Emily from E. Claire shares two popular recipes

DEAR SUNVISORS: I am responding to Diane of the Sunspots on May 3rd and hope she sees this. My name is Emily and my mother, Denise, and I owned E. Claire and Pastries. We were very honored that you enjoyed our meat patties enough to write down and ask for the recipe.

We really miss all the wonderful people we met while we had the bakery. I’m sorry for the delay in getting this to you. My husband and I have been busy for the past few months with a baby on the way and other fun changes.

We hope you enjoy making these at home!

Any pie crust will work, but this is our recipe for the top and bottom pie crust. Combine 12 ounces of flour and 0.2 ounces of salt. Work 8 ounces of diced, cold-salted butter into the flour while still making sure that walnut-sized chunks of butter are visible. Add 4 ounces of cold water to the mixture and knead until incorporated. Refrigerate for 15-20 minutes before rolling out.

This is the recipe for meat filling for one pie. Cook 1 pound ground pork and onions (to taste) until meat is almost fully cooked. Drain fat. Add 1/4 teaspoon minced garlic, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon thyme, a pinch of ground sage, black pepper, ground cloves, cinnamon and allspice and cook for a few more minutes. Remove from heat and mix in 1 large potato that has been boiled and mashed. Do not add butter or milk.

Remove from heat and let cool slightly. Fill the pie crust and brush the top crust with beaten egg mixed with milk for a golden color.

Baking time will depend on your oven, but I would start at 375 degrees for 50 minutes to an hour. Make sure the pie dough is cold before baking.

The recipe for our Ham and Cheese Quiches follows:

Use 1 egg and 1/2 cup milk per quiche. Add salt and pepper to taste and desired amount of diced honey ham and Mozzarella cheese.

We use a large muffin tin for this, so I believe one quiche recipe would fill two full-sized muffin tins. Spray muffin tins with non-stick cooking spray and place the ham on the bottom of the tin. Whisk together egg, milk, salt and pepper. Pour the mixture over the ham and sprinkle with cheese.

I’ve never made them at home, but I’d try baking them at 375 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes. They are done when they are golden brown on top and the egg is cooked. Enjoying! — Emily, no city

ANSWERS: You are so sweet of giving us these recipes. I hope Diane sees them too, and I look forward to trying both.

I send you my best wishes for your new life with Baby. It’s a very exciting time, but make sure you take good care of yourself along the way.

Sun Spots is a great place to share these family recipes and I’m so glad you wanted to. I’ve noticed that our readers are always interested in food!

This column is for you, our readers. It is for your questions and comments. There are only two rules: you must write to the column and sign your name. We will not use it if you ask us not to. Please include your phone number. Letters are not answered or answered by post, and phone calls are not taken. Your letters will appear as fast as space allows. Address them to Sun Spots, PO Box 4400, Lewiston, ME 04243-4400. Questions can also be emailed to: [email protected]†