Hunger Pains

Picture this: A summer day. The kind that's brisk in the morning, but sweltering by late afternoon. It's August. Almost September, actually. You just got out of your 9-5 cubicle job that leaves you feeling helpless and hopeless. You know you should be thinking about that deadline you need to meet by tomorrows 10AM meeting with the client, but all you can think about is your belly and how hungry it is. But you're meeting friends for dinner at 7! You can't eat now, you'll be too full! I mean, you could stop for a donut, a cupcake, or yogurt, but you're so tired of those. You're ready for something else. Something small, something cute, something...Pie...

You need a stash of Cutie Pies for just this occasion! Small, delicious, perfect! They're a hand held snack that are just waiting to be popped into your mouth. Easy for on the run activities, like walking home from work! The perfect size, and less mess than an actual slice of pie.

Plus, who hasn't dreamed of a vareity sampler pie? Now, you don't need one! It's as easy as calling up your local Straight From The Pie Hole baker.

Cutie Pies come in all sorts of flavors, too: From Apple to Blueberry to Peach. From Pumpkin to Coconut Cream to Key Lime. Oatmeal Pecan! Pineapple Cream Cheese! Chocolate!!!! You name it. The possibilities are endless, almost.

So sit back (-or keep walking), grab a Cutie Pie and take a bite. You'll be pleasantly surprised: No longer hungry, but not too full either. Unless, of course, you ate the whole box on your way to the restaurant.




And after dinner, grab your better half and head on back to your place for a little...dessert...

I'm talking about Sweetie Pies here! They're pies for 2! What did you think I was talking about?!?!! Geeze!!



*Contact your local SFTPH baker for more details on Cutie and Sweetie Pies. And remember: There's always time for a slice. - er, a really tiny pie.

The Times, They Are a Changing

I hosted my first BBQ of the summer yesterday. It was Sumo's birthday. He's officially 28. Still a baby, I know, but I like to make fun of him and call him old. Anyway, I made soooo much food. I mean, come on...cheese and crackers, Caesar salad, corn and black bean salad, greek pasta salad, strawberry salad with cinnamon sugar tortilla chips, cheese and hamburgers, hotdogs, cake, sangria and my newest addition...Peach Blueberry Pie.

Mmm...

Around 1pm we packed up the car with our food & fun and headed to scope out the "first come first serve" picnic locations in Rock Creek Park. Everywhere we went was either too muddy or the grill was just a broken pile of bricks. Until we found it...Lot 25: A grassy hill near a horse meadow. Spacious, solitary, DRY. Oh, and the grill worked! We, well, I, rather (it was Sumo's birthday afterall), set up shop at the adequately sized picnic table and began to have some sweet summer fun.

A few games of Bocce Ball and a glass of sangria later and everyone was ready to eat. We fired up the grill (do you still say that if it's a charcoal grill??) and slapped down some burgers and dogs. They were delicious. Cheesy with tomatoes and onions. Oh, I love summer cookouts. And the pie. What a perfect way to end a meal! The crust: flakey. The peaches: gooey. The blueberries: tangy. This pie was so good. I added a lattice top for "prettiness" sake and it brought just the right amount of crunch. This pie might be my new summer favorite. It almost epitomizes the tastes of summer. The peaches with the berries, it makes me want to try new things: Peaches with blackberries, or what about an all summer berry pie?

Whatever it may be, it might be easier to make soon. A house in Vienna, what's that you say? It's in negotiations, but come August, they're may be many more cookouts, and many more pies. Let's hope so: Cause I like cooking it almost as much as you like eating it.

But until then, remember, there's always time for a slice!!!

So, summer is slowly getting underway. The Nats have won a few games, the smell of steak on the grill is emanating from many a rooftop deck, and pies made with fruit (can you believe it!?! Fruit season is finally here!) are flying off the racks. Well, maybe not the racks, let's change that to : "are flying out of the oven."

