(NC)—The old saying goes "easy as pie", so why are so many of us reluctant to try baking our own? Most of us just don't have the time to spend hours shopping for ingredients, making the pastry from scratch and preparing the filling, especially during the holidays.

Some recognized brand names are making it easy. You can now get, for example, two lines of frozen, unbaked pies – Oven Fresh and the Signature Selections by Sara Lee – that are ready to pop into the oven. Here are some additional hints from Sara Lee for baking all kinds of pies:

• If you make pumpkin pie, watch it carefully. When properly baked, the outer edges of the filling will be firmly set and slightly brown. The four- to six-inch centre circle should have a soft se Baking Tips – Easy As Pie Recipe

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Supreme Burgers

by News Canada

2 pounds ground chuck

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

1/4 cup heavy cream

2 teaspoons vegetable oil

2 tablespoons shallots, minced

11/2 cups sliced fresh mushrooms

1/4 cup Jack Daniel's Whiskey

1/2 cup heavy cream

1 large tomato, chopped

2 tablespoons minced parsley

1/4 teaspoon basil

1 teaspoon salt

Combine ground chuck, salt, pepper and 1/4 cup cream. Shape into six patties. In large skillet, add oil and pan-broil over medium heat until desired degree of doneness. Remove to heated platter. Keep in warm oven while preparing sauce. Cook shallots and mushrooms in pan drippings until tender. Add remaining ingredients and cook for several minutes. Pour sauce over patties. Makes 6 servings.

- Supreme Burgers Recipe

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Gas Grills Often Turn Out Dangerous

by Laura Ciocan

Grills, especially gas grills, are an equipment to be used with caution and care, as they may just put you in danger. Most of the times, fires are started by gas tanks of such grills.

No further than November 17, a fire devastated the back porch of a house. It was started from a debris fire that was not completely extinguished and came dangerously close to three propane tanks for a gas grill that Robert Delphia was keeping on the porch. The pressure relief valve on one of the tanks activated, resulting in a loud noise that was initially described as an explosion, but the tanks did not explode. Fortunately, the incident ended quickly without victims or injuries, as the fire was noticed and reported in an incipient stage by the Police Officer on Gas Grills Often Turn Out Dangerous Recipe

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