"Anytime Of The Day Is A Good Time For Pie"

 Fabienne couldn't have been more right. When I made these pies sometimes I would have a slice after breakfast, sometimes after dinner and other times when I happened to pass the table and couldn't wait for any better time than the present.

If you're pie-shy, you will have to get a copy of Vegan Pie In the Sky and get over it. Before the book came out, I hadn't attempted pies in about ten years because the few attempts I made ended in failure. Now I am well on my way to becoming a pie professional. What I'm most excited about is that the substitutions for pie are much easier than for cupcakes or cookies, so it's even easier to trick and appease omni's now. My mom is totally sold on vegan pies, which is great because as amazing as they are, the other baked goods were a hard sell. Now I know I don't have to eat a whole pie by myself, even though I could if I had to.

I made "She's My Cherry Pie" and the "Chocolate Mousse Tart". They both turned out lovely. Now that I had the correct pan my tart shell turned out just right. I still have to master pressing it into the pan more evenly, but that will come with time. For the cherry pie, I did get crazy with the cutters, so I know to ease up on that for next time. Also, for the first time, I broke the rules and did not trim my crust before crimping it, so it got too crispy. I flaked it off and still had a decent amount of crust, but I definitely learned my lesson.

I can't wait to make more pies from this book. I am thinking of doing the Strawberry Rhubarb Crumb Pie next, but I haven't seen rhubarb at the stores so I might have to do strawberry hand pies instead. That would be the perfect excuse to use the mini lattice pie mold I found at TJ Maxx a month ago. Save room for pie!

Gobble Gobble Gobble

This Maple Pecan Pie was my first recipe from Vegan Pie In The Sky. I've never had pecan pie but have wanted some since last holiday season when my friend told me how good they are. I was always so content with pumpkin I foolishly did not give any other pies a chance. I think this is going to be the beginning of a life-long affair. In fact, I'm not sure I can wait two more days to try this gorgeous pie. The only thing stopping me is thinking of how tacky I will look showing up to my aunt's with just half a pie, or only a wedge for my grandma. If you don't have enough for sharing, don't bring it, right?

My sister and niece are allergic to nuts so I'll  have other options for them. I'm going to make two rounds of Susan Voisin's Double Layer Pumpkin Cheesecake. It's a favorite and I've made it every year since first discovering it. I want to have my niece help me make some sugar cookies with the harvest cutters I bought (leaf, turkey, pumpkin). I'm cheating with a packaged mix for those. I might to give the VPITS Chocolate Mousse Tart another try tomorrow. I've never done tarts before, but I think the biggest mistake was using a flan tin that had a really light bottom (almond colored). I have a square 9" quiche pan that might work better but I'm not sure it's deep enough, so I might just scrap the whole thing and try again when I get the right pan. I only made the shell and noticed it was uneven and burned in some parts so good thing I didn't waste the mousse ingredients too!

Anyhow, I am really happy with how my pie turned out. It was only my second attempt at pie crust so I know they will get better as time goes on. I can't wait to perfect my crimping skills. I can't believe I've been in the kitchen all day long today. I'm going to have some of the "Lotsa Veggies Lentil Soup" I made last night, walk Penny and take it easy for the rest of the evening. I have a lot to do tomorrow!

Summertime in the LBC

 
Since summer is nearly half over my sister is really pushing her "Summer Of Culture" campaign. Saturday we had two stops- The Watts Towers and the Long Beach Museum of Art. I knew she was really looking forward to the towers but I also knew we had better check something else out if we planned to make a day of it. The museums were each seven dollars and I will say that I enjoyed the Towers much more than the LBMA. Maybe because it was the first stop and our tour guide was fabulous, maybe I was tired and wanting to go home after the huge lunch I had between museum stops? I do think I owe them another chance, but I think I saw much more for my three dollars in Riverside. As a consolation, there was a lovely wedding due to take place at the adjoining restaurant.

Want to hear more about the heavy lunch? We went to Zephyr Café in Long Beach. It was our first time and we got there just before it started to fill up. You're supposed to order at the counter but since we didn't know what we wanted, we grabbed a table and looked at the menu. I knew I wanted the M.F. Burger, but I waited for my sister and niece to decide on their orders and let them go first at the counter. In between that this group of lady cyclists came in so my food was about four orders behind the rest of my table. That's why being nice never pays, just kidding.

The soup of the day was a 13 bean affair. I had a few bites and it was really good. Then we shared garlic cheese bread that was not so great, but since my food still wasn't there and the girls' was, I ate it. Finally my burger arrived and I was ready to go for it. The thing was huge and I didn't think I would finish it, but of course I did. It was a bit messy so I had to keep moving the plate closer so I wouldn't spill.Mushrooms and onions and their juices kept coming out. Later on at the museum I kept smelling food and realized I was still wearing a bit of my lunch, great! We ordered our dessert after we ate, which ended up to be the right thing to do. I was so stuffed from my burger I couldn't have ate my own piece of pie even if I wanted to. I shared with my sister and my niece had her own, minus a bite or two. I don't normally eat ice cream with cherry pie, but I just might from now on.

p.s. All pics are by my sister since I forgot to charge my battery before we left. She takes better pics anyway!

what's happening? (Rerun!) - vegan mofo day 22

i'm finally starting to feel a bit better, thanks for the well wishes. i've been experimenting with the neti pot the past few days, haven't quite mastered it, but maybe tomorrow. i've been super congested and tired so haven't had much thought of cooking and also didn't want to sneeze all over whatever i might have made.

i took it easy and made the black and white bean soup again. i wanted to make all new things since it would be more challenging and also more fun, but i think i get a pass since i'm still sick. hopefully this weekend i can get in a good grocery run and some rest and come back stronger next week. i totally thought i would blog everyday, then i was proud to have only missed once but now i think it's three or four days and i'll be glad to finish with the requisite twenty posts.

after the aids walk on sunday we had lunch at california vegan (benjie pancake!) and made a quick whole foods run before it was time to head home. i don't know why we don't have a whole foods, i need to write a letter. anyhow, i got san marzano tomato paste in the tube, so excited! i never knew you could get it in tubes until recently, might have something to do with how high it is on the shelf. i also got some sweet potato puree which might go into a pie or the spice cake beverly lynn bennett has in the latest veg news. i tried to make sweet potato and pumpkin pies about five years ago with little success, but i think it is time to give it another go. i also want to make the double layer pumpkin cheese cake from the all vegan edition of desserts magazine. i only have a few more weeks to practice before thanksgiving, but pie is great anytime.