Westshore Blog

Try a New Pie

March 14th is Pi Day and while it’s a math joke at heart (3/14, get it?) it’s also a great excuse for, well, pie.  Sweet or savoury, hot or cold, it’s a timeless and delicious dish that’s sure to impress, satisfy, and make your next meal memorable.  To honour the day, we’ve pulled together a couple of great recipes to take your passion for pie to the next level.

If pie conjures up images of a golden-brown flakey crust and buttery pastry, then a traditional crust might be for you.  This kind of crust works great for almost all pies, from apple to pecan to a flavourful chicken pot pie.  Don’t be intimidated — all it takes is cold butter and a pastry blender (check Winners for all the kitchen gadgets and pie plates you could ever need) to make and bake magic.

 

Traditional Pie Crust

Ingredients

  • 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more to dust
  • 1/2 Tbsp granulated sugar
  • 1/2 tsp sea salt
  • 1/2 lb COLD unsalted butter, (2 sticks) diced into 1/4″ pieces
  • 7 Tbsp ice water

Method

  • Place flour, sugar and salt into a large bowl and combine
  • Add cold diced butter and work into the mixture with a pastry blender until coarse crumbs form with some pea-sized pieces then stop mixing. The mixture should still be quite dry and powdery.
  • Add 7 Tbsp ice water and mix until moist clumps or small balls form.
    • Pro tip: press a piece of dough between your fingertips and if the dough sticks together, you have added enough water. If not, add more water a teaspoon at a time.
  • Transfer dough to a clean work surface and gather dough together into a ball. Don’t worry if it’s not smooth, it’s okay. There’s no need to knead the dough. Simply divide dough in half and flatten to form 2 disks. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate 1 hour before use.

 

What’s better than a sweet honey graham cracker? Nothing, especially when you use it to make a delicious pie crust.  If pastry freaks you out or you’re looking for a faster way to make an impressive dessert, look no further than this recipe — perfect for a lemon meringue, key lime, or peanut butter filling.  Need to pick up a few ingredients?  Make a pit stop at Bulk Barn to keep your pantry stocked.

 

Honey Graham Cracker Crust

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs (about 12 full sheets, crushed)
  • 1/3 cup granulated sugar
  • 6 Tablespoons butter, melted

Method

  • Preheat oven to 350F
  • Mix graham cracker crumbs, sugar, and melted butter in a small bowl
  • Pour crumb mixture into an 8″ – 9.5″ pie pan and use the back of a spoon or rubber spatula to press it firmly in the pan.
  • Bake for 10 minutes then remove from oven and allow to cool before filling

 

Whether you make it, buy it, or treat yourself to a bakery slice from Fairway Market, enjoy your pie today and every day. Bon appétit!