It’s a Pie Party….

And do I have a pie to share…

Blueberry Almond Cream Pie…..to die for.

I have become obsessed with making pies these past few months.  The joy and patience that a great flaky crust takes, the limitless varieties of pies you can create….I dream of pie. Often.

So making this pie for my family was a treat for me.  Taking a fellow blogger’s Blueberry Cream Pie and giving it a twist to make it for my boys was just plain fun.

Blueberry Almond Cream Pie

Ingredients:

1 – 9 inch unbaked pie crust – I used this recipe here from Melissa Clark

Filling:

3 cups blueberries
1 cup sugar
1/3 cup all purpose flour
2 large eggs, at room temperature
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 tsp almond extract

Preheat oven to 350deg.

In a mixing bowl, whisk together all ingredients (except the blueberries) until smooth and wonderful.

Pour the blueberries into the unbaked pie shell, spread evenly. Then pour the filling over the blueberries.

Crumb topping:

2 1/2 tsp light brown sugar
2 tbsps sugar
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
1/2 cup all purpose flour

2 ½ tbsps almond meal, or ground almonds (I get mine at Trader Joe’s)

Whisk together all the dry ingredients in a bowl, then pour melted butter into the bowl and mix together using a fork until crumbles are formed.

Spread the crumb topping over the blueberry cream filling.

Bake in a 350 deg oven for 50 – 60 minutes. Cover crust with foil if it starts to brown too quickly.

Cool completely, slice, and enjoy!

Before:

   

After:

Enjoy!!

And check out all the wonderful pies over at Tidy Mom and her #LovethePie Party!!

“Come join Love the Pie with TidyMom  sponsored by Cherokee USA, Le Creuset, Wilton,Bags by Bloom and  Harvard Common Press”

Pie Love(r)

 

I adore a good piece of pie.  The flaky crust, the yummy filling….I am drooling.  I prefer a fruit filling, but am not one to turn down a cream, pumpkin or pecan pie.  

When doing some research a few months ago about all the places (mostly food related) that I wanted to visit in Seattle when we moved out West, I stumbled on High 5 Pie.

I knew that it would have to be one of the first places I check out.  So last week when I was in desperate need for a break from these crazy boys, I tweeted that I was heading to Seattle for some pie, and did anyone want to join me.  I was super excited when a new (and awesome) friend said that she would be in the city and would love to join me.  Yippee!  Pie and conversation….yes, please.

Libby and I decided to share a couple of slices so that we could, without huge guilt, try two slices out of their incredible looking selection.

Lemon Shaker

and Maple Blueberry

I have to say that I can’t decide which I enjoyed more….they are both delicious and so different from each other.  I had never heard of lemon shaker….but it is a candied lemon peel filling.  Tart, tangy and just a little sweet.  Perfection.  Loved that the Maple Blueberry was a one crust pie with a crumble topping…it was so great.  Had those tiny blueberries that just burst with juice when you bite them. It was so good that is what I chose to bring home to Jason.

So, if you are ever in Seattle, and want to go for some pie….this is the place.  And call me, I’ll join you for a slice!

 

Blueberry Pie Love

It is a week until Love Day.  I adore Love Day (otherwise known as Valentine’s Day)!  Even though I try to Love BIG every day, there is still that spark of Valentine’s Day that fills me with even more love.

To celebrate this upcoming day of love, I thought that it would be fun to shower my loved ones with some of my favorite goodies…..one for each day of the week before the big day.  Fun and full of love right? 

So today I decided to make a couple of mini Blueberry Pies.  I don’t think the boys have ever tried blueberry pie…..a shame, I know. 

Mini Blueberry Pie (makes 2 – enough to share with little ones)

Blueberry Pie:

Ingredients:

2 cups Fresh Blueberries

1/4 cup sugar

3 tbsp Flour

Juice from 1/2 lemon

Preheat the oven to 425 deg.

I will admit – I cheated and used a store bought crust – and this brings me a little shame (I suffer from sever pie crust failure).

Roll out the crust a little bigger than pre-made – you need it a bit bigger to cut out the right size for the bottom crust.  Use the edges of the pie dough to cut strips to make the lattice top.  I chose to cut out a few little hearts to celebrate the occasion.

Butter the cute mini pie plates, place the dough in the plate and make sure there aren’t any air bubbles under the crust.

