What's Baking? - Strawberry Pie

When the theme for August was announced in the What's Baking group as Celebrate Summer, the first thing that came to my mind was a fruit pie. To me, fruit pies basically scream Summer and as we are winding summer down and heading full force into Fall, I jumped at the chance to make one. I have very limited experience making pies. Some of you may remember my attempt at pumpkin pie when I tried to make a homemade pie crust... And failed miserably. This time I decided to go with a store bought pie crust and Annie's strawberry pie recipe.

I learned a couple things while making this pie...

1. When a recipe tells you to use pie weights, it is probably necessary. I skipped that part and my pie crust rose dramatically.

2. Don't take a shower and ask your husband to watch the pie crust.. It will most likely be over cooked..

3. Don't do dishes while your Kitchenaid mixer makes whipped cream unsupervised. To say the whipped cream was over whipped is the understatement of the year.

4. Things that don't look very good can still be delicious.

I was not excited about how this pie looked... At all. However, when I tasted it, I completely changed my mind about it. This was the first time I have ever had strawberry pie but it definitely won't be the last, I'm in love.

So, Goodbye Summer 2011, I will miss you dearly in just a few short months when the snow starts coming down in Chicago again :)

I will direct you over to Annie's blog for the recipe because I didn't change anything except I used Ball brand fruit pectin instead of Sure-Jell.

Pumpkin Pie- First ever!

My baking day has been great so far. I made my first pie and pie crust ever. I used Pioneer Woman's pie crust recipe and the recipe on the back of the Libby Pumpkin Can. I looked it up online and it had some pretty great reviews, and now I see why.
To the pictures:

Workspace complete with Pioneer Woman's Cookbook.

Flour and Salt

Shortening added

After eggs and water added. It isn't pretty. I had a hard time getting it to not fall apart. Normal? I don't know.

Pumpkin Pie dry ingredients 

Pumpkin and evaporated milk

Poured into the crust. I must say, I knew I was going to love this pie because of the way it smelled. Oh My Gosh. It smelled divine.

The finished project. I accidentally spilled some of the filling onto the crust and thats why it looks burned on one part.

It was yummy. Plain and simple. I loved it. I think I will try a different pie crust next time though. It kept falling apart. I don't know if it was something I did or the recipe... I guess I will give it another try and see if maybe it was something I did. Martha Stewart has a recipe on her website for pie crust that I really want to try as well.

That is all for now. I may bake some more later but for now, Grey's Anatomy is about to be on. 

I have plans for sugar cookies with royal icing in the next post.