*  Exported from  MasterCook  *

                           ENGLISH CHEESE PIE

Recipe By     :
Serving Size  : 8    Preparation Time :0:00
Categories    : Cheese                           Desserts
               Pies

 Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
--------  ------------  --------------------------------
                       -----CRUST-----
  2       c            Unbleached Flour
    1/2   t            Salt
  2       t            Sugar -- Granulated
  4       T            Butter -- Chilled, *
  3       T            Shortening -- Chilled
  5       T            Water -- Cold
                       -----FILLING-----
    1/2   c            Cottage Cheese
  1       c            Heavy Cream
    1/4   c            Cream Sherry
  3                    Eggs -- Large
  2                    Egg Yolks, Large
    1/3   c            Sugar -- Granulated
  2       T            Rosewater
    1/2   t            Nutmeg -- Grated
    1/4   t            Cinnamon -- Ground
    1/4   c            Currants -- Dried

 *     DO NOT use margarine in this recipe.
 ~------------------------------------------------------
 ~----------------- CRUST:
 Sift together the flour, salt and sugar into a
 medium-sized mixing bowl. Add the butter to the flour
 all at once.  Mix together until well blended.  Then
 add the shortening and continue to blend by cutting it
 into the flour mixture.  The mixture will begin to
 look like crumbs or small pebbles. It will have the
 texture of oatmeal.  Sprinkle the water over the
 dough, distributing it evenly throughout.  The dough
 will be come sticky and cling together.  Gather it
 into a ball and wrap it in plastic wrap.  Chill for at
 least 30 minutes.  Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
  When the pastry has chilled, roll it out on a pastry
 board to a thickness of 1/8-inch.  The easiest way is
 to roll the dough between 2 sheets of waxed paper.
  Roll the dough up onto the rolling pin and transfer
 it to a 9-inch pie tin.  Gently press it into the tin
 without stretching it.  Use the excess pastry to make
 flutes or cut away the excess with a sharp knife or
 scissors.  Prick the bottom of the pastry shell
 thoroughly to prevent trapped air from bubbling the
 dough.  Butter a sheet of aluminum foil and place the
 foil down into the shell.  Weight it down with weights
 or beans to keep the crust from lifting up.  Bake the
 crust for 7 to 10 minutes then remove the weight and
 the foil.  Return the crust to the oven and continue
 baking for another 8 to 10 minutes or until the crust
 is lightly browned.  If you have difficulty rolling
 out the dough, do not reroll it; just patch the tears
 or holes.  Rerolling will make the pastry tough.
 FILLING: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.  Press the
 cottage cheese through a sieve.  In a small saucepan,
 gently heat the cream and the sherry until steamy, do
 not allow it to scorch.  In a mixing bowl, beat
 together the eggs, egg yolks, sugar, rosewater, and
 the spices until frothy -- about 5 minutes.  In a
 large mixing bowl, beat the cottage cheese until it is
 smooth then add the egg mixture and blend well.  Add
 the hot cream and sherry slowly  to the cheese mixture
 and beat until well blended.  Stir in the currants and
 pour the mixture into the prepared crust.  Bake for
 about 30 minutes, then allow to cool.  Chill and
 sprinkle with cinnamon.



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