Sweet Pie Dough

For One 9-inch crust

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups flour

3 TBSP sugar

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1 1/2 sticks cold or frozen butter, cut into cubes

4 - 6 TBSP ice cold water

Instructions:

In a food processor, combine the flour, sugar, salt, and vanilla. Pulse a few times to mix. Then add in butter cubes and pulse until crumbly. 

Add one TBSP of water until dough just comes together, do not over mix. Pat into a disk with plastic wrap so to not work too much with your warm hands.

Chill for at least 15 minutes before rolling out.

Place pie dish on preheated baking sheet for best results. To bake just pie shell, bake at 425 degrees for 15 minutes with weights. Remove weights and continue to bake for another 5 minutes.

Weeknight Cheddar Biscuits

These tasty biscuits can be made in under 20 minutes and are supposed to be similar to Red Lobster's Cheddar Bay Biscuits.

1 c. flour
1/2 T baking powder
1/2 T sugar
1/2 T garlic powder
1/4 tsp kosher salt + 1/8 tsp kosher salt
6 T butter
1/2 c. milk
4 oz shredded cheddar cheese
1/4 tsp dried parsley

Preheat oven to 450 degrees.  Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.  Melt 4 T of the butter in a microwave safe bowl.  Set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, baking pwder, sugar, garlic, and 1/4 tsp of salt.  Whisk until well combined.  Add butter and milk and whisk until flour is wet.  Add cheese and fold in with a spoon.

Drop heaping spoonfuls onto baking sheet.  Bake 10-12 minutes, until golden brown.

Meanwhile, melt remaining 2 T butter and add parsley and remaining 1/8 tsp salt.  Stir with pastry brush.

Remove biscuits from oven, brush with melted butter.  Eat.  Approximately 9 biscuits.

Shrimp and Avocado Salad

1lb. Jumbo or large shrimp, cooked, peeled, deveined

1 med tomato, diced

1 avocado, diced

1 jalapeño, seeds removed and diced fine

1/4 cup chopped red onion

Juice of 2 limes

1 tsp olive oil

1 T. Chopped cilantro

Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

In a small bowl combine onion, lime juice, olive oil and pinch of salt and pepper.  Marinate at least 5 min to mellow onion flavor.   In a large bowl combine shrimp, tomato, avocado and jalapeño.  Add remaining ingredients from small bowl. Toss gently with cilantro.  Salt and pepper to taste.