Seventeen Pies for Pi Day

 

Pies for Pi Day. Genius!

Pi Day, where have you been all my life? I had never heard of it before. Well, I mean, I was aware of all of the components: I knew that pi is 3.14 . . . and I knew that 3/14 was a yearly date on the calendar, and I certainly knew that any and every reason to eat pie is a good reason. What I didn't know is that some brilliant person put all of that together and started the yearly Pi Day celebration.

I was first enlightened when my kids were in elementary school. The was a celebration planned and any parents who could were asked to send in a pie. The results would be a mile long (OK, I may be exaggerating a little, but it was a sight to see) table full of an epic pie smorgasbord.

Sign me up. The boys picked their favorite pie for me to send in, and I made another for our family for dessert that night.

It doesn't matter if you're a Pi Day veteran, or a Pi Day newbie, if you have favorite pies, or are looking for some new ideas, whatever the situation, I am SO here for you.

Whether you prefer fruit, chocolate, nuts, ice cream, alcohol infused, or lead free, baked or no baked, I've got options for you. Today I'm sharing 17 of our favorite pi(e) recipes, hoping some of them become your new favorites too.

Oh, and why 17? Did you figure it out? 3 + 14 for 3/14, of course.

Links to all of my recipes are listed below, from the top left (#1) to the bottom right (#17)

1) Caramel Apple Crumble

Tart (or semi-tart) apples offset the creamy caramel candies melted into this crumble. Baked with, of course, a crunchy brown sugar topping.

2) Nutella Krisp Pie

The filling in this single crust pie includes Nutella, crispy chocolate cereal, and butterfingers bits. A chocolate lovers' dream.

3) Spiced Pie with Pecans

This adults only version of pecan pie is spiced and spiked.

4) Chocolate Raspberry Ice Cream Pie

This ice cream pie features raspberry flavors along with the crunch of chocolate cookies. Easy to assemble, perfect for making ahead.

5) Chocolate Peppermint Pie

The flavor of a peppermint patty in pie form. The crust can be made a day in advance, and the filling is no bake.

6) Strawberry Biscoff Ice Cream Pie

This beautiful ice cream pie pairs strawberry and speculoos (cookie Butter).

7) French Toast Pumpkin Pie

As delicious as it is pretty, this pumpkin filling is mixed with a hint of cream cheese, and baked in a circle of cinnamon French toast sticks.

8) Brownie Butterfingers Pie

This pie is a dressed up option to brownie squares. A walnut crust and brownie filling with bits of butterfingers.

9) Berry White Chocolate Chip Pie

This pie features yur choice of berries, baked into a pie crust and topped with a white chocolate chip crumble.

10) Spiked Caramel Pie

Amaretto is paired with caramel in this decadent pie.

11) Berry Key Lime Pie in a Nut Crust

Witth a unique crust and the addition of berries, this pie is a delicious take on a classic pie.

12) Apple Wassail Pie

Add the flavors of the traditional hot apple drink to your apple pie.

13) Tropical Fruit Pie

A walnut crust has a creamy orange pineapple center and is garnished with toasted coconut.

14) Almond White Chocolate Cranberry Pie

Almonds, cranraisins, and white chocolate chips provide the flavor in this easy to make dessert.

15) Peach Pecan Pie

A classic pie with a fruity spin. So easy, the filling is mixed up in just one bowl, then pour into the crust and bake.

16) Brownie Crusted Mint Ice Cream Pie

Mint chocolate mix-ins are folded into ice cream and frozen in a brownie crust.

17) Raspberry Prosecco Pie

This unique pie features raspberry and Prosecco, a perfect pairing.

Happy Baking! Happy Eating! Happy Pi(e) Day!

Sticks, Stones, and TMI: Fly on the Wall

 

Welcome to our monthly Fly on the Wall, a blog post written in snippets. Marcia, Diane, and I invite you to catch a glimpse of what you’d see if you were a fly on the wall in our homes, at our writing desks, and in our worlds. Come on in, buzz around, see what we've been up to. Bet you laugh! 

 

It was about 8:30 pm. Hubs and I were heading home. Coming down the street, we see College Boy a few houses up from ours, looking around, then walking down the street past our house, looking around.

We drive up to where he is:

Me: What are you looking for?
College Boy: Dinner.

