Lake County Fair Results 2016

This year I entered 4 pies and two cookies.  My Chocolate Chip cookies took First Place.  It is the recipe my family has used for years and they are really good.  My Snickerdoodles took Third Place.  Also, my family's recipe and now the victim of what is clearly a conspiracy...  Anyway, you're here about pie.

For the Blueberry Class, I entered my Blue Hawaii Pie.  This pie won First Place and also Grand Champion for the Pie Division.  What everyone, the judges and more importantly my mother, seems to like about this pie is the freshness of the blueberries.  I also got a positive comment on the crust.

For the Apple Class, I entered my Taffy Apple Pie.  This pie also won First Place.  Though the top crust was criticized for being too thick.

For the Other Pie Class, I entered the Chocolate Truffle Tart.  This also won First Place.

For the Pumpkin Class, I entered the Pumpkin Spice Latte Chiffon Pie.  This won Second Place.  But I am not surprised.  On the entry tag, there is no place to write the name of your pie.  So with comments like "Not a 'pumpkin pie' flavor" and "filling soft," I think there were expecting a traditional pumpkin pie.  This is definitely not that.  I also had to laugh because a comment here also complained about the crust, which is the same crust as the Blue Hawaii.

So, now, I guess it is time to focus on my pies for the state fair...

Piece out!
Justin

Pi Day 2016

Happy Pi Day!

This year for my pi pies, I made the Jammie Dodger Pie with a pi crust (though it is hard to read, the numbers around the edge are 3.141592653589) and the Chocolate Truffle Tart with the chocolate wafer crust and used my new pi cutter to dust the symbol onto the top.

I also ran the Illinois Science Council's Pi Day Pi K Fun Run while wearing my Pi Day shirt from last year and a hat shaped like a slice of pumpkin pie.  I ran it 34 minutes and 36 seconds.  I also submitted this time for the Pi Day 5K Virtual Run, for which I should receive my swag in a couple weeks.

Since the start of this blog, one year ago today, it has been a big year for me and pie.  I won four ribbons at county and state fairs.  I won an apron in a pie contest at school.  I baked pies for local police officers for National Pie Day.  And as the whipped cream on top of it all, I ran a personal best for the Pi K.  I'm looking forward to what the coming year will bring!

Piece out!

Justin

Chocolate Truffle Tart

This is another recipe from Gourmet Holiday Baking magazine.  I really wanted to make this pie, but I knew that there was no way that I would be able to eat the whole thing in a timely fashion.  So, I made it for my neighbor.

Instead of a spring form pan, I used a free-bottom tart pan.  And instead of a crust made of chocolate wafer cookies, I made it with speculoos. 

Speculoos Crust:

7 oz of speculoos (This is one box from Trader Joe's.)

8 tablespoons of melted butter.

In a food processor, grind the cookies down to dust, then drizzle in the melted butter.  

Press with hands into the tart pan.  

Refrigerate for 30 minutes before filling.

The filling is made by melting 1/2 pound of 60% cacao bittersweet chocolate with 6 tablespoons of butter.  Whisk 2 eggs, 1/3 cup of heavy cream, 1/4 cup of sugar, 1/4 tsp of salt, and a teaspoon of vanilla.  Then whisk the chocolate mixture into the egg mixture until well combined.

Then bake the tart at 350oF for 20-25 minutes.  Then let it cool and sprinkle with unsweetened cocoa powder.

Since I gave this pie as a gift, I have no idea how it tastes.  However, the text I received from my neighbor said "the pie is Michelin 3 stars worthy!  Perfect!  Don't change a thing! Thank you!" followed by three tongue-hanging-out emojis.

Piece out!

Justin