The ABC’s of Pie for TDay

The ABC’s of Pie for TDay

Since I began the Art of the Pie blog, I’ve been offering recipes and tips for TDay pies. It’s become the Pie-One-One help page. Over the next few days, I’ll be posting photos and links for you as you plan your menu and get ready for next week. Today we’ll begin with The ABC’s of Pie for TDay and first up is A.

A is for Apple and Angel Pies

Apple is such an iconic pie. Some say it is what comes to mind when we think of pie—that great big, mile high apple pie emerging from the oven, with a golden brown top, and with steam coming out of its vents. Here’s the recipe that I’ve been making for decades. It’s been featured in many books and magazines, too.

A is also for Angel Pie. This one will provide an unexpected addition to the dessert table. It’s light. It’s airy. It’s oh so good to eat. Find the recipe here.

B is for Blind Baking, Baskets, Boxes and Blessings

If you are making a lemon meringue pie, or a pastry cream, you’ll want to know how to make a blind baked crust. Here’s how to do it.

Baskets and Boxes

To carry our pies over the river and through the woods, these are other B’s to include. I am particularly fond of pie baskets…my collection is now upwards of ten…and pie boxes are nifty too. If you are placing a hot, just out of the oven pie inside, you’ll want to keep the top of the basket or box cracked a bit to let the steam out.  

B is for Blessings

It’s the reason we gather. Here’s one of my favorite blessing books with a blessing for just about every occasion and then some.

C is for Cherry, Chill, Cookie Cutters, Cinnamon, and Crostatas 

C is for cherry pie, which after apple pie, seems to be the one that I hear from people that they like the best. Here’s the recipe for the one that has won its share of ribbons. If you use sweet cherries, cut down the sugar a bit and add a little more lemon.

and Cookie Cutters with which you can make and decorate pie tops in so many different ways.

A Cinnamon Swirl Crust  is one that will add some pizzazz and extra flavor to a filling. You’ll want to adjust the sugar in your crust and cinnamon in a filling with this crust.

No cherries? Try a Cranberry Pie.It’s one of my favs!

Crostatas are great if you don’t have a pie pan or want to serve up individual desserts without having to cut them. They’re easy to make and you can have them for breakfast the next day, too.

C is for Chill and for those who have followed me for years (thank you very much by the way!) you’ll know that Rule #1 is : Keep Everything Chilled, Especially Yourself!

By the way, for those who have read The Tree House story in Home Cooking, I’ll be heading to the annual potluck that’s been going on for well over thirty years now, and bringing a few of the pies that will be coming in book three. Although we may not be related by blood, we are related by decades of friendship, and I feel so blessed to be a part of such a wonderful community.

Coming tomorrow? You guessed it. Letters D, E, and F!