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Caramel Apple Galette
Fall is here in full force, and it is as beautiful as ever. I played hooky from work one day last week to go up the shore with a friend in search of fall colors and beautiful views. We hiked a section of the Superior Hiking Trail near Silver Bay, MN, stopping halfway through to enjoy a picnic lunch of cheese, wine, and Oreos (don’t hate – they’re the best and you know it). The view overlooking Bean and Bear Lakes was unbelievable — 100% worth the effort to get there. Pie Season I haven’t made a single pie yet this fall. I’ve been working on a big and chocolatey…
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Mini Rhubarb Galettes
Oh rhubarb, my rhubarb. I can’t express to you how much I love rhubarb. It fills me with childhood memories of eating the tart crunchy stalks straight from the ground dipped in sugar, and of course of scores of delicious baked goods filled with it. My hands-down favorite way to enjoy rhubarb is in pie form. I love the sweet-tartness of rhubarb filling inside a flaky, buttery crust. There’s just nothing better. These Mini Rhubarb Galettes are as simple as can be – you don’t even need a pie pan. Just roll out buttery dough, pile filling in the center, fold the edges in, bake, and voila! You have personal-sized…
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Etta’s Pumpkin Pie
My Grandma made the BEST pumpkin pie. Seriously. I know everyone says their Grandma/Mom/Dad/Aunt/Uncle/whoever makes the best one, but I’m telling you hers trumps them all. This pie has convinced even the biggest pumpkin pie haters – it’s that good. Pie Month would not be complete without this recipe. I’m not even sure exactly what makes it so good – there are no crazy ingredients or fancy techniques involved. It just has the perfect flavor blend of molasses-tinged custard, pumpkin, and spices. It tastes like Thanksgiving, family gatherings, and the best holiday memories. And the best part about it? It’s super simple, quick to throw together, and best if made…
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Maple Pecan Pie
Updated November 2023 Pie month continues with one of my favorites — Maple Pecan Pie! I’ve always loved Pecan Pie. It’s such a rich, toasty, nutty flavor that goes great with a scoop of ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream. This version swaps pure maple syrup and a touch of molasses for the usual corn syrup, resulting in a distinctly fall-ish flavor — perfect for your Thanksgiving feast! A Dessert Table Alternative to Pumpkin I LOVE pumpkin pie, but I know that not everyone else does. This pie is a great alternative for your guests who’d rather not partake of the pumpkin. This recipe is slightly adapted from…
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Apple Slab Pie with Chai Spices and Lemon Drizzle
I’m officially declaring November “Pie Month”. I have so many pies I want to share with you that I decided to pump them out this month in preparation for Thanksgiving. Get ready for the sweet flakiness my friends — it’s going to be so good! Let’s get a head start with this Apple Slab Pie with Chai Spices. A few weeks ago, a friend and I took a day trip over to Bayfield, WI for their annual Apple Fest. It’s one of my favorite fall traditions — gorgeous leaves, mulled wine, Lake Superior beauty, and apple EVERYTHING. It’s the fall-iest thing. I love it so much, even in the rain…
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Peach Ginger Pie
One last summer recipe before fall begins in earnest, before we give in to all of the pumpkin spice and apple cinnamon flavors of this next season. This Peach Ginger Pie is the best way to use up that last batch of peaches and have one more taste of summer. This is a simple recipe, as all the best fruit pie recipes are – just fruit, sugar, corn starch (to thicken the filling), and ginger. Plus your favorite flaky pie crust. Simple, but heavenly all the same. Pie Crust and Pie Birds For the pie crust, see my Rhubarb Custard Pie recipe for ingredients and instructions (including photos). It makes…
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Plum Slab Pie
Ok guys, the time of year has begun where we make ALL THE PIES. For the next 6 months, let’s put everything into flaky, buttery crusts. Deal? If you’re not convinced, let me try to entice you with this Plum Slab Pie. Yep, you read that right – Plum SLAB Pie. It’s pie in slab form. Because why would we want a measly little 9″ round pie when we can have a slab of it instead?? Slab pie is made exactly the same way as regular pie, except you use a half sheet pan instead of a pie pan. It’s great for feeding a crowd. (I bet you have a…
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Sour Cherry Galette
Summer is full of amazing flavors and seasonal fruits, veggies, and flowers. Since I live in a place where the growing season is extremely short, I am frantic to capture these flavors before they’re gone. For me that means a bevy of jams, sauces, cakes, and my personal favorite – PIES. This Sour Cherry Galette is a prime example. It’s not quite sour cherry season here in Duluth (I think that comes in a few weeks) but I had some in the back of my freezer that needed to be used up. That’s one problem with trying to preserve all of those seasonal fruits – my freezer ends up full…
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Rhubarb Custard Pie
It’s finally rhubarb season here in northern Minnesota, and the rhubarb is plentiful. While I love all things rhubarb, I think it’s at its best and most beautiful in a pie. This rhubarb custard pie is by far my favorite treat of the season – tart, tangy rhubarb enveloped in a sweet nutmeg-laced custard and enclosed in the flakiest, buttery pie crust. It’s heaven. This recipe isn’t my own. I got it several years ago from a customer while working at a local kitchen store (shout out to Duluth Kitchen Co! Also, I don’t remember exactly who that customer was, so if you’re reading this and it was you, please…
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Classic Banoffee Pie
Banoffee Pie is a classic British dessert, first invented at a pub in East Sussex in 1971. Even so, I always think of it around St. Patty’s Day (probably because the first time I tried Banoffee was while visiting Northern Ireland). So even though it isn’t technically Irish, I still think it makes the most delightful St. Patty’s Day treat. Plus, Pi day happens a few days before St. Patty’s Day (3.14, get it?), so this pie can pull double duty. If you’re not familiar with Banoffee Pie, it’s made with layers of bananas, dulce de leche, and whipped cream, all inside a buttery graham cracker crust. In other words,…
Recipes and Musings from the Zenith City
