Sometimes things are messy

And sometimes things fall apart, but like Marilyn Monroe says, sometimes they fall apart so better things can fall together.

It seems that sometimes the easiest things can be the most difficult and messy. Do we make them that way? Or do we just overlook their complexity for their simple exterior? So many relationships look simple and easy from the outside, but inside they are a mix of hard work, compromise and heart.

I was thinking about that tonight at 9pm when I woke from my slowing downward spiral and decided to take on the large baking project of Pasties (pronounced pah-st-eez, not "paste-ees as those are for strippers).

They are so simple in ingredients. They appear delicate, but complex. They taste amazing hot or cold. Eat with or without a fork. Pasties are truly simple, but they start out messy and take a lot of time, but only because I get exited and fill them too full; and like relationships, you can put whatever you want into them, but some things will make the crust soggy. Be careful not to burn the edges and don't skimp on the fat. These keep well, but they are one of the many things that don't last forever. Eat up.

Recipe:

Prepare the dough by cutting 2 cups of cold butter into 6 cups of flour mixed with 1t baking powder and 1t salt.

Add 1 cup ice water slowly until a ball forms. Add more water or flour until dough consistency no easily handled. Divide into 2 disks, wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate 1 hour.

Meanwhile thinly slice a combo of root vegetables: carrots, sweet potato, regular potato (necessary to protect the crust) onion, rutabaga, turnips, squash, parsnips etc.

Remove dough and roll into 8" rounds, place a layer of veggies (starting and ending with potato) and adding salt and pepper as Desired. Wrap dough in half and pinch edges. Cut 3 slices in top. Repeat with all dough. Place on baking sheet with edges.

Bake 400 for 15 minutes.

Lower temp to 350, continue to bake 15 minutes.

Remove from over. Microwave 1 stick of butter with 1 cup water. Slowly add a few tablespoons of mixture through slots in pasties.

Return to 350 oven and bake 20-30 minutes until fork inserts easily into veggies.