Salted Maple Pie for Pi Day
National Pi Day is the perfect holiday for mathematicians and pie bakers alike. Irrational as it may sound, I ended up a journalism major in college after excelling in math in high school. In fact, when I needed another elective block to fill my Bachelor of Arts degree requirements, I took math. Who does that? When I reflect on my senior year in high school, I was one of only three girls in Mr. Hall’s calculus class. I don’t remember receiving any encouragement to do math or to major in a math or science related field. I chose journalism because I liked writing. Fast forward to today and it all worked out. At this point in my life, I would much rather be baking pie than solving for pi.
French Silk Pie Bars
I’ve seen many mentions of and recipes for “French Silk Pie” in cookbooks and online over the years and never really gave it much thought. After all, I have a chocolate cream pie made of melted candy bars in my recipe vault handed down from a family member that’s a crowd pleaser and super easy to make. So, what led me to make French Silk Pie Bars? It all started a few months back when I posted my Brown Sugar Cookies followed by Neapolitan cookies, both from Sarah Kieffer’s 100 Cookies book. With so many cookies in the cookiesphere, I proposed the idea of making a new cookie each month and asked for requests. In response, my friend Nancy suggested Cookie #63 - French Silk Pie Bars. (What?! A cookie that involves pie crust?) Being easily distracted, sadly I did not follow through on making a new cookie in June or developing a list. (Please send me your requests now!) But I’m happy to report that I’m back on track (barely). Thanks to Nancy’s visit on July 29, I snuck in the French Silk Pie Bars as the July cookie.
Spring forward with Pi(e)
It was 64 degrees in the foothills outside of Seattle yesterday. I think spring has sprang or sprung … anyway, it’s here! Unless you live in the Northwest, you may not realize how much we anticipate the first few days of temperatures above 60 degrees. The fleece layer comes off and it’s time for much-welcomed short sleeves and bare ankles. I took one for the team and sat in my Adirondack chair on the front porch and soaked up a good-sized dose of vitamin D. The sunshine was just enough to remind us that yes, sunnier days lie ahead. In the early morning hours of today, March 14, we sprang forward for daylight savings and it’s also Pi Day. How convenient. The convergence of all three of these things definitely warrants some pie. To celebrate, I made my signature Candy Bar Pie, the one I take requests for and am known for in certain circles (you know who you are). And just because it was such a beautiful day, I made a vibrant spring green pizza pie for dinner.