Not-so-Wild Blueberry Pie for Pie It Forward

Once upon a time, I suffered from an extreme case of yeastaphobia.

No breads for me. I avoided those packets of yeast like...well, you know. Scary stuff.

But then I found a recipe for focaccia from Jamie Oliver & viola! I was cured.

My pie-itis wasn't nearly as bad as my former yeastaphobia, but it was by no means pretty.
I was less resistant to treatment this time, though. And just when I needed help, along came Gesine Bullock-Prado with her brand new book Pie It Forward!

Just what the master baker ordered.

I made an apple pie using her Part Butter/Part Shortening Easy Pie Dough recently & it came out brilliantly.
Easy to work with, so flaky & buttery.
So of course I couldn't wait to get my hands on the book itself.

My copy came yesterday, just in time to try the Wild Blueberry Pie (the recipe is also accessible here, in video form).

The crust didn't come out quite as perfect as the previous attempt, but I think that was due to my rolling it too thin & extreme tiredness on my part.

Despite the fact that it's 58 degrees as I write this at 2:50 am on 14 March, I still had to rely on frozen rather than fresh berries, but I don't think anyone's going to complain.

Yeah...I thought I'd grabbed sanding sugar. It was a sparkling blue sugar instead. Ah, well...

If distance wasn't a factor, I'd Pie This Forward by giving it to one of the best people I've ever had the good fortune to know, the sister I finally have in my life, Cath. (Where's my Boom Tube?)

But that will have to wait until inter-dimensional time travel has been perfected (or we find the time to drive the five or so hours keeping us apart), so my in-laws will be leaving Alex's birthday party dinner tonight with a fresh Pi.
I mean...pie.

Birthday Pizza

Wednesday is Alex's 9th birthday.

...I know. I'm having a hard time believing it, myself.

Instead of a cake, he asked for a cookie pizza to take to school tomorrow.

And that's what he's getting.

Sugar cookie, baked in a pizza pan. Covered with red frosting for sauce, candy melts as mozzarella & candy toppings: Dots as red, green, orange & yellow peppers, black licorice for olives & Swedish fish subbing for smoked salmon.

NINE. I know!!

Early Morning Thoughts

My (food) life would be so much easier if I just liked mushrooms.

Happy Birthday, Superman!

Also known as 'The Best Pie I Have Ever Made'.

I like to think of myself as a fairly accomplished baker. Breads, cakes...it doesn't really matter what it is, I know I can make it.

Except for pies.

I didn't really grow up with pies. The requisite pumpkin offering at Thanksgiving, perhaps. But it just wasn't something that was a part of my life.

So I suppose I shied away from them, initially, simply because pies weren't a top priority.

But Matt likes pies. Turns out Alex does, as well.

So I started making pies.

And I discovered that there was a baked good that I couldn't crack.

You know, except when the crust did.

Pies became that 'thing'. The recipe I dreaded. Or (almost!) feared.

But I kept trying. Different versions, different methods. Some were better, others added nothing.

Pies. My baking nemesis.

February 29 is the birthday of Kal-el, also known as Superman. While only celebrating your birthday every four years would basically stink for the average human, it works out well for the Kryptonian hero: he's going to live a really, really long time!

And when I think of Superman, the phrase "Mom, the Flag & Apple Pie" comes to mind.

So, to celebrate the day, I wanted to bake an apple pie. Except, well...you read the first part of this post, right?

So I went looking for help.

I turned to Gesine Bullock Prado, who just happens to be working on a new book called Pie it Forward. Coincidence? I think not.

She pointed me to a video in which she makes a Wild Blueberry Pie & I watched it. Three times.

And I honestly felt I could do this.

Guess what?

I did!!

Holy cow; this is the best pie I've ever made. The crust...it actually rolled. The way it's supposed to!
It was easy, it worked perfectly.

The filling was more or less made up on the spot; Granny Smith apples, brown sugar, ground cinnamon, nutmeg & ginger, a pinch of salt & some lemon juice.

Oh...& yeah. The pie crust? Had to sport that familiar 'S' shield for the birthday boy.

So have a slice of pie today & wish Supes a good day.

Ever notice...

that your mood can affect whatever it is you're cooking or baking?

If you're angry or frustrated or sad, the food seems to reflect that?

...or maybe it's just me.

My first...tagine

My in-laws gave me a lovely tagine, made in Morocco, for Christmas. Finally got around to using it this past weekend.

And of course, the best place to start would be by making something from Paula Wolfert.

From her newest book, The Food of Morocco, the Potato Tagine with Olives & Harissa.

Ok, we skipped the olives. And kind of forgot to add the harissa by the time we finally got around to eating. But it was really good without either of those things!

Grated red onion & some spices are cooked in olive oil (in a pot) until the onions start to 'melt'. Potatoes, a little tomato sauce, a quarter of a lemon & saffron water get cooked until tender.

