Cake vs. Pie

Last night two of my friends hosted a Cake vs. Pie baking competition as a shared birthday party.  Everyone brought a cake or pie to enter in the competition.  I made a cake inspired by my favorite girl-scout cookie, the Samoa:

To make this cake, I layered the batters of half a yellow cake and half a chocolate cake into a glass pie dish and had a small round tart pan in the center to shape the cake with a hole in the middle.  It is frosted with a thick, sticky caramel glaze which I mixed with toasted coconut.  I used the remaining coconut to cover the top and make a crispy outer layer.  Finally, I carefully dressed the cake with a chocolate drizzle in the same style as its little cookie cousin.
Ralph decided to make a banoffee pie to bring to the party:

Banoffee pie is a graham cracker (biscuit) crust layered with sliced bananas, filled with thick caramel (toffee), topped with freshly whipped cream and a sprinkle of shaved chocolate.  Unfortunately, he accidentally bought regular condensed milk instead of the sweetened variety; and, after several hours of boiling, he opened the cans to find boiled milk instead of thick caramel.  It was very disappointing because he didn't have time for a do-over before the party.  Fortunately for me, he decided to make it today instead and I finally got to try the English delicacy.  I may or may not have eaten two slices and called it dinner.  This pie is amazing, but sadly not vegan.  I would like to say here that I will make a vegan banoffee pie one day; but, I'm truly doubtful that I could ever come up with a replacement for the creamy caramel center.
As for the rest of the competitors at the party, I have to say it was a very talented crowd.  Everyone brought something beautiful and delicious to the table:



It was a gorgeous spread.  There was even cake vodka:

Incidentally, it is an English vodka.  If you've read my previous post about the English calling everything either biscuit or cake, you will know why this is funny.
My Samoa cake was the only vegan entry and it was being judged against rich cheese cakes, so I didn't expect it to make it to anyone's top three list.  There were three awards:  best cake, best pie, and best over-all.  The best pie award went to the yellow-crusted pie at the bottom of the above photograph.  It was a chicken curry pie and people were raving about it.  Obviously, being vegetarian, I couldn't try it; but, I'm going to ask for the recipe to see if I can convert it.  Here is the sour cream cheesecake that (deservingly) won best over-all:

It was made from a secret family recipe that has been passed down through generations.  I wished my sister was there to try it.  She loves cheesecake more than I love dogs.  And that's a LOT.  Finally, the best cake award went to my Samoa cake!!!  It is now called Emily's award-winning Samoa cake.   It was very exciting to place in the top three when there were so many good things on the table to choose from.  Here's my cheesy grin and adorable hand-made ribbon (which will be going on the wall of my bakery when it opens):

Only Forgive An Ugly Pie If It Is Followed By a Beautiful One

It may be passe to be talking about Thanksgiving in December, but I feel obligated to share my Thanksgiving pies.  We don't have to discuss the pumpkin pie (non-vegan).  It was sugar and spice and everything nice; but in the end, it was still just a pumpkin pie.  But the apple pie.  Oh, the apple pie!  It was beautiful!  I couldn't take my eyes off of it from the time it first emerged from the oven.  We served it with my boyfriend's homemade warm vanilla custard.  It was the perfect end to a perfect feast!

I followed the same recipe I used in the Forgive a Pie post, but cooked the apples a little bit before putting them in the crust so they would cook all the way through.  (They were a little crisp last time).
I have several things to report on crust.
1.  When making dough for pie crust, make sure the earth balance and shortening are COLD.  Put them in the freezer way in advance and let them freeze solid (if you are using a food processor to cut the dough).  TIP:  If you can't find earth balance in sticks, measure it out in tablespoons and drop onto a parchment-lined sheet and but them in the freezer.   They will freeze into perfect chunks for dropping into the food processor.
2.  Be sure to flatten the ball of dough into a disk shape before you refrigerate it.  It will be easier to roll out later.
3.  When rolling out dough, heavily flour the surface and lightly flour the top of the dough.  Always roll out away from you and turn the dough a quarter turn after each roll.  Turning the dough will keep it dusted with flour on the bottom and prevent sticking.
4.  Here is a youtube video that shows how to do lattice for pie.  It's really easy, but it's helpful to watch.  http://youtu.be/phxya2vY5OM?t=14s
5.  Don't get overly excited when you are transferring your pie from a hot baking sheet to a wire cooling rack, or this might happen:


That is all.

Lessons on Pie

Yesterday, my friend Jenn came over to teach me how she makes pie crust.  We were skeptical at first about the making of a vegan pie crust, but as you can see, it turned out beautifully.  I am now a little bit obsessed with pie.  The possibilities are endless!  I have visions of savory and sweet pies.  Pies made from fresh fruit, dried fruit, cheeses, herbs, pies with leaves, and pies with hats, pies with birds, and pies with UNICORNS!!!
The great thing about pie is that it can be filled with just about anything your heart desires.  The not so great thing about pie is that it makes just about everything infinitely more unhealthy.  I'm going to have to walk a lot of dogs to work off this hobby.
Jenn made a balsamic strawberry pie with a basil crust:


The final outcome:

I made a blueberry-peach pie with cinnamon and ginger:

Jenn forgot her pie birds when she came over, so we made our own out of foil.  I think next time, I will make slits instead.  I didn't like having a hole in the middle of my pie.  I will probably also invest in some pie birds of my own.

So, let's begin the lesson.
It's a good idea to make the dough first, as it needs to chill out in the fridge for a bit.
Ingredients:
6 oz (12 Tbs) VERY COLD margarine (I used earth balance)
2 oz (4 Tbs) VERY COLD shortening
12 oz (2 cups) flour
1 tsp salt (can be cut in half or even eliminated if using a salted margarine)
1/2 cup ice water
Steps:
1.  Combine flour and salt in food processor  (pulse once)
2.  Add butter (cut into tablespoon size chunks).  Pulse until mealy (about 5-8 times).  Do NOT over processes.
3.  Add shortening (also in small chunks)  Again, pulse just until mealy.
4.  Add ice water about one tablespoon at a time.  You do not necessarily need all of it.  You want it to be just barely enough.  Pulse after each tablespoon is added.  You can alternatively use a  spray bottle to add the water.  Stop adding water as soon as the dough forms and clings in one big lump on the side of the processor.  DON'T add too much water or you will have to start over.
5.  Form dough into a ball.  Divide in half.  Wrap the two discs in plastic wrap or put into ziplock bags.  Refrigerate for 30 mins-2 hours before rolling out.
6.  Make your filling
7.  On a floured surface, roll out dough into two large circles.  Starting at the far edge, roll the dough onto your rolling pin.  Unroll it over your pie plate.  Trim edges.  Brush with coconut oil.  Place in 400 degree oven for about 5 mins.  Remove from oven.  Add filling.  Cover with top dough circle.  Be sure to cut some slices into it or use a pie bird so it doesn't explode.  Decorate as desired. Brush with coconut oil.  Bake at 400 degrees for 30-45 mins until crust is starting to brown or until middle begins to bubble over the edge.
8.  If the crust isn't brown yet, you can always brush it with more oil and place under the broiler for 30 seconds or so.  WATCH IT.  It will burn really fast and the coconut oil will smoke quickly.  Keep the door open and rotate it until desired color is reached.
9.  Cool completely on wire baking rack.  It will be a mess if you cut into it before it is completely cooled.  Be patient.  Leave the house if you have to.  Do whatever it takes.
10.  Enjoy your pie!