This cookbook features some recipes that have been judged 1st place prize winners in state and national contests as well as a collection of the author's most treasured desserts. The author has compiled photos, easy to understand directions and tips that will allow all bakers to duplicate his impressive award winning desserts. It's easy as pie!

Blue Ribbon Desserts

An impressive collection of award winning pies, cakes, cheesecakes and cookiesBy Stan C. Strom

AuthorHouse

Copyright © 2010 Stan C. Strom
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4520-0013-8

Contents

Introduction............................................................Page 1Dedication..............................................................Page 3Table of Contents.......................................................Page 4Pies....................................................................Page 6Stan Strom's Award Winning Pie Crust....................................8Pie Crust Photos........................................................10White Chocolate Raspberry Custard Pie...................................12Hawaiian Vanilla Custard Pie............................................14Fudge Truffle Chocolate Cream Pie.......................................16Key Lime Coconut Custard Pie............................................18Dulce de Leche Caramel Custard Pie......................................20Banana Cream Dream Pie..................................................22Dark Chocolate Custard Raspberry Pie....................................24Luscious Lemon Layer Pie................................................26Strawberry White Chocolate Cream Pie....................................28Pirate's Tropical Treasure Pie..........................................30Blackberry Glacier Cream Cheese Pie.....................................32Grandma Paulson's Pear Pie..............................................34Dark Chocolate Raspberry Cream Pie......................................36Fudge Truffle Cafe-Au-Lait Pie..........................................38Fudge Truffle Peanut Butter Pie.........................................40Forever Berry Holiday Pie...............................................42Roasted Sugar Pumpkin Pie...............................................44Cherry Almond Crunch Pie................................................46Harvest Apple Pie.......................................................48Texas Pecan Pie.........................................................50White Chocolate Cherry Almond Crunch....................................52Clay Springs Caramel Apple Pie..........................................54Caramel Pecan Cheesecake Pie............................................56Coconut Custard Macadamia Nut Pie.......................................58Fresh Strawberry Custard Pie............................................60Summer Blueberry Pie....................................................62Spiced Granola Raisin Cream Pie.........................................64Coconut Cream Dream Pie.................................................66Super Sweet Potato Pie..................................................68Cherry Lattice Pie......................................................70Cakes...................................................................Page 72Tropical Rum Carrot Cake................................................74Carousel Sweepstakes Cake...............................................76Black Walnut Butter Cake................................................78Pistachio Chocolate Bundt Cake..........................................80Pirate's Tropical Treasure Cake.........................................82Stan's Strawberry Rum Cake..............................................84Mary Jo's Spice Cake....................................................86Cheesecakes.............................................................Page 89Fudge Truffle Cheesecake................................................91Vanilla Bean Cherry Cheesecake..........................................93Pumpkin Pecan Cheesecake................................................95Raspberry Almond Cheesecake.............................................97White Chocolate Blueberry Cheesecake....................................99Mint Chocolate Chip Cheesecake..........................................101Dulce de Leche Caramel Cheesecake.......................................103New York, New York Cheesecake...........................................105Red, White & Blue Cheesecake............................................107Cafe Mocha-Au-Lait Cheesecake...........................................109Vermont Harvest Maple Walnut Cheesecake.................................111Cookies.................................................................Page 112Blue Ribbon Sugar Cookies...............................................114Peanut Butter Coconut Pecan Chocolate Chunk Cookies.....................116Oatmeal Raisin Coconut Pecan Cookies....................................118Grandma Joy's Ginger Snap Cookies.......................................120Double Dipped Swedish Tea Balls.........................................122Chocolate Obsession Cookies.............................................124Caramel Pecan Brownies..................................................126Conclusion..............................................................Page 128

Chapter One

Pies

pie [pahy] - a baked food having a filling of fruit, meat, pudding, etc., prepared in a pastry lined pan or dish and often topped with a pastry crust.

Pie Fun Facts:

Approximately 186 million pies are sold in U.S. grocery stores each year, excluding restaurants, food service and price clubs exceeding $700 million. According to a 2008 survey by Crisco and the American Pie Council, here are the top five favorite pie choices by Americans: (1) Apple Pie; (2) Pumpkin Pie; (3) Pecan Pie; (4) Banana Cream Pie; and (5) Cherry Pie. Source: www.piecouncil.org/downloads/Pie fun facts.pdf

Stan Strom's Award Winning Pie Crust

Crust Ingredients:

2 cups all-purpose flour (slightly tossed with fork in bag, gently scooped & leveled, but not sifted) 1 cup cake flour (use Soft-As-Silk or Swans Down) 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt 1/2 cup chilled Crisco butter flavored shortening 1/2 cup lard (chilled) 2 Tbsp. sugar 1 Tbsp. cider vinegar (not clear distilled vinegar) 1 large egg (beaten) 1/3 cup ice water

Directions for a Perfect Pie Crust:

After measuring, sift flour, sugar and salt; Cut in shortening & lard until coarse (pea sized bits with pastry blender) (figures 1 & 2). Mix cider vinegar, beaten egg and ice water in a small bowl (figure 3), then add liquid gradually to dry ingredients until just dampened, mixing with fork (figure 4). Divide in half. If the dough seems sticky, add a few tablespoons of flour at a time until dough is soft and smooth (figure 5). Place each half on wide plastic wrap and gather into ball from the outside corners and press into 1 inch thick patty (figure 6). Chill for at least 30 minutes. Roll out between two layers of wide plastic wrap (or parchment/wax paper) so that it is only 1/8 inch thick (figure 7). The plastic wrap will keep dough from stretching. Pull off plastic on one side and lightly sprinkle with flour and brush surface until smooth (figure 8). Place your hands under dough & plastic wrap (on opposite side) and flip into a 9 inch (deep dish) pie pan. Gently push dough into pan (figure 9). Adjust so that there is at least a 1/2 inch overlap around edge. Remove last layer of plastic wrap, trim dough for a 1/2 inch overlap and fold extra dough under edge (figure 10). Then press down edge with a fork or flute with your favorite style (figures 11 & 12). Chill for 30 minutes or freeze 15 minutes. Prick several times with fork on...