Monday, August 27, 2007

Spicy Pear Tart



So this was a bit of a devience from the norm, but I thought it would be worth it. Besides, how could you not get excited about a Pear Tart with Ginger in it and a Caramel Bottom?


Very yummy! Though the caramel seeped through the bottom of the Springform Pan. After looking into it, I see that this seems to be the problem with springform pans anyway. I wrapped the bottom of the pan in foil, so it didn't go all over the oven, but a lot of the caramel seeped down into the foil. It would have been a really great bit with more caramel. Maybe next time I'll line the inside of the pan with parchment paper, and then nothing will leak. Hmm, good idea.


It was cooked well, the tart was still nice and moist. Though after discussing it, Schwartz, Molly and I decided that it might be really yummy if I did 2 layers of caramel. One on the bottom, do the tart layer, and then another layer of caramel before putting on the pears. Then the caramel might seep through the batter. Which I don't think would be a bad thing at all!!

Friday, August 24, 2007

Fly Pie


I live in San Diego, where the weather is wonderful year-round. Hence the windows are always open. And the door usually stays open too to let in more light in and a bit more of a breeze. And Flies.

So I first noticed them about a month ago when my friend Jess came to visit me. We were starting to get buzzed by them, and so armed with rolled up Newspapers we had a fun time swatting flies. Jess is a Master Swatter. Perhaps we should have felt bad for murdering so many flies. They only live 24 hours anyway, so why not let them enjoy it? What can I say, we're cruel.

Unfortunately this is not the end of the story. August was an incredibly hot month, and they multiplied. I opened the door on Tuesday night and I was accosted by a Swarm of flies. It might have been funny, but there is nothing funny about walking across your carpet and having them hop out of the way. Not to mention the fact that I was showing the apartment to a potential roommate. Thankfully she was just as baffled as me, and assured me that there was nothing disgusting about the apartment and there was no reason for them to have invaded so completely. Jeff showed up right as I was setting a fly trap, and we attempted to swat as many as we could, but were thwarted by the sheer magnitude of their forces. I knew when we parted the curtain and they attacked us with all their might that a Weapon of Mass Destruction was required.

The next day I nuc-ed the hell out of those little suckers with Raid. Let me tell you that stuff is the BOMB! (pun fully intended) The horrible thing is that I could actually hear them screaming. One fly dying and crying out in pain can be ignored, but 10,000 Flies all crying out at the same time is really quite unsettling. But it was worth it when I opened the door and nothing moved.

So in memorandum for all the little fly souls I murdered in my quest for dominance over the ownership of the apartment, I am baking a pie.


How strange is it that everyone of my friends, when I told them I was going to make a Fly Pie, all asked, "You're not going to use real flies. .... Are you?" Of course not! I may be a Crazy Pie Lady, but I'm not that crazy!!!


I decided to make a Rum Raisin Apple Pie, which turned out very well, if I do say so myself. I'm always apprehensive about Apple Pie. It scares me a bit, but I thought this one was going to be great! As I'm assembling it, Schwartz leaned in and asked what I was planning on doing with the top of it. I honestly hadn't thought about it, but as usual, Schwartz had a plan. He mixed butter, cinnamon and a little bit of sugar together and piled it on top. It browned up so nicely, and I think, really made the pie! Thanks Schwartz!!

Wednesday, August 22, 2007

Suggestions & Requests

So many people have said, "Oooooh, when you make ____ Pie let me know!" I've had so many of those I don't know what to do with them all. So I've decided to start taking requests here. If there is a Pie that you want I will do my best to accommodate. We might as well make my obsession something everyone can benefit from! So leave a comment and we'll have some crazy Pie Eating to do!

Friday, August 17, 2007

Peach - Blueberry Angel Pie

Okay, so another friend came in town and she - as the guest of honor - chose an Angel Pie. I made one for the 4th of July, but I didn't beat the Meringue enough, so it kinda spread out in the oven.

This time the meringue was perfect, but as it was a Chicken Night I got impatient and didn't cook it long enough. So though it looked amazing when I took it out of the oven an hour before I should have, it fell within a few minutes. The Peaches and Blueberries I put on top of it made the whole dessert still taste amazing, but next time, I will make sure and cook it the right amount of time.

Sunday, August 12, 2007

Cherry Peach Pie

I have to confess the combination here just jumped up and bit me. I HAD to try it. I went to the market and found White Peaches. The colors with the White and Dark Red was gorgeous! I topped it with a strudel topping, but I almost wish I did a lattice top instead. That way the colors could be more pronounced.

I liked the sweetness, but I should have probably used Tart Cherries instead. It would have been more of a contrast. And then I wouldn't feel bad about lathering it in Vanilla Ice Cream!

Strawberry Rhubarb Pie

This was phenomenal!! I was a bit scared to try THE Pie of Pies. I had always heard of Rhubarb Pies, but had actually never tried one myself. Preparing it was a little odd. Do I just chop it up? Do I have to boil it? Is there any special cleaning I have to do? In the end it reminded me of celery. Big Red Celery. And really, how hard is it to screw up celery? Is it even possible? I don't think so!

The topping was a Sweet Cornmeal Crumb. All I can say is ....... oh yeah!! I'm sure a standard Pie Crust topping would work, but this was just sooo yummy! The favorite of the night.

Friday, August 10, 2007

Blackberry Peach Pie....... by Mail!!


So after awhile of hearing all about my Pie Escapades my family has started to ask when I'm going to start sending them some. Well, there are many good things about living in California. The weather, the people, the fresh fruit (for pies). But living in Cali is not that great when your entire family is located on the other side of the country. But after tons of questions, suggestions on FedEx and finally begging, I gave in. It was a special occassion afterall.


So in honor of the Best Daddy in the Whole World being born I decided to ship a pie. I went with the Blackberry-Peach Double Crust Pie. My personal favorite. I wrapped it as tightly as I could with saran wrap, and then packed it with a bunch of Bubble wrap. Hopefully it will still be in one piece instead of Cobbler when he gets it. We shall see.


I wonder though if I should have sent a Frozen Pie and then given instructions on how to bake it. I didn't include a cool pack or anything. I thought that keeping it at room temp would probably be the best. And if it got heated in the trucks on the way, that wouldn't be so bad. But he did get morning delivery, so it shouldn't be that bad.


Any thoughts?

Sunday, August 5, 2007

Blueberry-Lime Pie

This was the easiest Pie to make yet. The prep time seriously took 10 minutes. Throw some stuff in a bowl, let it juice. Pour it in a Pie Tin. Cook for an hour. Let it cool. It was awesome. And it set so well! Not runny at all. I think the trick is really to let it cool fully.

It was a nice pie, there was the sweetness and the whole blueberry flavor. But the lime added a fun zest and zing to the end of it. And it made you keep going back for more. I think Blueberry Pies alone are good, but generally there is always something missing for me. The addition of the lime was that wonderful addition to pull it all together.