Me: Well, most people would look in the oven . . . or the fridge . . . but, carry on.

We were in the house when he came in a few minutes later. 

When he first got here and we weren't home, he decided to have a burger delivered to the house for dinner, he'd eat while waiting for us to come home.

He got a text that his dinner had been delivered, along with a picture of the bag sitting by the door. Unfortunately, it wasn't our door. Before contacting the deliverer, he walked up and down the street trying to see if it was nearby. It wasn't. The driver had to come back, retrieve it from wherever it had ended up, and bring the burger to the house.

He got a full refund and a free (but cold) dinner.

I get so frustrated when spammers try to leach off of my Baking In A Tornado FB page by leaving links as comments in my posts.

And it's often 5 or 6 times, one after another. Each link is the same, but the verbiage is different. I have to go in, delete the link, and block the FB page that left it.

Me: Ugh, this is so frustrating.

College Boy: What?

Me: These spam links left on my page, like this one.

College Boy: What does it say?

Me: Well, this one is a link to the miracle doctor this woman claims cured her herpes.

College Boy: Maybe you shouldn't delete it.

Me: Why?

College Boy: You know, just in case . . .

Sometimes it can be a bit misleading to walk in on a conversation without knowing the context. I walked into the den where Hubs and PurDude were.

Hubs: Call your balls! You need to call your balls.

Me: Really? I know you guys somehow think it's cute to name for your "sticks," but I've never heard of calling your "stones." What do you call yours?

PurDude: Stop! TMI. Jeez you guys, TMI!

Turns out Hubs and PurDude were watching baseball. Someone hit a pop up and, in their attempt to catch the ball, because neither called the ball, the two fielders collided.

Meanwhile, looks like I may need to pay for counseling for my son . . .

I walk into the kitchen and Hubs is adding something to the checkbook. Yes, we still keep a checkbook, between him using his debit card, me using mine, the few checks we need to send out, pre-scheduled payments, and direct deposits, we need to know where we stand. 

Hubs had come in from work, was putting what he's spent in the checkbook when he looked up:

Hubs: I caught you.

Me: What did I do now?

Hubs: What did you spend $5000 on that's not in the checkbook.

Me: Huh?

Hubs shows me my last addition to the check book. We'd had $7999.35. I'd notated a refund credit for $1.80, and posted a balance of $2583.79.

And honestly, I have no idea how I came up with that.

It was Independence Day, and I always make up fun cocktails to sip while sitting out front watching the neighborhood fireworks.

But, of course, I had to make up a quick batch a few days before just to . . . you know . . . make sure they would come out the way I wanted.

I might mention here that I love Chambord. And, of course, cool refreshing ice cream. Perfect to pair the two for a hot summer night.

The day I'd made my trial batch, I took a taste, and yum! So I kept drinking.

And Hubs came in and caught me with a glass in each hand.

Hubs: You drinking both of those yourself?

Me: I asked you if you wanted one, but you didn't answer.

Hubs: I didn't hear you.

Me: Probably because I was whispering.

Chambord Ice Cream Cocktail

I hate the intrusion into my life that the internet provides, tracking everything I do online to take advantage of me (all of us). Sometimes they're at least on track with my likes and/or needs. 

But lately, not so much.

First, I noticed that FB was constantly (like 10 times a day) bombarding my feed with posts from a bariatric surgery recipe group. And I thought it was a fluke. I blocked the posts from my feed (for no other reason than it just doesn't pertain to me), and went on with my life. 

Next thing you know, I'm getting tons of posts in my FB feed from a Weight Watchers group. 

And today I went to my inbox to find an email from Sono Bello informing me that it's not too late to get my body back.

I don't know what all this is coming from, but I'm starting to feel judged.

 

Some lessons you just end up learning the hard way. This was one I already should have learned long ago, to pay attention to what you're doing when baking.

I had some of my ingredients on the counter, including the vinegar. I was thirsty, so I grabbed my water bottle out of the fridge and stuck it on the counter before I went to get the flour and baking powder.

Thinking about the recipe and not paying attention to what was going on, you know what I did, right? Let me just say that a mouthful of vinegar is no bueno.

On the plus side, you can bet I'll never do that again.

I'd had a few biopsies on my face and came home with bandaids over my nose. Needless to say, it didn't look pretty. College Boy came in the house, looked at me, and stopped short.

