Quiche is the Word
One late afternoon last week, I was mulling over the monumental decision of what to make for dinner. I always have chicken and salmon that can be quickly defrosted. But didn’t want chicken again. Not salmon either. I typically buy beef the day I intend to cook it so didn’t have that on hand. Hmmm. I wanted something lighter and none of this was giving me inspiration. Then I remembered that I had a formed pie crust in the freezer from my recent pie dough mania. Maybe Real Men Don’t Eat Quiche but I announced to my husband that quiche was the word, or more specifically, quiche is what’s for dinner! Now to figure out what to put inside said quiche.
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.
Perfecting Pie Crust
Last weekend was a rainy but perfect mother-daughter time. I mean what could be better than books, shopping and making PIE?! We spent an excessive amount of time in the delightful Vivienne Portland’s Culinary Bookstore (think cookbooks old and new, colorful linens and trays, consigned kitchenware, cute olive oils … oh my!) and went to a pie class! The focus of the class, taught by Chef Luca, was on pie skills and perfecting pie dough. I’ve always been intimidated making pie crust and get inconsistent results. But, upon taking his class and coming to the revelation (thanks to Luca) that my inner pie creativity will be unleashed once I master the art of pie pastry – I can’t stop dreaming about pie. I may even have spent all this morning going through Sister Pie and Pie Camp making a list of “pies to make.” Figure I can start practicing now and be a pro by Thanksgiving.