The weird thing about this dish is that it's supposed to be reheated. So, you remove the potatoes to the tagine base, cook down the remaining liquid until thickened, pour over the potatoes, add some preserved lemon & put into a cold oven, turn it on & heat until warm.

We served this with a smoked almond couscous & some chicken, but honestly? Could have been a meal all by itself.

Halal Cart-Style Chicken & Rice with White Sauce

You'll have to excuse the low-quality photography here. We're in the process of turning Alex's bedroom into the BatCave which has resulted in my dining room being more or less inaccessible (and yes, that's where my lights & photo box reside).

That means lots of eating in the living room...on paper plates. We're all about glamour over here.

I recently signed up for the Serious Eats newsletters, after following them on Twitter for about a year. With a kid & our own Dog Pack, traveling to various cities to try out recommended restaurants & dishes is out of the question, but the recipes? That's another story.

One of the first things I made was this dish. A fairly simple marinade for chicken which is then grilled. Butter, cumin & turmeric flavor rice, with an extra boost from stock. Serve with a sauce of mayo, sugar, yogurt, lemon juice & parsley, & lettuce, tomatoes & pita. A little harissa to spice it up.

So good it was almost addictive.

Irish Stew for Souper Sundays

It's not much to look at, I know.

Simple, hearty stew from Sauces: Classical and Contemporary Sauce Making - onions, potatoes (twice), bouquet garni, beef stock & stew meat.

Hours of cooking, really great flavor (says Matt).

It's back! Blog Party#44: Sweet Tooth

I hope you were sitting down when you read that. Because shocking as it may be, Blog Party is (at least temporarily) back!

Blog Party, for the uninitiated, is (the original!) a virtual cocktail party. Where friends & not-yet friends create wonderful bite-sized goodies & drinks in accordance with a monthly theme.

Curious? Here's the round-ups of all previous parties.

It's fun & easy. You 'bring' (post) a drink & nibble (as many as you want, for those of us who are over-achievers)(I'm looking at you, Cath) (Also, guilty as charged.) & I provide the music & decorations.

It's a chance to flex your creative cooking/baking muscles & meet some new people. And maybe catch up with some old friends!

The theme this time is 'Sweet Tooth', perfect for the lead up to Valentine's Day. Make & post a small/appetizer/bite-sized sweet treat & cocktail/mocktail no later than Wednesday, 1 February & be sure to send the link to me (!) (thehappysorceress at gmail dot com). That Saturday, the 4th, I'll post the round-up with music & more to match.

Any question? You know how to find me.

(Awesome Blog Party banner courtesy of Mike Kevan)

A Renaissance meal for my Renaissance Man

Today was Matt's birthday & for once, he didn't say "I'll just have a nice piece of beef for dinner".

Instead, he wanted this dish (from James Peterson's Sauces); chicken cooked 'gently' in butter, then removed while onions get a similar treatment.
Stock is added & the chicken returns for a bit of a simmer.

Later, the chicken (skin-on, bones intact) rests while the broth is strained. To that, ginger (I used jarred paste. I don't mind the occasional short-cut here & there.), then saffron that'd been soaking in a bit of water, & finally mint.



Next, stir in some almond butter you've already made (having in fact read the recipe beforehand so there are no 'oh, crap!' surprises). Reduce what is now a sauce by a considerable amount.

MEANWHILE (one of my least-favorite cooking terms), you de-seed a pomegranate, which...let's face it, aside from the mess is kind of fun...as well as work green food coloring into marzipan & shape pieces to look like almonds.

Plate the chicken, pour over the sauce...& here comes another fun one: gilding the lily.
Or in this case, the chicken.



The recipe calls for gold leaf. I use gold luster dust. Sprinkle some over the food & through a straw, blow gently. Viola! Shiny.

Cold Salmon Noodle Salad

Following Matt's health scare a couple of weeks ago (it's ok; he's fine), there's been more of a focus on eating 'well'.

For him, that's meant lots of salmon. In lots of ways.

Tonight, salmon & noodles. Modified from this recipe, rice noodles tossed with soy sauce, lime juice, sugar, sriracha, mint & toasted sesame seeds, chilled & topped with cucumber & in Matt's case, just-barely cooked salmon.

It was good, but could have used more sauce. Something to remember for next time.

Happy Birthday, Bilbo & Frodo

Today we celebrate the birthdays of two of the Shire's more famous residents, Bilbo & Frodo Baggins.

And what better way to do so than with food?

Simple & hearty fare. Bread & turnovers & poundcake. Autumn fruits. Cheeses. Fried potatoes, bacon & tea (not shown).

I think our Hobbit friends would approve.

And what did you do today?

I WANT YOU

...to read a comic book in public Sunday.