College Boy: What happened to you?

Me: You should see the other guy.

College Boy: I know you didn't get in a fight.

Me: Yeah, the other guy was a doctor, and he got away without a scrape.

I was in the den when College Boy came in and headed upstairs.

College Boy: OK if I grab a few supplies from your bathroom?
Me: What do you need?

College Boy: Just some toothpaste, soap, and Q tips.

Me: OK, that's fine.

College Boy comes downstairs and looks . . . perturbed.

College Boy: Do you really think it's a good idea to leave that jar of vaseline right there on your bedside table?

Me: You try getting old.

College Boy: TMI, mom, TMI!

Actually, the doctor wanted me put vaseline on the biopsy wounds. Hubs found it for me and just stuck it on my bedside table. 

But I see no reason to tell College Boy that . . .

The beginning of the month of July is loud around here. And sometimes it's hard to distinguish what is what.

Monday, July 1st:

Hubs: Is that thunder?
Me: No, it's fireworks.

Tuesday July 2nd:
Hubs: Is that fireworks?
Me: No, it's thunder.

Wednesday July 3rd:
Hubs: Is that thunder or fireworks?
Me: Neither. That's my stomach grumbling.

 

Now click on the links below and see what my friends have to share:

Menopausal Mother 

On the Border

Chambord Ice Cream Cocktail

                                                                       ©www.BakingInATornado.com

Printable Recipe

Ingredients (makes 2):

1 pint Birthday cake ice cream

1/2 cup Chambord

6 oz fresh raspberries

1 TBSP multicolored nonpareils

OPT: whipped cream and/or decorative sprinkles for garnish

Directions:

*Place the ice cream into a large bowl. Add the Chambord and whisk until smooth.

*Clean, pat dry, and chop the raspberries. Add them, along with multicolored nonpareils to the bowl and mix.

*NOTE: You can pour into glasses, garnish and serve, or for a slushier cocktail, freeze for 2 hours, then spoon into glasses, garnish and serve.

The Rain has to Stop Somewhere

  

It's been raining here. That's an understatement. It's been like build an ark amount of rain. Our sump pump is working overtime. The spot on our lawn where it drains? Let's just say these days it resembles a bird bath. And don't get me started on the subject of my fears that it's become a mosquito breeding ground.

Good news: I don't have to water my outdoor flower pots. Bad news: all those pretty flowers could very well drown.

Every morning, I look out at the skies saying "please don't, please just don't."

Between the rain going on outside and the terrifying political news on the TV inside, it's been tough.

But yesterday was the 4th of July, Independence Day, and we were lucky enough to have a break from the rains. We were able to cook out, eat our ice ceam pie on the front porch hearing the bangs and booms, watching the skies over our neighborhood light up with fireworks.

It was celebratory, but hampered by the fear in the back of my mind that, with the possibility of a dictator taking power and putting a (further) stranglehold on our freedoms, this could be our last celebration of independence, of everything this country was meant to be.

And now, today, well, you know. "Please don't, please just don't."

All of this rain has brought back a memory from when I was little. Something unusual. Unusual to me, at least. 

I was probably around 9 years old and we were visiting my great aunt and uncle in West Palm Beach as we did each winter. I had walked all the way past the fountain and up the long rock driveway to the street. Just as I got there, it had started to rain, a late morning shower. But as I looked to the side, I realized that it wasn't raining. Strange. As far as I could see down one side of the road it was raining. All the way down the other it was dry.

I took a step out of the rain, into the rain, out of the rain. And in that moment, I was visually aware that, of course, the rain has to stop somewhere. I mean it happens all the time when you're in a car driving through the rain, then, if you drive far enough, come out of the storm. But this was different. I was there. Standing in that exact spot where the rain just stopped. 

Under the cloud or out into the sunshine, the choice was mine.

Strawberry Biscoff Ice Cream Pie

So yes, I know that any rain to fall here would eventually stop here. "The sun will come out tomorrow," and all that crap. But I also know that at this moment, somewhere, there is a line. The rain has to stop somewhere. 

And today, boosted by the celebration of Independence Day and all that our freedom means to so many of us, I have hope that wherever that line may be, someone is making the choice to take just one step to the left, out from under that dark cloud and into the sunlight. 

Not just for themself, but for us all. 

