Life On The Central Coast

Back with Week #7 of my 52 weeks of pie! Like most of us, I wanted to create a really beautiful pie, well actually a tart, especially for my Valentine, Wes. It had to be chocolate, decadent and beautiful all at the same time. After looking high and low on the internet for something good, I decided on THIS wonderful Salted Caramel Chocolate Tart featured on the Frayed Apron Blog. I mean, look at her picture! Who wouldn't want to make and eat this??!! (From the Frayed Apron Blog) Now, you may say a Tart isn't a Pie but it actually is. It has a crust and a filling so in my book, its a VARIETY of pie. Over the course of my "52 Weeks of Pie," you will see tarts, pies and galettes, a free form type of pie. So keep checking back, you'll be glad you did! The first different thing for me was the crust. It's put together much like the others with just the addition of cocoa powder. I did use the vodka again instead of the water or milk as suggested because...

Let's start off February with a tip of the tri-corn hat to President George Washington and the little fable of him chopping down the cherry tree.   Honesty IS the best policy. I love the part in the story where he tells his father the truth about his participation in the "crime". Even though he is afraid of his punishment, he tells the truth.  " Run to my arms, you dearest boy, cried his father in transports, run to my arms; glad am I, George, that you killed my tree; for you have paid me for it a thousand fold. Such an act of heroism in my son, is more worth than a thousand trees, though blossomed with silver, and their fruits of purest gold. Last year, my husband and I decided to buy a couple of cherry trees in hopes that one day we will have a wonderful supply of the juicy fruit that we can make homemade pie filling from. They are still young but the blooms in the spring... beautiful!! For the time being though, I think I will have to be satisfied wit...

Each year in December, I choose my large calendar of the year. This year it is from the Lang Company and its called American Kitchen with artwork by Susan Winget. Can I just say this calendar had me at ROLLING PINS!!??? This is the cutest "Americana" type calendar ever! I'm in love and as a cook, I love that each month features a yummy recipe for something good to eat. Flipping the calendar to February I see that this month's recipe is... EGG CUSTARD PIE! One of my all-time favorites! I love how homey, warm and full of vanilla bean flavor this pie is. It said to use "1 unbaked deep-dish pie shell" so guess what... another pie crust recipe to share with you. About a year ago I started taking public cooking classes with Grandma Ingrid. It was one of the BEST and most fun things I have ever done! If you live in the San Luis Obispo County area, check her out HERE . She has classes practically every weekend of the year and you will not go away hungry...