Place berries in a medium sized bowl and gently stir in the sugar, flour, and lemon juice.  Let sit for a few minutes to merry before spooning into your pie shell.   Gently give the berries one last turn and then spoon the mixture into your pie shells. 

Take the strips of pie dough and create the lattice top.  Use a wet fingertip to secure the lattice to the bottom shell.  Cut off excess.

Using 1 egg and a tsp of water create an egg wash.  Brush the egg wash onto the crust and then sprinkle with some sugar.

Bake at 425 deg for 15 minutes.  Then reduce oven temp to 375 deg.  At this time check to see if the lattice top is getting too dark (mine was a little) – if it is tent the pies with foil.  Bake for another 30 – 40 minutes til filling is bubbly and crust looks baked.

Let cool before digging in.  I recommend eating Blueberry Pie with Vanilla Ice Cream, if you have it.

Enjoy….and don’t forget to Love BIG.

Sunday Supper and a National FOOD holiday!

 

Happy National Pie Day!!  I know, holidays for food.  But did you know that each day of the year is a holiday for a different kind of food?  Check out my friend Susan’s blog for a daily round up for each special food’s holiday.  Incredible, right?

Pie Day!  I have many favourite kinds of pie.  I love a great lemon meringue, chocolate cream, strawberry, cherry….etc.  But nothing beats a really great APPLE pie.  It has to be really great.  This past Thanksgiving the Stenzel’s were invited over to the household of Team Wallace for dinner.  It was an honour to be included in their family celebrations.  And of course I wanted to contribute, I begged to be able to contribute.  To show up empty handed would have been awful for me.  Nikki was kind enough to oblige my desire to cook or bake and asked me to bring an apple pie. Just one??  Yup, just one.  So I was on the quest to make the BEST apple pie I could find.  And it would have to be tested before Turkey Day.  Poor Jason.  He a lot of pie that month (though didn’t complain once).  After several different crust and pie fillings, it was decided that The Pioneer Woman’s Dreamy Apple Pie would be what was served at Casa Wallace.  It is perfect.  It isn’t easy to describe this pie.  Just perfect.  I love a single crust apple pie. Don’t get me wrong, I love a flaky pie crust…but this pie doesn’t need that double crust. It has a crunchy nutty topping that is heaven….probably why she called it a Dreamy Apple Pie.

For National Pie Day, I decided to make mini versions of this pie.  I cut the recipe into thirds and baked them in these really cute mini pie plates I picked up at World Market (did you know I collect pie plates??).  A third fit perfectly….baked them for 45 minutes and they were done.  As all apple pie should be served, I scooped a perfect scoop of vanilla bean ice cream on top. And then Jason suggested some caramel sauce….a decadent finish, but not necessary.  For Thanksgiving I made The Pioneer Woman’s Maple Whiskey Sauce, which later was named Pie Crack by a certain Wallace.

I recommend pie.  For any occasion. A simple Sunday Supper, a birthday, a more traditional holiday, but definitely for today….National Pie Day!

Did you make a pie today??  What kind?  Have a recipe to share?  Share a link!!

YWPWT meets TWD

Let me start off by saying that I don't "do" bananas. I like the flavor just fine, but the texture really grosses me out. I can't peel and bite into a banana, I don't like banana pudding, or banana cream pie. (I do like banana bread - no chunks please) So when I saw that this weeks Tuesday's with Dorie was Banana Cream Pie I knew that there would have to be something else baking in my kitchen again. I am so sorry my TWD friends....I just couldn't do it. But hop over to Sing for Your Supper, Amy has Dorie's recipe for the pie there.
Side note: after reading and seeing the pics of all the other TWDr's pies I think the boys really would have loved it! Sorry Boys!


I have had pies on my brain for awhile to come up with my submission for this month's You Want Pies with That? This month's theme is Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous, chosen by Jacque & Natashya.


And so I give you.........
Joaquin Phoenix's Cuckoo Coconut Custard Cream Pie!

It is a delicious graham cracker crust, filled with thick and creamy toasted coconut custard, and topped with a vanilla rum whipped cream. And it is divine - I only ate half of one, but I could have eaten all four! But then I wouldn't be able to sit up and type this! Not good!

I cannot wait to submit this as my contribution. It came to me in a dream, as most of my great ideas do, and I was giddy about it. I hope you think I am as clever as I do!! Toot, toot...that's my own horn you hear!

I am going to make next weeks TWD for sure, I promise, no matter what.

Until then,

Take Care, Tania

Love Big, Bake Often