Andrea is reporting in on the epic Twitter war between @JPosnanski who thinks “Fruit pie is delicious” vs. @KenTremendous who believes “Hot fruit is disgusting.” Stefin falls in with the majority with “Fruit pie is delicious” while Andrea wavers a bit, since she’s not a fan of cooked apple! Listeners, where do you stand in the hot fruit debate?
Valentine’s Day is approaching and the hosts have several recommendations for dessert. Looking for something besides chocolate? The brilliant red color and old-fashioned flavor of Raspberry Flummery might be a hit. Another fun choice is the Bread & Butter Pudding with Salted Caramel Whiskey Butter Sauce, or the delicious and easy Plum Meringue. Want to serve a special breakfast? How about Jalapeno Cheddar Scones, or Very Delicious Bagels, Easyish-Too. (Just don’t serve Andrea breakfast in bed!) Some kids’ favorites include Sugar Cookie Bars, Moist Chocolate Cake or Stefin’s 2nd Season Blue Ribbon winner, Prince Harry’s Caramel Banana Cake.
Recipe Review: Next Level Banoffee Pie from BBC Good Food
Stefin loved all of the individual components of the Next-Level Banoffee Pie from BBC Good Food Magazine, but she had some individual texture problems that affected her overall review. The Hobnobs made a beautiful crust that came together nicely in her ceramic pie dish. Andrea loved the crust as well, and found her substitution of milk chocolate Hobnobs to be equally delicious. Stefin wondered if her bananas were too ripe, or her caramel wasn’t thick enough. Or perhaps it was her deliberate omission of the banana chips in the filling. Sounds like a second round of testing is in order! Both hosts agreed the peanut butter whipped cream topping truly made the dish “next level.” Andrea’s husband labeled this recipe as the latest “est pie ever!”Two thumbs up from the hosts for this delicious pie. But do enjoy it on day one or day two, as it tasted a bit tired by day three.
Bake Along: Fresh Pear Pie from The Spruce Eats
Move over, apple! Did you know that Pear Pie used to be the most popular fruit pie in America? Pears are one of the oldest cultivated crops in North America, and were very prevalent and easy to grow. This Fresh Pear Pie from The Spruce Eats gives a nod to heritage tradition and helps the hosts uphold their Nineteen for ’19 resolution to cook in season. In the past, Andrea has had great success with the Bourbon Pear Crumble Pie from Joy the Baker while Stefin has never made a pear pie. Andrea mentions she will be “spoiled for choice” with all of the varieties of fresh pears available in the market, which Stefin is not surprised to hear, since Washington is the largest pear producer in the world. Andrea will be mixing her pear varieties and received special dispensation to replace the cinnamon in the recipe with cardamom. Bake along and share your pictures in the Facebook Group!
Intimidation Station: Pie Crust
Preheated listeners continue to find themselves in a bit of a pie predicament when it comes to crust! Stefin reminds everyone that pie crust only has four ingredients: Flour, water, salt and fat. Once you’ve cut the fat in, you add the chilled water. It’s important not to overwork the dough, whether in a bowl with a pastry cutter or in a food processor. When it comes to fat, you have choices: all butter, all shortening, or a combo, such as butter/shortening or butter/leaf lard. Stefin and Andrea like the combo the best since butter provides a delicious flavor while leaf lard or shortening gives the crust its flakiness.
If you’re intimidated by intricate pie crusts, a crumble is an easy and delicious way to top a pie. Andrea and Stefin love the crumble from Kate McDermott’s Art of the Pie. Finally, if you (like the hosts) struggle with a blind bake, watch this helpful video from Christopher Kimball over at Milk Street to pick up some tips and strategies.
Previously on Preheated …
Two Years Ago: Episode 14: Biscoff 10, Willpower 0
One Year Ago: Episode 63: Of Pies and Pearls
=
If you’re intrigued by our podcast, make it easy on yourself and subscribe on Apple Podcasts. That way you can listen to more than one episode, and have them download automatically on your phone or tablet. You can also bake along with us in our Facebook group, Preheated.