Pie

Happy Birthday, sweetie Pie!=)

March 19, 2011

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These last couple weeks have been just crazy! Lots of school and trying to sort out my life. I am so excited that I’m going to be graduating next year with my Bachelors Degree. I have so much I want to do once I graduate and once I have more free time! I’m already planning on painting for the two weeks I have off between Spring and Summer semester. And I’ve also been doing some DIY projects around the apartment, as well as cooking and baking lots. I have been trying to re-do my website, and hopefully it will be finished in the coming months. I wanted to add some new pages for DIY projects, and other more general content rather than food related. I have a new addiction as well, Apartment Therapy. Have you been to it? You should. I do could spend countless hours on there. I just love decorating and all things home related. I’m noticing lots of bloggers have been posting about their homes, apartments etc and the before and after photos. I just can’t get enough of it. I could really spend every waking hour blogging, cooking, and re-decorating. But, school has to fit in there somewhere…and it is usually top priority. Usually.

I am also super super excited to start playing baseball again this year! I had played all my life, but of course once I graduated I stopped a year after. I tried to keep it up but lots of girls couldn’t fit it into their schedule and showing up to the field only to forfeit because there weren’t enough players sucked. So I hope this season is good. I mentioned that Adam and I went up to Whistler to celebrate his birthday last weekend, and now this weekend we are celebrating again. He’s spoiled. And he knows it 😉

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I asked him what he wanted most for his birthday dessert, and he said pie. I couldn’t make anything on the night of his birthday due to school, although I did end up making homemade pizza and then some cinnamon rolls for dessert. I even put a candle in one and sang him happy birthday. But now we’re having some of our friends over for a ‘bring-your-own-toppings’ pizza party. And of course, what goes best with pizza pie? An apple pie of course!

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I’ve posted in the past about the easiest pie dough, and it really is. It’s so simple. I actually had two dough batches frozen in the freezer, so it was even easier. I just took them out of the freezer last night, and left them in the fridge. I took them about for about 30 minutes prior to rolling them out and it was ready to go.

Today it’s actually sunny here in Vancouver. And it’s the opening day soccer game for the Vancouver Whitecaps! Great day for a game!

Basic Pie Dough

Yield: one 9-inch pie crust (double for double crusted pie)

Ingredients:

  • 1¼ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tbsp. sugar
  • 8 tbsp. cold, unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
  • 3 tbsp. very cold water

Directions:

  1. Combine the flour and sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment.  Mix briefly to blend.  Add in the butter pieces and mix on medium-low speed to cut the butter into the flour until the mixture resembles coarse sand and the largest butter pieces are not much bigger than peas.  Mix in the cold water on low speed just until the dough comes together.
  2. Shape the dough into a ball, wrap in plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.  (This dough can be frozen for up to 2 months.)  Remove from the refrigerator.  Roll out the dough on a lightly floured work surface.  Use as directed in your desired pie recipe.

Tips for Apple Pie

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Over the years I’ve read lots of tips on how to make a great apple pie. Here are a couple I think are key

  • Sprinkle a tablespoon of graham cracker crumbs on the bottom pie crust before filling it with the apples. This way, the crumbs absorb extra sauce from the apples and you won’t get a soggy bottom crust.
  • Use lots of butter! And Shortening. I use a 1/4 cup of shortening as well as the butter it calls for. It makes for a super tender and flaky crust.
  • I highly suggest an egg wash. In a small bowl, whisk together one eggs a dash of water and a few tsp. of sugar. Using a pastry brush apply it to the top of your pie crust. This will give it that golden look, and help keep it flaky without drying out. You can also sprinkle some extra sugar on top of it just before putting it in the oven to make it shimmer.
  • Use lots of apples. Don’t skimp. It should have a slightly domed look once the top crust is on. And make sure you cut some ‘vents’ in the top as well.

All of these will provide you with a super delicious pie! And, of course serve it with some Vanilla ice cream!

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2 Comments

  • Reply Aunt Josie March 20, 2011 at 9:36 AM

    What a good idea with the pastry letters for Happy Birthday. You must have letter cutters
    to make the letters. Where did you get them? My oldest grandson does not like cake, so I usually make him a pumpkin pie for his birthday! that would be a good idea to put pastry letters on top of it!! Thanks also for the apple pie tips. Never heard of the graham wafer crumbs on the bottom. Just love your blogs! Keep it coming girl! Your boyfriend is soooo spoiled & such a lucky guy to have such a wonderful cook & baker.

  • Reply Alicia March 21, 2011 at 8:32 PM

    Thanks Auntie! Yup I have little cutters I use. The graham cracker crumbs work really well! Just a couple tsps should do. Hehehe Adam totally knows it too =) I like to spoil him with baked goods!

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