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.