Mini berry hand pies are popped right on a stick for a fun baby shower treat and the secrets of kettle corn that rivals what you find at the fair.
Pin It
“What are little girls made of?
Sugar and spice
And everything nice,
That’s what little girls are made of.”
Sugar and plenty of spice, in my case. My husband says it’s my own spice that causes our girls to be so spicy, but regardless, every time I hear that song I wonder if the person writing it did not have much behind-closed-doors experience with little girls or big girls, for that matter.
Let’s take the younger of my two daughters as an example. She loves to wear dresses and skirts, have her hair braided, play pirates, has a love of sharks, and she is plenty fascinated with snails and puppy dog tails. She’s smart and sassy, but it’s all the sweet mixed with the spice that makes me smile every time she does something, and I’m fairly certain she can do no wrong in her dad’s eyes.
My dear friend and the editor of Simple Bites, Aimée, is due to have a sweet baby girl any time now. She’ll join two older brothers, and I know for a fact she’ll be very well looked after by the handsome young men. Knowing her mom, I’m sure this little bundle will have just the right ratio of sweet to spice. After all, sweet without spice wouldn’t be quite as nice.
Congratulations to the entire Bourque family! I can’t wait to meet your precious little bundle, and so, we’re throwing a party. Head over to see what everyone else is bringing to Aimée’s baby shower today:
- Strawberry & Vanilla Cupcakes with Strawberry Jam Frosting | Bluebonnets & Brownies
- Strawberry Pretzel Dessert | My Baking Addiction
- California Veggie Wraps | My Kitchen Addiction
- Waffle Cone Fruit Cups | Dine & Dish
- Perfectly Pink Pomegranate Smoothies | Food Your Way
- Grapefruit Avocado Couscous | Stetted
- Quiche Lorraine | goodLife{eats}
There’s just the right amount of dessert in these sweet bites. Rather than a traditional pie filling, I opted to mix in a bit of honey-sweetened jam from the summer–that just happened to have a little white wine kick–together with frozen fruit. It holds form a bit better, which makes it perfect for stuffing into smaller pies that need to hold together within the still flaky crust.
2 cups frozen or fresh raspberries
1/2 cup berry preserves (like Raspberry Peach White Wine Jam)
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 teaspoon cream
2 tablespoons turbinado sugar
Preheat oven to 350º F. Line a large baking sheet with a silicone baking mat or with parchment paper. In a small saucepan, heat raspberries and preserves over medium heat until bubbling. Continue cooking another 5 minutes or until thick. Remove from heat.
Roll pie dough 1/4″ thick. Cut out an equal number of circles using a 3.5″ round cookie cutter. Place one circle down on the baking sheet. In the very center spoon a mound of pie filling, 1-2 tablespoons. Place a paper stick on top of the filling and then carefully cover with a second circle. Press edges all the way around the circle to seal. (Edges can be pressed with a fork, fingers or crimped slightly.) Repeat with all remaining pie dough circles.
Beat together egg and cream and brush over the tops of the circles. Vent by making four small slits in the pie crust. Sprinkle with turbinado sugar.
Bake for 20-25 minutes or until pie crust is golden and baked through. Remove from oven and allow to cool before moving from the baking sheet.
Makes 8-10 mini berry pies.
Kettle corn is a party favorite here with its sweet and salty flavor (just like little girls!), and it’s easy to make a batch in just a few minutes. Try using a darker sugar, like maple sugar or a raw organic sugar, which will caramelize a bit more on the popped puffs and give you that kettle corn feel.
1/2 cup popcorn kernels
1/4 cup sugar (maple, raw, organic sugar caramelize best)
a few pinches flaky sea salt
Place the oil, popcorn and sugar in a popcorn pot or a large, heavy bottomed pan with a fitted lid over a burner set just above medium heat. For a popcorn popper, stir the entire time until all kernels are popped. If using a regular pan, stir without the lid until the first kernel pops. Then place the lid on and shake the pan until the popping slows. You can also lift one side of the lid slightly and stir with a wooden spoon or spatula at an angle.
Pour popcorn into a large bowl. Sprinkle with sea salt and stir to break up any chunks. Allow to cool slightly before eating.
Makes 10 cups kettle corn.
More from Food for My Family
those mini pies look delicious………..but I’ll take that little cutie!!
you grow the cutest kids Shaina!!
I’m so excited to see Aimee’s little bundle of sugar and spice!
TidyMom´s last post ..Bailey’s Chocolate & Caramel Irish Cream Cupcakes
[...] California Veggie Wraps from My Kitchen Addiction Waffle Cone Fruit Cups by Dine & Dish Mini Berry Pies on a Stick and Kettle Corn at Food for My Family Perfectly Pink Pomegranate Smoothies from Food Your Way Grapefruit Avocado Couscous by Stetted [...]
Oh Shaina, those pics of Lene are precious! I’m pretty sure they capture her “spice” perfectly. I love both these ideas, and now I have to get home to Jersey and make maple kettle corn – maple sugar is one of my favorite things ever! I’m so glad we could make Aimee’s shower a success
DARLING- um, the girl and the treat… but mostly that darling little girl
Lori @ RecipeGirl´s last post ..Green Velvet Cheesecake Cake
Thank you, Lori! I like her an awful lot.
Shaina it wouldn’t be a party without you! Thanks for bringing more sweets – I’ve been craving them terribly, especially popcorn.
This is the sweetest post and I will definitely be hitting you up for advice on raising girls!