Strawberry Biscoff Ice Cream Pie

                                                                       ©www.BakingInATornado.com

Printable Recipe

Ingredients:

4 TBSP butter

1 TBSP cookie butter

1 package Biscoff cookies (32 cookies)

2 TBSP sugar

4 cups strawberry ice cream

2 strawberries

1 cup heavy cream

2 TBSP powdered sugar

3 TBSP strawberry syrup

OPT: the 3 remaining cookies and/or sliced strawberries for garnish

Directions:

*Melt the butter and cookie butter in the microwave and set aside.

*Preheat oven to 375 degrees and grease a deep dish pie plate.

*Crush 25 of the Biscoff cookies into crumbs, then mix with the sugar and melted butter/cookie butter mixture. Press into the bottom and partially up the sides of the pie plate. Bake for 6 minutes, refrigerate to cool completely.

*While the crust is cooling, place the ice cream in a large bowl on the counter for 10 - 15 minutes to soften.

*Chop 4 of the remaining Biscoff cookies into chunks. Hull and chop the strawberries.

*Beat the heavy cream until soft peaks form. Add the powdered sugar and strawberry syrup and beat until stiff peaks hold. Reserve about 1/2 cup in the refrigerator for garnish.

*Mix the chopped cookies and strawberries into the softened ice cream, then fold in the remaining whipped cream. Spread into the crust and freeze for 1/2 hour. 

*Top with the reserved whipped cream. garnish with the remaining cookies and or additional strawberries, if desired. Freeze for at least 2 hours (best if frozen overnight) before serving.

The Not So Ready Whip: Fly on the Wall

  

 

Welcome to a monthly Fly on the Wall group post. Today 2 bloggers are inviting you to catch a glimpse of what you’d see if you were a fly on the wall in our homes. Come on in and buzz around my house. At the end of my post you’ll find links to this month’s other participants’ posts.

There was a bee in the house, on the window in the kitchen eating area by the slider to the deck. I was freaking out and, of course, no one was home.

I grabbed the fly swatter and smacked the window. I could swear I got it, but it didn't move. That's when Hubs comes in and walks up behind me.

Hubs: What are you doing?

Me: I saw a bee. Where were you? You can't be gone when I see a bee.

Hubs (carefully removing the fly swatter from my hand): It's OK, why don't you go sit down, maybe put your glasses on, he can't get you.

Yeah, the bee was on the window. The outside of the window.

 

 

Anyone who follows my Baking In A Tornado FB page had a little glimpse into what I'm dealing with here:

I'm telling you, the struggle is real.

It was the middle of a broiling hot afternoon, and all I could think of was cooling off.

College Boy called, he was at the Taco Bell around the corner from the house getting a volcano something or other and wanted to know if I wanted anything. I don't like Taco Bell to begin with, but hot spicy food is the opposite of what I was thinking. I told him that since they don't serve milkshakes, I'd pass.

Later that night, he called again. He was driving by another fast food restaurant and thought he'd stop and get milkshakes for himself, Hubs and I.

Hubs (walking into the room): Oh, who were you talking to?

Me: College Boy, he's bringing us all milkshakes. You're welcome.

Hubs: Umm, thank you. But why am I thanking you?

Me: Because subliminal messaging. It's a thing. And I am the master.

Hubs was just hanging around the house so it didn't matter but, of course, I had to say something:

Me: I think your shirt is on inside out.

Hubs (looking down): I don't think so, looks fine to me.

Me (rolling my eyes): Well, unless you're James Bond, I'm pretty sure the pocket goes on the outside.

I had tried a new recipe, a Mint Cookie Ice Cream Cake. When I went to take a picture it, I wanted just a little dollop of whipped cream in the center of the top. I decided, rather than making a whole batch of whipped cream just for the 1 TBSP I'd need for the pic, to just use Redi Whip.

We were all out. I checked a few grocery store websites to see who had it in stock nearby, and at what price.

At the second nearby store website, I typed in "Redi Whip," and besides the actual Redi Whip, some other options came up, like the store brand version, and Cool Whip, and . . .

Toto, I don't think we're in Kansas any more.

Mint Cookie Ice Cream Cake

Listen, everyone knows that you don't leave just a tiny bit of something. It's just rude. Finish it off and open a new one for the next person, that's what I believe.

