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.