Sunday, August 25, 2013

Pie-full of emotions

"Baby don't you cry gonna make a pie
Gonna make a pie with a heart in the middle
Baby don’t be blue
Gonna make for you
Gonna make a pie with a heart in the middle
Gonna be a pie from the heaven above
Gonna be filled with strawberry love" 


Feeling inspired...

I found myself singing along to Quincey Coleman "Baby don't you cry" song! Well, it's a great song for making pies but it's even better for inspiring your own pie. I don't like eating pie unless of course it's chocolate in chocolate on chocolate, well there's an exception. Eating pie, it's just not my type of dessert. However, there is something about baking a pie that makes me feel as though I'm wrapped up in love. Whether I'm happy, sad, angry or just feeling down if I bake a pie I'm guaranteed to feel all giddy! 

Pies can often take some time to make, especially if you're making the case yourself. It's almost like with every step of making a pie, you unravel a different feeling, it's pure bliss. So, considering they take time to make and I don't really like eating them I don't often make them but when I do I try to create my own,  so if I try it, I might actually like it.

A few things I dislike about not following recipes, when I really like something or other people really like it, I often can't remember how I made it!  Thankfully, I remember this pie because it was pretty divine. 


The cookie layer, very rarely would I make crust out of cookies however I had 2 packets of arnotts chocolate ripple biscuits and they had to be used or else I would find myself pigging out on biscuits.
I used a medium saucepan to melt about 120 grams of butter and 1/4 cup of brown sugar over low-medium heat once that was combined I added in the biscuits which I had crushed up in a processor. 

For this recipe I made up my own 5 spice chai mix which consisted of 2 teaspoon (each) of WHOLE fennel and WHOLE cloves, 1 teaspoon of GROUND cardomon and 2 teaspoons (each) of GROUND cinnamon and ginger. I blended the whole fennel and whole cloves and then added them to the grounded ingredients, you could use ground fennel/cloves however you would have to experience with the amount needed. 

Now for the chocolate filling, YUMMY! 
Over low heat melt in 150 grams of dark chocolate (I used the dark chcoolate with the lowest level of cocoa as I'm not a fan of extreme dark chocolate), 1/4 cup of butter, and 2 teaspoon of chai spice. Remove from heat when melted and stir in 1 pack of mini marshmallows once they have melted add in 1/3 cup of whipping cream and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract. Put in the fridge while you make the strawberry filling.

Strawberry Filling; Mash up 2 cups of strawberries. In a small bowl combined 4 tablespoons cornstarch and 1/3cup sugar. In a saucepan heat the half the amount of strawberries until they start going liquidy/gooey and then add cornstarch and sugar mixture stirring until it starts to bubble and thicken, add in 1 tablespoon of brandy, 1/3 cup of water and let thicken. Take off heat and let cool for 15 minutes. Once cool fold in the fresh strawberries. 

Press out crust mixture into pie pan, add in strawberry filling and then pour on chocolate silk and refrigerate for minimum 3 hours until it sets. Over night works best.

I have to say, that is the original recipe however since then I would DEFINITELY change it. while it was yummy it was also very rich and the flavours went smashingly well together however it is definitely for an acquired taste with that many flavours. It tasted delicious with ice cream. 

If you aren't much of a spice person you may only want to put 1 teaspoon of chai in it. The brandy also gives the strawberries a very strong taste. The crust was a bit crunchy for my liking so next time I would use a different chocolate crust recipe, I'd also love to try using fresh strawberries instead of cooked strawberries. Keep a look out for another post on this delicious pie.

Thursday, August 22, 2013

Meringue Pie

A bittersweet love.


There is something about lemon meringue pie that reminds me of a bittersweet romance. I'm just as uncertain as the pie as I am of romance. 
One day, it will explain itself. 
<3
Leave a comment if you would like the recipe.