Blueberries and summertime just go hand in hand...

...so why not bake up some 

old fashioned

Blueberry Hand Pies? :-)

You start by making a tender, flakey pie crust 

and then cooking up some yummy fresh blueberry filling.

You can't buy this stuff in a can, folks. ;-)

Don't forget to add plenty of cinnamon and sugar on top!

Blueberry Hand Pies
makes 10-12 pies

To make the crust -

2 cups flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

2/3 cup shortening

6 tablespoons cold water

Combine flour and salt.

Cut in shortening until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

Add water and combine until dough comes together.

Wrap in saran wrap and place in the fridge while you... 

 Make the filling - 

½ cup sugar

3 tablespoons corn starch

½ teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon lemon zest

1 tablespoon lemon juice

¼ cup water

2 cups blueberries

In a saucepan combine sugar, corn starch, salt, cinnamon,

lemon zest, lemon juice and water.

Stir until smooth.

Add blueberries and bring to a boil.

Boil for two minutes, stirring constantly.

Remove from heat and let cool.

Meanwhile...

 Prepare the pies -

1 egg

2 tablespoons water

Beat egg and water together; set aside.

Roll out dough and cut into 5 inch circles.

(I used a cereal bowl.)

Fill each circle with 2 tablespoons of filling.

Using your finger, dab egg wash over one edge of the circle.

Fold dough over and seal edges with a fork.
Place pies on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.

Put pies in the freezer to chill; about 10 minutes.

While they are chilling...

 Preheat oven -

to 375°.

Remove pies from freezer, brush with egg wash

and sprinkle generously with cinnamon and sugar. 

Bake at  375° for 20-25 minutes. 

Let cool five minutes,

 serve warm and enjoy!

Linked to Homestead Barnhop #116, 

Wise Woman Link Up June 26th, Share Your Cup Thursday #62, 

From the Farm Blog Hop #32, Farmgirl Friday Blog Hop #114

Nine Weeks - and some sad news :-(

The kittens are nine weeks old today!

Little Leche still thinks she should be nursing,

but I can tell Reeses is trying to discourage it.

Doesn't Leche just have the sweetest little face? :-)

Chiclet is always so serious, just watching and hunting.

He is starting to keep to himself more.

Which is kind of good.  He will be going to live out in the country 

with some friends of ours when he is twelve weeks old.

Chupa, above, and Leche will be staying with us.

We certainly couldn't give away Leche.

She is her Momma's girl for sure. :-)

Chupa says, "Please, no more pictures." ;-)

Our very sad news is that we lost Dulce earlier this week. 

She was my favorite and my son's favorite.

She was always very curious 

and wandered off on her own a lot.

Bless his heart, Mr. H. found her in the chicken yard.

We're not sure what happened, 

but I suspect Loretta got her.

Those kind of things happen we know,

but it sure doesn't make it any easier. :-(

And, I could tell that Momma knew that she'd lost one of her babies.

And that just broke my heart. 

Happy 1st Day of Summer!

I was so surprised this morning when I went outside 

and saw that the first sunflower had bloomed!

I was so excited!

It was still closed up yesterday 

with just a hint of yellow peeking out.

How neat that it opened on the first day of summer.

It must have known. ;-)

The little zinnias are still looking pretty.

I love all of the orange ones that are blossoming.

Happy first day of summer to all! :-)