I've got a few new ones to add to the list:

Let's see, just yesterday I made a new one to take to a birthday cookout. Oh, and it was good. I guess you probably want to know what it was...sorry. It was a Sweet Cherry Pie with an Almond-Coconut Crunch topping. Yum! The cherries were so big and juicy. And coconut with cherries? Who knew that combination would be so wonderful! Sadly, the birthday boy didn't get to eat any. Turns out he's allergic to almonds. And coconut. -->Sorry, Ryan, really not trying to kill you!

Also, new for the summer: Chocolate Haupia Pie. You're probably wondering what the heck is haupia? Well, let me just tell you that haupia is heavenly. Coconut pudding made with coconut milk, instead of regular milk and coconut flavoring. We discovered this pie while on the Hawaiian Island of O'ahu. It's soooo good...A nice flaky crust, topped with a layer of homemade chocolate pudding, topped with homemade coconut pudding, topped with whipped cream, topped with chocolate and coconut shavings. Does it get any better than that??? I don't think it does.

Well, it's time for me to go. I've got other pies to think of and dream up. Tune in next week to hear all about the Blueberry Peach pie and maybe even the Apricot Mango pie.

Don't you just love the summer?

Oh, and remember, there's always time for a slice!

Inspiration

So, this morning, as I was slicing up a banana to have with my short stack of pancakes, I got to thinking about those times that we like to call "the good ole days." (I can call them that, they were 20+ years ago). ...I was 4 or 5 and Dad was slicing my banana into quarters and spreading peanut butter all over it. Oh! The taste! The sweetness of the banana with that deliciously creamy peanut butter almost sliding off and into my mouth. I remember it being slightly messy and almost difficult to eat: My tongue sticking to the roof of my mouth, peanut butter smeared all over my face. What I wouldn't give to have Dad here right now to make it for me. (I've tried making it on my own, but it's just not the same.)

Well, the "good ole days" sort of jump-started my brain; What if I tried some pies inspired by the flavors of childhood: let's say, a peanut butter banana pie? I'm thinking, homestyle graham cracker crust topped with a layer of bananas. Follow that up with a layer of peanut butter pie filling, another layer of bananas and topped with more of the peanut butter. If you wanted, you could even put some raisins on top (that would be of your own accord, of course) and call it "Ants on a Log Pie." Takes me right back to first grade snacktime.

And what about sitting out back on the screened-in porch: That old octagonal red wood table that the dog had chewed the legs of... my sister and I, scarfing down the last bits of our strawberry shortcake; Practically licking the bottom of those "mmm, mmm, good" bowls while listening to the Phillies play the top of the 8 on the radio. Mom really knew what she was doing. I'm thinking vanilla cookie crumble crust, some sort of creamy vanilla filling with bits of strawberry strewn through out. For style, maybe a mound of fresh strawberries in the center with a dash of sugar (only enough to notice) gently lying across them.

And OMG, what about Whoppie Pies!?!?! If you're not from PA you might not know what these are. Or, if you're from Pittsburgh, you probably know them as Gobs. They are made of two rounded pieces of cake stuck together by a deliciously creamy almost frosting like filling. Just the name of this snack makes me want to hop in Mom's car and head to the Amish farm outside of McEwansville. But how to turn them into a pie? Chocolate cookie crust? A layer of chocolate cake? Or a vanilla crust with the cake? Then somehow recreate the frosted center? I guess this would be considered more of a cake than a pie. But I don't care. I'm going to figure it out and make it. And it will be delicious! And I won't share it with any of you!

...well, if you bring the milk, maybe I'll give you a slice.

Slowly, but surely we're getting there.

No, I don't mean to summer and good fresh fruit. I mean Hawaii! I practically have my bags packed and we don't leave for a month and a half. I'm so ready though. April 30th can't come soon enough.

I'm very interested to see what there is to eat in Hawaii. I probably won't be trying the poi, well, maybe one bite just to say I've tried it. But I've heard it's rather a lot like the Austrailian's "Vegemite." So, if you're from there you love it, if you aren't, bleh!

You would think with all of the fresh fruit on the island there would be some pretty awesome pies around. I make a rather delicious (if I do say so myself) Pineapple Cream Cheese pie, and I've tried a kiwi pie before. What about papaya? I bet that would rock!

