CHRISTMAS HAND PIES RECIPES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and butter until smooth. Combine flour and salt; gradually add to butter mixture until well blended. Divide dough in half. Shape each into a ball, then flatten into a disk. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate for 1 hour., Combine the sugar, cinnamon and allspice; set aside. Divide each portion of dough into 12 balls. On a lightly floured surface, roll each ball into a 4-in. circle. Place a tablespoonful of chopped apples on one side. Sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon sugar mixture; dot with 1/4 teaspoon butter., In a small bowl, whisk egg yolk and water. Brush edges of pastry with egg wash; fold pastry over filling and seal edges well with a fork. Place 2 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Brush remaining egg wash over tops. Cut slits in pastry. Sprinkle with coarse sugar and cinnamon-sugar., Bake at 425° for 11-14 minutes or until golden brown. Remove to wire racks to cool.

Steps:

• For the fruit, melt the butter and sugar together; add chopped apples and simmer covered, over medium heat for about 15 to 20 minutes.
• Remove from heat, sprinkle brown sugar, nutmeg and cinnamon over the apples, stir, taste and adjust sweetness. Set aside to cool.
• For the dough, cut the shortening into 2 cups of the flour. Stir in the sugar, egg yolk and ice water until dough is sticky.
• Turn out onto a floured surface and sprinkle more flour on top, working it in until dough is smooth.
• Roll out to about 1/8 to 1/4 inch thick and cut into 4-to-6-inch circles. You may also pinch off golf ball-sized pieces and flatten individually by hand.
• Place about a half tablespoon of the cooled filling in the center of each round. Barely wet the edges of the round with water, fold over, lightly press down on the edges and the filling; seal the edges with the tines of a fork.
• Place all of the pies in a single layer onto a plate that has been lightly sprinkled with flour and refrigerate about 10 minutes.
• Fry in a skillet, with about 1/2 inch of hot oil, until browned on both sides. Remove from the skillet, drain on a rack over paper towels, sprinkling with granulated sugar or dust with powdered sugar while still warm, if desired.
• Best served warm, but delicious cold too!