff up like a cream puff. Just spread the toppings on top.)

Fill with anything yummy. My favorite combination is:

• 1 pkg. cream cheese, softened and mixed with 1 c. whipping cream (reserve a little cream for the top first) and powdered sugar to taste
  
• chocolate pudding (I like the cook-and-serve kind for this)
  
• vanilla pudding

Layer cream cheese mixture, chocolate pudding, then vanilla pudding in crust. Top with reserved whipped cream (1 dollop) and dust baking cocoa on top.