I was making dinner, Fiery Shrimp. Hubs wasn't home yet, and College Boy was coming for dinner too. I got to the part where you add 2 TBSP white wine. I pulled the bottle out of the fridge, added the wine and the rest of the ingredients.

When I went to recork the wine and put it back in the fridge, I realized there wasn't much left, maybe 1/4 cup  1/2 cup  1 cup . . . I don't know, not much. I was obliged to finish it off and put another bottle in the fridge to cool.

Which was how Hubs and College ended up walking into the kitchen as I was guzzling wine straight from the bottle. 

I tried to explain that I was just being considerate but . . . let's just say that didn't go over so well.

It's amazing to me that someone always shows up in all of those moments that I'd prefer no one witness.

So, of course, Hubs walks into the kitchen just as I'm taking my shoes out of the fridge.

Hubs: Are those your shoes?

Me: Yup.

Hubs: Are you taking them out of the fridge?
Me: Maybe.

Hubs: Why would your shoes be in there?

Me: Think before you answer . . . do you really want to know?

Hubs (walking away): I think I'm good.

You better be good too, 'cause I'm not explaining it to you either. 

I was in the kitchen putting the groceries away when my fingernail bent all the way back. I yelled "ouch."

Hubs was down in his man cave and I must have screamed louder than I thought, because he came up to see if I was OK.

The next day, we were out front when I noticed that way low on that fingernail I bent back, just under the skin, it was black and blue.

"Look at this," I called out to Hubs, holding up my finger to show him.

Apparently, the neighbors were just coming out of their house. They took one look at me, on the front lawn giving my husband the finger, and abruptly turned around and hurried back in their front door.

For the past year or so, College Boy has been eating very little meat, he prefers fish and vegetables. Sometimes, in some ways, he may eat beef or chicken, but not often.

This can be a problem when he comes in at dinner time and I'm making something he doesn't necessarily want to eat. He wants to stay, and I want him to stay, but we need to figure something out. 

This day, I had grilled chicken. I suggested I chop up some of the chicken, mix it with mayo and green onions, roll it up in a tortilla with lettuce and cheese. 

College Boy thought that would be a good way to get dinner into him.

Get dinner into him? My grown son needs a way to get my cooking into him? Well, that's a stab to the heart.

PS: The chicken roll up was delish.

PPS: No one seemed to have any trouble getting the Mint Cookie Ice Cream Cake into them.

I was in the bathroom one afternoon when I saw that there was no toilet paper on the roll. I was so angry, this is a pet peeve of mine and everyone knows it. So inconsiderate.

After I was done in the bathroom, and had replaced the roll, I was ready to give someone a piece of my mind.

I went out into the front hall, so you could hear me on all 3 floors.

Me (yelling): OK, WHO DID NOT REPLACE THE TOILET PAPER?

Nothing.

Me (even angrier): DO NOT IGNORE ME. WHO DID NOT REPLACE THE TOILET PAPER?

I was trying to decide whether to start upstairs or downstairs, when I realized everyone was at work, I was alone in the house.

So, who didn't replace the toilet paper? Ummm . . . me?

 

 

 

Now click on the links below for a peek into some other homes:

Menopausal Mother

Mint Cookie Ice Cream Cake

                                                                       ©www.BakingInATornado.com

Printable Recipe

Ingredients:
7 - 8 mint chocolate chip ice cream sandwiches

1 carton (48 oz) cookies and cream ice cream

12 chocolate covered mint wafer cookies, divided

2 TBSP chocolate syrup

Directions:
*Take the bottom off of a 9 inch springform pan. Using a very long piece of plastic wrap, cover the sides of the pan so there is a little hangover at the bottom, the rest hanging over the top. Place the bottom back on the pan.

*Cut the ice cream sandwiches in half. Arrange them, cut side down, along the plastic wrap covered sides of the pan and place in the freezer.

*Crush 8 of the cookies to crumbs and set aside. Chop the other 4 cookies into pieces.

*Place the cookies and cream ice cream in a bowl on the counter for 10 minutes to start to soften. Cut in the 4 chopped cookies and spoon the ice cream into the springform pan, leaving the ice cream sandwich pieces along the edges. Press down gently and make sure the top is even. Freeze for one hour.

*Drizzle the chocolate syrup over the cake, then sprinkle the cookie crumbs along the sides. Freeze until hardened (works best to just freeze overnight).