Pi Day Mini-Pies

Earlier this week geeks everywhere celebrated Pi Day. Pi Day is March 14 (3/14). Get it? Huh, do ya? Anyway, for all but the very geekiest, Pi day is mostly an excuse to eat pie. Some local pie places were even giving out free pie. Sadly, I was not able to get in on the free pie, so I had to make my own. I actually made tarts, but I prefer to call them mini-pies. After all, tart day seems like it would be something else all together...but I digress.

 There's not really a recipe here. I picked a pie crust recipe (which I'm not going to bother sharing, I didn't think it was that tasty, but recipes abound on the interwebs) and some fillings. I pressed the dough into greased muffin tins because I wanted my pies to look rustic, but you can roll out your dough and cut nice circles for a more refined look. Then I filled them with cherry and peach filling that I had left over from another project; use whatever you have on hand. I topped each pie with a heart I cut from the dough scraps and baked according to my dough's directions. Just watch the baking time since most recipes are for a whole pie.

Mini-pies are so simple to make that it would be a great Pi Day project for older children to do on their own. Smaller Pi fans can certainly help as well. Short on time? Go ahead and use prepared crust and fillings. I got seven mini-pies from a single crust recipe. You're number is going to vary depending on how thin you roll the crust, how big you make your shells and whether you choose to top them with crust or just go with a single crust. You could also use mini-muffin tins to make mini-mini-pies.

Don't worry about waiting a year to make these, either. They're a great little treat any time. Enjoy!

Pi Day Pie!

Here she is! Oatmeal-Almond Pie. Isn't she a beauty? She is quite tasty, too. How do I know already? Well, I may have sampled devoured the piece I took the picture of. But, hey, I hadn't eaten much of anything today and it has oatmeal in it...healthy...It's got a hearty texture and a sweet, simple flavor.

I got the recipe from Grit Magazine. Here it is with a few notes.

Oatmeal-Almond Pie
Serves 10
Ingredients:

• pastry for a single crust pie (I took a little help here and used a store-bought crust. Spur of the moment pies don't always get home made crusts.)
• 1 cup old-fashioned (not quick cooking) oats
• 1/2 cup sliced almonds (I only had whole, so I chopped them up and used them.)
• 2 eggs
• 2/3 cup melted butter
• 2/3 cup light corn syrup
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 tsp vanilla
• pinch of salt

Directions:

• Heat oven to 350˚F. Adjust pastry in pie pan and flute edges.
• Using electric mixer (I just used a whisk. Dirtying the mixer is not necessary.), combine remaining ingredients (Let the butter cool a bit before you add it to avoid cooking the eggs.) until well-blended. Pour into pie shell.
• Bake for about 45 minutes, or until filling is set.
• Cool completely before cutting.

I did have a few ideas to make her even more yummalicious, including: adding a handful of chocolate chips, chopped dates, or a bit of cinnamon. I'm sure you will enjoy this pie and if you have your own ideas to dress her up a bit more, let me know!

Pi/Pie

Today is March 14th or 3/14 or, in some countries, 3.14. However you slice it (get it? slice...) it's Pi Day! In honor of pi I think I will make some pie. I'm not sure what kind yet. Maybe something chocolatey and comforting. I will post the kind and recipe later today (bonus posts, what?). Meanwhile, go find yourself some yummy pie for lunch or just do some geometry!