Harry Potter Pumpkin Pasties

A few weeks ago, my kids and I borrowed this book from the library.

We were excited to find it because we are going to Universal Orlando in 110 days to visit Harry Potter!  My daughter Mallory and her Dad have been pouring over the recipes (for some reason she doesn't want to do this with me....growing pains) and found something they had to make.

Pumpkin Pasties.

I love  The Unofficial Harry Potter Cookbook: From Cauldron Cakes to Knickerbocker Glory--More Than 150 Magical Recipes for Muggles and Wizards and will be buy a copy for our home when this one is due back at the library because many of the recipes have a backstory on the recipe that goes along with the book.  Oh how we love those books!

Legend has it that Harry Potter bought one of these delicious pasties on the Hogwarts Express as he was traveling to school.

Pumpkin Pasties
adapted from The Unofficial Harry Potter Cookbook
Makes 6 pasties


Pastry Crust
1 1/4 cups flour
1 tablespoon sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
5 tablespoons cold butter, cut into chunks
3 tablespoons vegetable shortening, chilled and cut into chunks
4-6 tablespoons ice water


Filling
1 cup canned pumpkin, not pie filling
1/4 cup sugar
a large pinch of ground nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon


Place the flour, sugar and salt in the bowl of a food processor.  Pulse to combine.  Distribute the butter and shortening over the flour and pulse about 14 times until the mixture resembles course meal.


Relocate the mixture into a large mixing bowl and sprinkle 4 tablespoons of cold water over the top. Toss the mixture together with a spoon until it starts to hold together.  If it seems too dry, add a little bit more water.


Form the dough into a ball and then into a disk shape.  Wrap it in plastic wrap and chill for at least 1 hour.


In a separate bowl, mix together the pumpkin, sugar, nutmeg and cinnamon in a mixing bowl.  Preheat the over to 400 degrees and roll out the dough until it's 1/8 of an inch thick.  Use a saucer to cut out 6 inch circles.


Place 2-3 tablespoons of filling in the center of each circle of dough.  Moisten the edges with water, fold the dough over the filling, and crimp with a fork to seal.  Cut slits to make vents.  


Bake on an ungreased cookie sheet for 30-35 minutes or until the tops are brown.


Disclaimer: I have not been compensated for blogging about this cookbook.  I did so of my own volition.  I just like to share cool things with my readers.

The Ivy Gimlet

Back in May, I went on vacation to California with 6 blogger friends.  We rented a beach house in Huntington Beach and had a great time!

The highlight of this trip was our visit to The Ivy in LA.

Our favorite cocktail was The Ivy Gimlet.  I've been thinking about that refreshing drink for two months and finally decided to make one at home.  It was also helpful that I bought a package of mint for a recipe (Chilled Avocado Soup) and only needed a tablespoon of mint.  Left over mint means tasty gimlets!

I found a recipe online and tweaked it until I it was just like I remembered it.

I would like to note here that my husband disagrees that this is a gimlet and suggests that it's a mojito.  I'm just going by what the menu says at The Ivy. They call it a gimlet, therefore....I'm calling it a gimlet.

The Ivy Gimlet

3 sprigs of mint
ice
2 oz  vodka
1 oz simple syrup
juice from a 1/4 of a lime

Crush mint springs in a martini shaker with a pestle or the end of a wooden spoon.  Add ice, vodka, simple syrup and lime juice.  Shake for 15 seconds.  Strain into glass filled with ice.  Garnish with mint, lime slices and a straw or not.

Rinse shaker and repeat.

Summer Wines ~June

Is it hot enough for you yet?

I've lived in Colorado my entire life (expect for those 4 unfortunate years in Utah) and I don't remember it being this hot.  I've sworn off straightening my hair and make up for the foreseeable future and taken up drinking.

Who am I kidding.  I've always been drinking! But now I'm seeking out cold wine instead of my favorite reds.

I've been drinking more Rosé and loving it!  I think Cupcake is my new favorite brand, I've tried several, they are all very delicious and their label is adorable!

We got a great deal on Jose Rosé and after several bottles I decided it's Muy Bueno.

Wine By Joe

My husband isn't a wine drinker.  He's normally a Fosters or ESP (is that right?) guy but he recently came home with Samuel Adams Porch Rocker and it was great!  Perfect for a lazy afternoon on the patio.

What are you drinking this summer?