Tomorrow is the anniversary of Jack Kirby's birthday, as well Read Comics in Public Day.

Last year, Sue of DCWomenKickingAss created an off-shoot called, appropriately, Women Read Comics in Pubic, too.

The idea is take a picture of yourself (or, considering the logistics of that, get a friend of family member to do it for you!) reading a comic. Single issue, trade, whatever works.

Then post and/or submit it to the DCWKA site. It's that easy!

I know this is my 'food' blog, but c'mon; you all know my love of comics spill over into everything else. I can't be the only one!

So, tomorrow...I hope to see a number of you doing the exact same thing as me: reading a comic.

Much can be improved

by a properly made cup of tea.

So long as she uses her power for good

I don't read/follow as many blogs as I used to (probably because there are 2.6 Kajillion of them these days).

But I do keep up with Twitter. Fortunately, a number of my fellow food geeks do the same.

Posting your recipes---and your decadent recipes, at that---on your Twitter feed is a pretty good way of ensuring I'll check them out.

And if you're Peabody, the odds are even greater that I'll end up making them.

She's creating the most tooth-achingly bad for you but still-want-them-anyway desserts. And every time, I read through & bookmark, making plans for when I'll try it out myself.

That's power. I just hope Peabody doesn't decide to join the Secret Society of Supervillains any time soon.

...I won't be able to resist!

This Cinnamon Pull-Apart Bread is proof.

It's Just Pizza

Suport Local Farms

Bounty from just one stall at today's farmers market.

Smoke from a distant (porch) fire

Tonight's dinner: Triple Smoke Burgers.

Ground beef mixed with paprika, chipotle powder & salt (or rubbed onto veggie burgers) & grilled, then topped with bacon (or the veg alternative), grilled avocado & red Boston lettuce...all on a grilled roll spread with a chipotle-Dijon mayo.

And yes. It was as good as you imagine.

I know I don't need this...

but let's face it: I need this!!

Blogging by Mail: the List

Anne's Food ---Package has shipped! Package has arrived!

Chef Barbie Cooks ---Package has shipped! Package has arrived!

Chocolate & Croissants ---Package has shipped! Package has arrived!

CulturalConstruct ---Package has shipped! Package has arrived!

CupcakeRN --- Package has shipped! Package has arrived!

Dispensing Happiness --- Package has shipped!

Girls Read Comics Too ---Package has shipped! Package has arrived!

Hye Thyme Cafe --- Package has shipped! Package has arrived!

In the Land of Spice

Kitchen Wench --- Package has shipped!

Mele Cotte --- Package has shipped!

Pages, Pucks & Pantry ---Package has shipped! Package has arrived!

Paulchens FoodBlog?!

The Knitting Baker --- Package has shipped! Package has arrived!

The Sour Dough --- Package has shipped! --- Package has arrived!

BBM: Handle with Care---Sign-ups are closed

I'll be matching everyone up this week & have your swap partner information for you by the end of the weekend.

We have a small but wonderful group this time, so start thinking about your essential care package items!

IT'S BACK!! Blogging by Mail: Handle with Care

Tap, tap...is this thing on?

Ehem.

Hello. You know me as The Happy Sorceress & I'm a lapsed-food blogger.

Once upon a time, I posted here (almost) daily. Things happened. I stopped.

I do miss it. And my fellow food geeks.

So after a prolonged absence, I'm bringing back everyone's favorite package swap, Blogging by Mail.

If you're new to BBM, it can be broken down like this: you sign up by sending me your answers to a simple form you'll find below. I match people up (no, it's not an A to B, B to A swap) as best I can, send you the information of the person you're sending to...& you mail off a box of goodies to them.

Due to the crazy number of entrants the last few rounds, I'm limiting the sign-up period to one week.

Now, for the details, fine print, etc.

1. To participate, you must be a blogger. Sorry, that's kind of in the name.

2. Be signing up, you're making a commitment. You're promising to send a package to another person. If you're too busy or generally absentminded, this may not be the event for you. I always shoot for 100% completion. So make sure you can do this.

3. Keep in touch! Once you've sent and/or received your package, please let me know so I can update the BBM page. I'll be as prompt as possible with my replies.

Now, for the 'good' stuff:

This round of Blogging by Mail is Handle with Care. Essentially, you're sending a care package with what you feel are 'must-haves'. That tea or coffee you can't live without. Favorite chocolate. Your 'desert island' book or CD.
It can be limited to food or expanded to other interests. And of course, if you have any questions just ask.

Here we go!

***Double, and even triple, check your information before sending it to me. A missed number in a postal code, a typo in your street address, could be the reason you're left package-less!***


Official Blogging by Mail Form



Your Full Name (first and last)


Your Blog's Name

Your Blog's URL


Your Email Address

Your 'Real' Address (be sure to include postal/country codes)

Are You Willing to Ship Internationally?