Thanks for coming to my virtual baby shower! You’re special to me, friend.
XOX
~ Aimee
Aimee´s last post ..Spices of Life: A Round-Up of Homemade Spice Blends
Love you dearly, friend. (And I had noticed you’d been talking about popcorn quite a bit.)
Oh my gosh… Those pics of your daughter are too cute!
[...] Mini Berry Pies and Maple Kettle Corn from Food for My Family [...]
ADORABLE pics of your girl and those mini pies! Congrats to Aimee!
Aggie´s last post ..Slow Cooker Chicken Criolla
Such sweet photos (in all senses of the word)!!
Kathy – Panini Happy´s last post ..Chicken, Brie, Fig & Arugula Panini
This is the same gal who said, “Don’t call me sugarbuns! I’m not made of sugar!”
Those look fantastic
Love those pictures! She’s a cutie for sure but I can see that spicy side coming out as well!
Sylvie @ Gourmande in the Kitchen´s last post ..Moleskine Passions Journal Review and Giveaway | Open Worldwide (Total Worth $120)
Cast me firmly into the salty camp – I’ll just take one of those huge metal drum canisters of your kettle corn, please!
This is such an awesome post! These photos brought a smile to my face
Brian @ A Thought For Food´s last post ..“It Gets Better” and a Purple Carrot Soup
Those mini pie photos are just too cute with the pretty model
And the kettle corn recipe sounds so simple. I’ve wanted to try making kettle corn for more than a year now, and have always been afraid. But maybe I’ll try this recipe, especially because of the coconut oil. I have only recently discovered it, and I absolutely love it 
cookingrookie´s last post ..Broccoli Cheese Soup
great photos, such a sweetie you have there! The pies look wonderful
Diane {Created by Diane}´s last post ..Banana Icing on Banana Walnut Muffins
These pies on a stick are absolutely adorable (as are the pictures of your own sweet girl). Congratulations to Aimee. I can’t wait to hear the news about the arrival of her little one.
Cookin’ Canuck´s last post ..Pita Sandwich Recipe with Chicken, Hearts of Palm & Chimichurri Dressing
Oh my goodness, that last little girl pic is killer!! And the mini pies and kettle corn…want!
Brenda @ a farmgirl’s dabbles´s last post ..Banana Split Bundt Cake
Ha. My little Leni has a mind of her own. There was no direction, just a girl and her pie.
I made the kettle corn – wow, so simple and quick! And so yummy! All the other recipes seem so complicated with stages of adding ingredients one at a time into boiling oil. Your recipe was the first one that showed me the light at the end of the tunnel
and it worked! Thanks so much, Shaina! I feel so empowered now that I can make my own fresh kettle corn at home whenever I like 
cookingrookie´s last post ..Broccoli Cheese Soup
These are way too cool! Wish my girl was still that little, but she’ll love these just the same! Sent this to my mom and aunt to make for their little granddaughters.
Cindy @ Once Upon a Loaf´s last post ..Triple-Threat Berry Bread
I love the mini berry pies, so cute! and of course the kettle corn, my weakness
The cutest little pie pops & your little gal is precious!!!
The photos were eye candy enough and the recipes a great treat, but the pics of your adorable little pie eater really made my day! Thanks for sharing
stacy´s last post ..bowl full of happiness
What a little cutie! I have all boys but lots of nieces that are full of sugar and spice! Love the little pies and the popcorn looks scrumptious!
Miss´s last post ..Mocha Milkshake
Ahhh, your little lady is even cuter than the pies–and that’s saying a lot!
Sommer@ASpicyPerspective´s last post ..Creamy Pesto Paninis and Giveaway!
First off adorable photos of your daughter! The pies are pretty dang cute too. The kettle corn looks wonderful!
naomi´s last post ..Snickers Cake
Pies on stick?! Wowser, those are darn cute
And your daughter is simply adorable!
Kiran @ KiranTarun.com´s last post ..Fenugreek-moong lentil soup
My daughters have quite the blend of sugar and spice as well! Congratulations to Aimee!
Jen at The Three Little Piglets´s last post ..Biscoff Cupcakes with Biscoff Buttercream
Berry Pies are my favorite! These sound lovely.
Charlotte Gall´s last post ..goldsenze
These are way too cute for words!
Amanda´s last post ..Braided Blackberry Breakfast Danish
LOL…I don’t which I love more the pies on a stick or the that sweet cutie
xoxo
Tickled Red´s last post ..Strawberries Liqueur Over Cream Custard { She’s Becoming Doughmesstic}
Your daughter is absolutely adorable! These pies would certainly be the perfect addition to any party. Love them!
Jamie | My Baking Addiction´s last post ..Strawberry Pretzel Salad
You have a lovely daughter. I loved each of the photographs. Thanks for sharing these wonderful recipes.
-Persie
Persie Donald´s last post ..meditation music
I do a Test Kitchen with my 6 year old daughter and 3 of her friends and this will definitely be on our list for the Fall!
Better Homes & Gardens uses the same technique to make what their 1970′s edition of the cookbook calls “Sugared Popcorn.” I’ve been making it for years, but now I have to try it with coconut oil!
[...] Popcorn: Some kids pack potato chips, I sent stove-popped popcorn and kettle corn. [...]
[...] colorful icing, sugar, cinnamon, or sprinkles. Source: Cake Walk Desserts Source: Food For My Family Source: Our Best Bites Source: Cake Walk Desserts Source: Rustic Wedding [...]