Welcome to Ambitious Kitchen.
I’m so delighted you are here. I feel like squealing like a little piggy. Is that weird? Probably. But it’s just me, you’ll get used to it.
Hold on… I have to switch my Pandora station.
…Okay, Louie Armstrong was playing. Who put that on? I write to Adele and Florence and the Machine, not Louie Armstrong with his giant saxophone. It’s official, Pandora’s gone crazy.
But apparently, I’ve gone crazy too. Crazy in thoughts. Overwhelming myself with what I want to accomplish. Putting to do lists everywhere. Throwing clothes around my room. Missing episodes of Project Runway. You know the big things in life.
But really I was thinking about how short life is. Each chapter ends as soon as it begins. I literally blinked my eyes and college flew by. That happens to everyone though right?
You get dropped off on campus by your parents then… you cry, you party, you sleep in, you get an internship, you balance, you eat a lot of ramen, you gain 10 pounds, you learn right from wrong, you balance again, you struggle, you live, you laugh, you find love, you meet heartbreak, you find meaning, you find your best friends, you find you.
I swear that happens in a moment. A small little flash that is taken for granted most of the time. I thought about how I don’t want to take anything for granted. Ever.
Then I thought about pies. Ohhh pies. Sweet summer pies. Dutch and laced. Sugar crumbled and those topped with meringue. Blueberry, peach, raspberry, strawberry. All those summer fruits in that buttery flaky golden brown crust. Never take pie for granted. It’s good for the soul.
I used to be afraid of pies. Probably because I couldn’t have one slice. Pie was an enemy. The best tasting, most delightful soul soothing enemy.
I used to scream “Screw you pie. Screw you for making me eat 3 slices!” I would always take it back. I love pie. And I always will.
If you can’t stop at one slice here are some suggestions: Bring it to the neighbors, they’ll invite you over for cocktails more often. Bring it to your boyfriends, his friends will love you and he might too. Bring it to your parents, they’ll be impressed. Or you can bring it to work and watch other people look at you like you are the next Betty Crocker. Just sayin.
Making homemade pie crust is sort of an art. A scary art that will piss you off and haunt your dreams. Just kidding, it’s just something you learn as you go. Kinda like life, you learn as you go.
So don’t buy the Pillsbury boring crust from the store. For heaven’s sake please don’t buy it. I’m begging you.
Make this pie. While you’re making it, think about what you’re taking for granted. What are you thankful for?
Of course, you’ll be thankful for the pie when it comes out of the oven. You’ll bask in pie glory. Sweet heavenly pie glory. You can do it. I know you can.
After all, It’s the summer of pies. The summer of baking. The summer of love. Don’t ya think?
Ambitious Kitchen
Cookbook
125 Ridiculously Good For You, Sometimes Indulgent, and Absolutely Never Boring Recipes for Every Meal of the Day
Summer Berry Peach Pie
Ingredients
- For Double Crust Pie Dough:
- 2 1/4 cups all purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 sticks of very cold, unsalted butter, cut into tiny pieces
- 1/2 teaspoon of fresh lemon juice
- 5 tablespoons ice water
- ½ teaspoon of cinnamon
- For the filling:
- 1 pint of blueberries
- 1 1/2 cups stemmed and pitted cherries, chopped
- 3 medium ripe peaches, sliced
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 3 tablespoons flour
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1/2 tsp of vanilla extract
Instructions
- To make the crust: In a large mixing bowl stir together flour, sugar, and salt. Place in food processor or pastry blender and add the butter. Pulse several times until small peas form. Add lemon juice. Next add 2 tablespoons of ice water to start. Work dough so that it starts to come together. Add remaining ice water if necessary. You don’t want the dough too sticky, but in a large ball.
- Coat your hands in flour and separate the dough into two round balls. Wrap in plastic wrap and put in the fridge for about 30 minutes.
- In a separate mixing bowl, stir together blueberries, cherries, peaches, sugar, lemon juice, vanilla, and flour until well mixed.
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
- After 30 minutes, remove one dough ball from fridge and roll out using a flour coated rolling pin. You will have to work at this. You want the dough very thin and flat. Next carefully place the rolled out dough into a 9 inch pie pan. Fill with your fruit mixture. Take your remaining dough ball out of the fridge and roll out. Cut out roughly 10, 1-inch thick strips. Weave over fruit mixture, then trim off edges and make your pie crust pretty, if desired.
- You can brush edges with egg wash and then sprinkle with sugar.
- Take foil and wrap around the edges of the pie crust so they do not burn. Bake for 30 minutes. Remove foil and bake for an additional 30-40 minutes or until crust is golden brown to liking. Cool on a wire rack.
17 comments
Wow! The pie looks great and this is an excellent first post!
Hi Monique ~What a fabulous start to a new blog!
Welcome to the blogging world and all that jazz!
We’d love to welcome you to our table too!
Chris Ann & Kristin
Thanks to both of you! I’m glad you’re liking it. I’m new to all of this, but so happy to finally be blogging.
Looks delicious!
What a delicious pie! Thanks for sharing.
I can totally relate! Many, many times have I muttered under my breath, ‘darn you! Darn you, you fabulously delicious pie! Why must you be so incredibly tasty and lip smackingly yummy in your fruity goodness??’
My husband looks at me funny when I yell at the pie, but that’s just the kind of relationship that pie and I have. ; )
~Kristin
The pies look absolutely delicious!
Does this mean that you are expecting ME to make it, or is this just your way of telling me what you are putting in the one that you are bringing me? hee hee hee
Great Job!
Love you,
Dr. A (or Auntie A to you)
Love the post and the beautiful photos too!
Oh my word, so beautiful! I want to sink my teeth into the computer screen – I can’t wait to see more of what you make!
Thank you for your kindness. I appreciate the feedback Katie 🙂
Nice first post, Monique!! Stop in some time & say hi (you don’t even need to bring a pie, or cheesecake, or brownies, or cookies, or muffins, or banana bread …)
I’ll be sure to stop by soon Chrissy. And of course I’m bringing cupcakes. What else.
I’m a little obsessed with pies! I get so excited when I see pies around the blogsphere!
I saw you put lemon in your pie crust! I’m intrigued! I’ll most definitely try that next time!
Thank you so much, I just checked out your blog! Awesome.
Hi! Do you think there would be another flour that could enhance the flavor of this? I have no problem with all purpose but I Want the absolute best flavor to come out. What do you think of coconut flour instead? I want to make this today for my friend!
I made this pie last night and served it for dinner tonight. It was absolutely amazing! It was perfect with a little whipped cream, it had the perfect balance of fruit. It did come out a little juicy for me, but if you use a slotted spoon to put the fruit in it would come out perfect!
So happy to hear that! Stay tuned for a new pie coming to the blog soon 🙂