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Stourhead (Wiltshire, England)

Stourhead is one of the most famous gardens in England. This massive estate includes a Palladian house and park-like garden (2300 acres!) that surrounds a huge man-made lake. It is one picture-perfect view after another. The expression "a living work of art" certainly applies here. Now, to my embarrassment, I missed some of the main features, including the house! I don't know how it happened, as I had a nourishing English-style breakfast, I wasn't under the influence of anything, and I even had a map of the premises.  Looking at a map of the grounds of Stourhead now, I can see that the house is situated in an unusual location, removed from the main house and the visitor entrance.  It is past the Stable Yard, which wasn't that interesting and I had turned around and headed back to the entrance and our bus (I had already walked around the lake and gardens). I regret that I missed the house.  Henry Hoare II inherited Stourhead in 1717 when he was twenty. He built the...
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Pie Crust

My go-to pie crust, made in a food processor

(Makes 2 crusts)

3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon sugar
1 1/2 sticks cold butter, diced
1/3 cup shortening, diced
1/2 cup ice water

  • Whisk together flour, salt and sugar and place in food processor
  • Add the butter and shortening. Pulse until pea-sized
  • Pour the ice water down the feed tube, with machine running
  • Pulse until the dough comes together and forms a ball
  • Transfer the dough to a floured board and cut it in half
  • Wrap with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least one hour (can be kept in refrigerator for a long time)


Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy
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