Picketing for pie: Blackberry rights
By esther on Tuesday, March 20 2007, 15:32 - Something sweet - Permalink
Originally, this was supposed to be for the Waiter, What's in My...Pie event but that didn't really work out. Well, actually the pie BEFORE this one was supposed to be for the event but that pie quickly turned into the pie that WAS. This one almost suffered the same dangerous fate if not for the sheer and heroic willpower of my mother.
On one of the many blustery nights when I was back home, my mom and I decided to turn on the oven, heat up the kitchen and make ourselves a pie. And since we all (my pops included) think that blackberry pie is hands down the best pie on the planet, the flavor decision was unanimous. The smell of flakey crust and bubbling berries soon filled the house and we all sat around the kitchen waiting impatiently; very, very impatiently. When the oven timer finally went off, it was dark outside and there was no light left to shoot the pie. So, we ate it. All of it. Well, we did share it with my aunt and uncle but still, there wasn't a single sliver left to photograph.
What to do? We did what any good bakers do. We made a second pie the very next day. The crust was even closer to perfection and not a single ounce of berry juice spilled out through the venting. The pie was picture perfect. The only problem was that once again, it was evening, there was no light and the very bad berry pie monsters were getting hungry; very, very hungry. You know that you're a goner when your reasoning starts going something like, "Well, if the three of us only eat half of the pie tonight, that leaves an entire half for pictures tomorrow."
And then, it happened. A slow and steady chant began to fill the room, "More pie, down with photos!, MORE PIE, down with photos!, MORE PIE, DOWN WITH PHOTOS." To my surprise I heard my own voice echoed by my dad's. We were pie possessed and the official unofficial pie strike had begun. We chanted; we stomped our feet; we paraded through the living room. We were united!!!! No backing down until we had more pie!!
Our solidarity paid off, we got our second piece, er... I mean 1/3. I'm almost ashamed to admit that I ate 5/6 of a blackberry pie in less than 48 hours. But then again, it was good; really, really good.
PS: My mom was the only one with enough willpower and thanks to her sacrifice there was one piece left the next morning. This photo is dedicated to her.
Black or other berry Pie
Flaky Pastry for Two-Crust Pie
2/3 to 3/4 c sugar
2 Tbsp. flour (or 1 1/2 T. quick cooking tapioca)
1/2 t. grated lemon zest
1 to 2 tsp. lemon juice
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/8 tsp. salt
4 cup fresh or frozen berries (blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, loganberries or boysenberries)
1 Tbsp. butter
Roll out two crusts and line a 9 inch pie plate with the bottom crust.
Combine all the ingredients except the berries and butter.
Arrange half the berries in the lined pie plate and sprinkle without about half the sugar mixture. Add another layer of berries and the remainder of the sugar mixture.
Dot with butter and add the top crust. Crimp the sides and vent the crust.
Bake at 425°F for 40-50 minutes until the filing is tender and the crust is nicely browned.
Serve warm or cold if there happens to be leftovers.
Comments
Your pie looks really yummy - I don't wonder at all that it was so hard to get a picture!
I have a somewhat similar problem - most of the food I make for the blog is for dinner, and there's no way there'll be enough natural light for me to photograph. However, not only is there a risk of there being no leftovers, when I do take pictures the following afternoon, I always get ravenously hungry and just want to get to the point of wolfing down the food - I don't always have the patience to think about what kind of pictures I want to take!
i'm in total agreement about the dinner pictures. sometimes i can get pictures if i cook early in the day or if the leftovers still look fresh next day. i think this why i have so very many sweets posted - they keep. at least that is what i try to tell myself...
I have looked at this photo everyday (actually several times a day) since you posted and I'm wondering why I am contemplating the need to lose weight when all along I just want to be fat and happy! :\
Not fair....no berries here that would be worth putting in that flaky crust. Looks amazing. Thank you Esther's Mom!
Seems a little unfair that I wasn't around to share in the treat! Ari agrees.
esther, your pictures are incredible! you have a great eye for food as art! and your mom's willpower is one of her many assets!
hey, what sort of creative ideas do you have for rhubarb?