Teeny Weeny Peach "Pies"

Peach Pie

A few days ago I was searching the pantry and fridge for something sweet to eat. All I found was an old butterscotch in the bottom of my dirty purse. Then, a few hours later my friend Giada was preparing a meal for her sister in the Food Network. (You've got to love that girl, because she tries to be really sexy when she tastes her food, and her Italian accent comes out only when using Italian ingredients. She also always has a really nice manicure. Classic.) For dessert she made a deconstructed apple pie and whipped cream. I too, didn't feel like putting together a big ole pie, but I did have a few peaches to use up and a container of heavy cream. Thus, my peach pie version of Giada's apple pie was born.

This is an easy dessert and a great way to use up peaches, apples, etc. Unlike the giant family sandwich, this dessert will give each and every person their own special "pie."

Pie Crust and Sweetened Whipped Cream are a breeze to make. Both components of this recipe came from The Williams Sonoma Cookbook, which I strongly recommend.

Makes 3 individual "pies"

Ingredients

Pie Crust:

1 1/4 cups unbleached all purpose flour

I stick of unsalted butter, cut into cubes

3 tablespoons ice water

1 tablespoon sugar

1/4 teaspoon salt

Whipped Cream:

3/4 cup heavy cream

2 tablespoons sugar

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Filling:

3 ripe peaches

Sugar

Ground Cinnamon

Set oven to 350. Stir together in stand mixer flour, sugar and salt. Place butter in the mixer and toss butter around with a fork, until the butter is coated. Mix on medium speed until the mixture has the texture of cornmeal. Add the water, 1 tablespoon at a time. (What I like to do is fill one cup with ice and water and get my tablespoons from there.) If your water is not cold enough, you won't be able to work with your dough. Keep mixing until dough forms a cohesive ball. Transfer to workspace covered in flour. Roll out dough to the size of a piece of computer paper. Using a round cookie-cutter or if you don't have a cookie-cutter use the rim of a glass to cut 6 circles. You will a have a small amount of dough left. you can eat it, if you want...or you can roll it into a snake and cut in slices. Use the slices to decorate 3 of your little discs with flowers. Place on cookie sheet and place in oven for 8-10 minutes or until crust is golden.

Meanwhile, clean your mixer and place all pour heavy cream, sugar, and vanilla extract in the bowl. Mix using whisk attachment on high, until the cream looks billowy.

Once the discs are a nice golden brown, take them out of the oven and let them cool.

Raise the temp of the oven to 400 degree. Peel, pit and cut into wedges your peaches. Sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar and toss to coat. Bake in oven on the top rack for 8-10 minutes.

Layer discs, then cream, then peaches, then more cream and another discs. Serve hot.