Any Strong Dislikes, Likes, Allergies, Etc


If You've Participated in Past Rounds, if Possible Please Remind Me Who You've Been Paired With (to & from), So I Can Do My Best Not to Repeat! (if you can remember...)

Add any other information you deem pertinent, of course.


Sign-ups will be open today through 11:59 PM Sunday, 12 June.

Send your entry to thehappysorceress at gmail dot com & I'll reply once I have you all signed up.

Last Day

Second grade is no more!!

Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato Soup

Can't go wrong with tomato soup & a grilled cheese sandwich.

Garlic & onions, sun-dried & fresh tomato, stock & thyme...simple to prepare & full of flavor.

And Fontina melted to perfection on homemade baguette. Happiness.

World Dulce de Leche Day---Dark Chocolate Turtle Cupcakes

My contribution to World Dulce de Leche day; double-dark chocolate cupcakes filled with glorious dulce de leche, topped with a dark chocolate ganache, pin-striped with more dulce de leche & finally topped with chopped, toasted pecans.




You know you want some.

Thank you, Brilynn, for creating this new holiday!

Souper Sunday: Chocolate Chili

It's been a while, so here's some Chocolate Chili (a Moosewood recipe) for Deb's Souper Sunday.

Tastes a lot meatier than you'd expect from a vegan recipe. Nice heat, but not searing. Hearty stuff, & perfect with tortilla chips.

Celebrate World Dulce de Leche Day

Nutella, deservedly, has its day. But there are a few of us who feel Dulce de Leche is just as worthy.

About a week ago, Brilynn of Jumbo Empandas decided to take matters into her own decidedly talented hands.

Thus, 28 February has been designated World Dulce de Leche Day.

Check with Brilynn for more details, & I'll see you there.

Soup that needs a spork

Matt's been sick & I keep watching reruns of Nigella Lawson's 'Express' on the Cooking Channel.

Thus...Nigella's Thai Chicken Noodle Soup.

12 Weeks of Christmas Cookies: Holly Berry Cookies

A family tradition.

Every Christmas, I'd wait for my Aunt Kathy to bring the Holly Berry cookies.

The entire family would be there: grandparents, their six kids & spouses, & the 19 grandchildren. It got loud & too hot, but we had fun. Lots of laughter before, during & after the seemingly-endless 'youngest-to-oldest' or vice versa gift giving.

And there was food. Christmas eve was about pick-up-able foods. Grammy might have ham cooked & sliced, ready for sandwiches. Cheese, crackers (always Ritz & Wheat Thins), & of course summer sausage from Am. Grammy's fudge & penuche. But few cookies.

Grammy didn't really bake. It's not that she couldn't, but I think being the oldest girl of ten kids herself & mother to six, the years of putting three meals a day on the table left her with little desire for baking. (I pretend the zucchini bread didn't happen.)

She might make her oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. My own mother, at least in the later years, would bring sugar & other types.

In my late teens/early twenties, I started making cookies for the family get-together.

But it was Kathy's Holly Berry cookies that I always craved.

Crunchy, sweet but not too sweet, with that jolt of spice from the 'berries'.

I got the recipe from my Aunt some years ago, even though, as a vegetarian, I could no longer eat them myself. I continued making them for the family, & for my new family. (My brother-in-law is a huge fan.)

A couple of years ago, I discovered Sweet & Sara Vegan Marshmallows.

Absolutely perfect, with a fantastic taste. And they work like their gelatin-based counterparts.

Guess what I did that year?

That's right. Made Holly Berry Cookies with vegan marshmallows. And ate quite a few myself.

...any bets on how long these last?

There are even more amazing cookies to crave at Abby Sweets!

Righting a Wrong

Not too long ago, Hostess unveiled Green Lantern Glo Balls...a clear tie-in with the upcoming Green Lantern movie.

Ok; fine. Hal Jordan on the package makes sense in that context.



But when the images of Batman & Superman appeared on boxes of the cupcakes & spongecakes...there was a bit of an uproar.




Once again, the comic book industry ignored their female fans. From a marketing standpoint alone, it's unwise to assume the people buying your products are only a certain gender.



Granted, it'd be a cold day in Hell when I'd buy mass-produced snack cakes, but that's hardly the point. I'm picky about my food in a 'is it good for me? is it made with the best ingredients? is it fresh?' kind of way. But I was a teenager ...well, longer ago than I care to admit.
And I loved these sorts of things. Especially when the cafeteria offerings were less-than appealing.

To remind DC Comics (& comics companies everywhere) that girls & women like heroes too, I made my own 'Glo Balls', along with cream-filled chocolate cupcakes & yellow, canoe-shaped spongecakes.

And I photographed them with the female counterparts of the current advertising campaign.

Supergirl, Green Lantern Katma Tui & Batgirl.

Take note, marketing & sales!