Man, I know I'll be on vacation, but I want a kitchen while I'm there so I can try some things out. Not that I'll have time between all of the volcano hikes and waterfall swims...

Papaya pie though...I might try that this weekend.

As I'm sitting here writing this post, I'm yearning for spring; Maybe even summer (Well, not for the weather, but for the fruit)...Anyway, it's snowing. And it has been all day. Yeah, it's pretty, blah blah, but I'm tired of it. I know it's kinda the first real snowfall in the DC area, but I don't care. I want to wear skirts instead of long johns and make good fruit pies.

Sumo and I went to Eastern Market on Saturday to scope the place out. I wasn't really expecting to see any fresh fruit there, but damn: It was like a barren wasteland. Though, the lady who sells hunks of yellow cake was there was all of her scarfed and mittened glory...

I just want to see the piles of strawberries and plums, the watermelon and peaches. I want to sample the blueberries. I want to make a delicious peach raspberry pie.

I'm ready for the warmer weather.

Lauriol Plaza.

Yeah, if you know what I'm talking about, you understand that this place needs no explanation. To those of you who don't know, it's the best TexMex around. They have this steak that comes with a garlic sauce and is topped in spanish onions. It's most possibly the greatest dish on earth. And don't get me started on their margaritas...

When Kim asked me if I wanted to get together and catch up, I knew it would be the perfect place to go. Cool vibe, good food, great drinks! We decided on the margaritas, and, of course, I got the "Swirl." The way it looks in the glass, with it's layers of strawberry and lime laid out on top of each other, it's definitely a treat for the eyes. And the taste...heavenly.

So how awesome was it when I realized I could make a Strawberry Margarita Pie? Martin, the local liquor store owner, didn't quite believe me when I was picking up my tequila and triple sec.
...though he did ask me if I could bring some business cards down...

Oh man this pie is so awesome. Strawberries, tequila, lime, and a graham cracker crust... I'm actually eating a slice right now. It makes me want to be on a beach somewhere warm listening to Jimmy Buffett; The golden sun shining down making me happy. Or, wait! Could it be the pie making me happy? I'd best put this pie back in the fridge now. I've gotta wake up early for work and I don't want to be stuck with a hangover. Though, the way this tastes, it might be worth it.



And just to remind everyone, or let anyone new know: check out my first posting to see my current list of pies. Then read the other postings to see what I've added since. And remember, there's always time for a slice.

His Preciousssss...

Ahh Valentine's Day...The sweet smell of Romance. Wait! That's not romance: That's Snickers Pie!

A pie made out of snickers? Yes indeed! Well, somewhat... You see, Sumo LOVES snickers. I think he carries one with him everywhere he goes just incase he desires that chocolatey, carmely, peanuty goodness. If I try to touch this candybar, the jealous rage bursts from his being as if he's Gollum with the ring. So I decided I wanted to attempt a type of pie that incorporates his beloved precious.

I did some research and found a blog of a woman who participates in something called the Daring Bakers. (The Daring Bakers are a group of people who love to bake and love challenges. I'm serious, after checking out these blogs, I don't think there's anything these people won't at least try.) Well, after checking out her blog for a few minutes, I found a recipe for what she calls Snickers Pie. It looked fantastic and sounded easy enough to try out.

So, after doing some grocery shopping for a few ingredients I don't keep around the house (including the snickers themselves), I was underway. First, I made a graham cracker crust. I topped this crust with a thick layer of chocolate fudge. This decadent layer was sprinkled with half inch sized bites of the love of Sumo's life. Of course, I cut too many bites, so I shoved my face with the remainder...Then, I topped it with something a bit different: cheesecake. After baking this masterpiece, I slathered on a layer of homemade chocolate frosting and a handful of red sprinkles.

It looked perfect! It actually was a masterpiece. I had never made anything like this before. All of the layers of candy! How could this not be fantastic? Well, lucky for me, Sumo loves cheesecake: I hate it.

Oh but that chocolate fudge! Delicious! I want to make a pie out of only that. Or just make that fudge and eat it with a spoon.

