One of the
very attainable goals
I set for myself
early in the season
was to find the perfect pie.
My hope
at the time
was that it would involve
a ride down country roads
to a Ma & Pa roadside diner
remote
quaint
our little secret
kind-of-place.
A place we could call our own
and go to
whenever we wanted
a great piece of pie
and a cuppa Joe.
Now that part of the dream
has been elusive.
Oh
it is a place we call our own
alright...
my kitchen.
Drats!
I just want one perfect piece
NOT a whole pie to tempt
before/after meals/for breakfast/as a midnight snack.
Gaining 10 pounds didn't make
my list.
So far
what I have found
are definitions to phrases like
FRESH FROM THE OVEN
Yep...
that pie was definitely frozen
and baked in some oven
The tell: soggy crumb topping
and a flavor that screams
preservatives!
MADE FRESH DAILY
second cousin to
fresh from the oven
leaving me with a
somethings just not right
after taste...
maybe those
mystery ingredients strike again.
HOMEMADE
I know because I made it.
My one rule
has been
to keep it vegan.
To all my vegan friends:
If you have ever wanted to
explore your vegan talents
stretch your vegan wings
by converting a traditional recipe
and substituting vegan friendly ingredients
but were reluctant to try
start with pie.
Hence the phrase
Easy as Pie.
Even my traditional
Pat-In-The-Pan Pie Crust recipe
required one change only
(although I made two)
instead of vegetable oil I used canola
instead of whole milk...
almond milk.
As for the Strawberry Pie.
Mine was already up to
vegan standards.
I did reduce the sugar because
I am sensitive to things being
too sweet.
Mine also called for
red food coloring.
Not needed when you're using
fresh from the field Michigan Berries.
Yummy!
Making
baking
cooking
that which is at its peak
makes such a difference.
PLUG:
Visit your Farmer's Market!
I even simplified my 1983 recipe
with one that was quite
similar on
All Recipes
using the
Most Helpful Comments
feature.
That pie was
super easy.
Another of my high criteria.
I will keep you posted
as my search continues.
But wait...
Are you holding out on me?
Have you already discovered
THE place
for which I seek?
Please share...
Pretty please
with strawberries on top!
It'll be our little secret.
My M.I.L. has been raving about Miss Lily's in Grand Rapids, OH. She says their homemade pies are out of this world(I think she goes about two or three times a month!). Not exactly down the road, but a fun day trip. I've been reading the Susan Branch cookbook you gave me, and now I want to try her gazpacho. She is so awesome, she was even cooking with quinoa thirteen years ago when this book was published! Such a fun book...thanks!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the lead...Grand Rapids always makes for a fun day. Refresh here...which Susan Branch did I get you? Funny...I was just telling mom I need to pull out her Summer Book...the one you got me! xo
DeleteGirlfriends Forever. Susan Branch is still one of my favorite artists and illustrators, and she has a sweet blog, too! Made Fatoosh from your old recipe last night, and it was delicious! (Found the sumac at a funky street market in South Side Pittsburgh last weekend, filled with tons of shops selling international foods. Tell Jake whenever I go to an Italian market, I always look for Panna for him, but haven't found it yet!)
DeleteJust one more reason to come for a visit ;)
ReplyDelete