Easy as pie – Hive and Nest

I hate that saying because making pie is really complicated.  Maybe that’s what the phrase is supposed to mean.  That something is very complicated and time-consuming.  

I don’t really care much for pie; particularly fruit pies (why would someone want fruit in their dessert–unless it’s lemons?)   But I do make a few great pies.  My apple pie is very tasty.  Arianne, my sister who doesn’t even like apple pie, always begs me to make them for her.  If she’s desperate I’ll say yes but only if she peels and cuts the apples because I loathe that part.

Most people seem scared of pie.  The crust is one big reason.  Since autumn is coming soon (for some people.  Me, I have a couple of months still.) here is a fantasticly wonderful tutorial on making apple pie.  It’s from King Arthur Flour, the lovely company from Vermont that has been milling their own flour since the 1700’s. You can get it at many stores around the country, but I buy it in bulk whenever the company offers free shipping.  It is such high quality.  I simply wouldn’t bake without it.  But I’m picky.

Oh, by the way, one of the ingredients King Arthur recommends in their pie recipe (which is superb.  It’s very similar to mine.) is Boiled Cider. They, of course, are one of the few places to buy it.  It is $10 per bottle (plus shipping) which makes it kind of expensive, but if you plan on doing several pies over the holidays I would highly recommend getting a bottle.  It makes a huge difference!