Maybe next weekend.


Oh, and to let you know: He loved the pie. He was so happy I made it for him, that I think he even forgot it housed his precious. For that night, I was his precious.

A Slice and a Run/The Best Gift

In the dark depths of my cupboard lies a scary thing: Crunchy chocolate and sugary sweet vanilla cream. These things hiding... they're dangerous. They make me want to do things. Things like get a glass of milk, tear them in half and dunk them. These things are fantastic. These things are wonderful. These things are Oreos.

So great, infact, are these things, that a pie made of them is almost too delicious to handle. I mean, come on: Oreo cookies ground into crumbs, shoved into the bottom of a pie pan; a creamy filling of vanilla and more cookies. It's almost too good to be true. One bite of this pie and I knew my sneakers would be begging me to go for a run.

And run I did. That elliptical machine had me going. 35 minutes later and I'm still not sure I worked off all of the calories that went into that one delicious slice of cookies and cream pie. I don't care though. That slice was worth it. Pure unadulterated joy. Sigh...

Now on to other things: As all of the women who are reading this are aware, Valentine's day is this Saturday. For all the men who are reading this: It means you need to go shopping.

Some advice for the men who completely forgot about this (rather obnoxious) holiday: Women like chocolate. No, wait. Scratch that. Women LOVE chocolate! So why not buy her a pie? A chocolate silk pie with a raspberry drizzle sauce to be exact. But where might you find this delectable sounding pie? Why, at Straight From The Pie Hole! Your friendly neighborhood pie shop is trying out something new for Valentine's day. And what sounds better than a chocolate silk pie? It's not fuzzy like a teddy bear. Nor is it cheesey like the promise ring you were thinking about getting her. It's chocolate. And if you're lucky, she just might let you have a slice. It's a win for both of you! (Sumo, this idea is for men other than yourself. If you ask me to make my own Valentine's day present...)

Well, folks, that's all for this weeks update. Please tune in next Monday night for the next chapter of...Straight From The Pie Hole. And remember, there's always time for a slice!

The Start Of Something Delicious

Growing up, my family had quite a large impact on my life: Who I am, what I want to do, who I wish to become. Maybe most importantly, however, what I want to eat. No one holds a candle to my Mom's soups (seriously, she should go into catering; Or just move here and feed me). And my Grandma's macaroni - Oh man!... So, it makes total sense to me that I would enjoy cooking.

But baking? And more on that, Pies? I mean, my Grandma made the occasional cherry pie and her meringue was pretty tasty, but it's not like pie was something I grew up with, ingrained in my blood, cinnamon and sugar coarsing through my veins.

Where did this deep love come from? Was it the raspberry bush in our backyard? or, maybe, the endless hours of blueberry picking my sister and I were forced into to learn a bit about making and saving money? Thinking of the latter, I think I'll cut blueberries from my list. But, ya know? I have a feeling those stupid berries taught me something about quality fresh fruit. Still, an ipod would have been nice in 1995.

I don't know how it happened, but it happened. I wish my family was closer now, so they could eat some of the delicious pies I make, and know that my inspiration, probably, somehow or another, came from them.

I decided to start this blog as a weekly tribute to my pies. To keep not only my family, but my friends and customers as well, up to date on what's going on here at Straight from the Pie Hole. It's a busy time of year, for sure, but you can always spare a minute for a slice.

A list of current pies (I use fresh ingredients, so you'll find seasonal delights only):

Apple
Apple Cranberry
Banana Cream
Caramel Apple
Coconut Cream
Cookies and Cream
Dark Chocolate Cream
French Apple
French Mocha
Lemon Chess
Mississippi Mud
Oatmeal Pecan
Pear w/ Caramel Sauce
Peanut Butter
Pineapple Cream Cheese
Pumpkin
Raisin
Shoo-fly
Vanilla Cream

All pies can be made with either regular, chocolate cookie, vanilla cookie, or graham cracker crusts. All sell for $20.

Please check back next week to see what crazy antics we're cooking up!
And to my family: Thanks. I love you. Now, buy yourself a pie!