Fall?? Summer?? What??

Summer has flown by!!!!! Heat creates a major baking issue for me--lack of appetite. I know, I know... how could I not be hungry for any baked goods at any time really? The summer sucks it out of me. BUT cooler nights have prompted me to start mixing and chopping again. (I say chopping because of the chopped almonds for the Double Chocolate Almond Biscotti I made the other evening! Mmmmmmm) Baking at night can actually be quite enjoyable. The quiet atmosphere paired with something so calming and enjoyable in itself. You can't help but fall asleep peacefully that night after creating something as beautiful as Zucchini Muffins, Double Chocolate Almond Biscotti, or really anything that tickles your fancy. 

So, summer can kind of suck it when it comes to baking in a non air-conditioned dwelling. That's fine though, you know why? Because the itch to bake always comes back with a vengeance. I have sugary sweet thoughts bouncing around in my head and an upcoming event to help get my Pies back in action. I plan on discussing my other sweets here too more often. Why exclude any delicious treats?!

Canned Peach Pie: "Overflowing with bright, sparkly fruit and juice."

Today I made a variation of the Canned Berry Pie recipe on page 303. I also, used the two pie crust recipe from page 299. I chose the variation of using Peaches instead of a berry.
Canned Peaches taste pretty good... but not as good as canned Peaches in Pie form.

I followed the recipe according but added in less salt this time with the crust and used butter instead of shortening (I really only ever use butter, for personal preference).

The idea of cooking your Pie filling before baking it all together seems more daunting than it really is. The last Pie that called for this, the Butterscotch, was quite the ordeal. However, this nice Peach Pie was very simple. You just had to plop everything in a pot under medium-high heat and stir non-stop until it boiled up a bit.
 

Supposedly after this has happened you are to pour this mixture into your Pie shell and then dot with butter. After this you are to add your top crust. I kind of forgot to do the butter dotting so while my top crust was getting more and more saturated by the boiling inerds, I was cramming butter cubes through the apple-ish shaped cutouts I had made previously.
 

You can see the butter : )

I think it just added a little charm.

Oozing Peach goodness

Tasting this Canned Peach Pie was the best part! I rarely have a high liking for Peach flavored things but this was nice. The 3/4 cup of sugar as oppose to the full cup was a good choice and the cinnamon was a nice touch, too. I will certainly have to make this Pie again! 

(dramatic closeup)

Pie. It's what we want.

Blackberry
Pre-Oven - So Pretty!

I received three of my Grandmother's cookbooks for Christmas a few years ago. One of these cookbooks being, Betty Crocker's Picture Cook Book, from I think the 1960's but I cannot find a copyright. This really inspired me to try out my Pie making skills. This brought on my very first Pie, a nice Blackberry. I got some good reviews on this pie. It pushed me toward a Marionberry Pie and Peach Cobbler (too sloopy).

 Thanksgiving brought on more Pie opportunities. I helped my Mom with two Pumpkin Cream Cheese Pies. I made a Cherry (from a can) and an Apple (from one online recipe and good ole' Betty - I just made it up really). I did however make the Pie Crust for all of them with an Awesome recipe from an Awesome lady (Jean).

Apple Pie Post Oven Shot - Lumps of Flavor

The next step and big question is...what Pie should I try next? Or should I try to perfect these Pies (and one cobbler that was not cobbler esc but cobblerish- It was an island of biscuits in a sea of peachy syrupness)? This brings up another good question, Tarts?
We shall see...

PS: Never ask about my first Chocolate Cream Pie. It never happened. Never.
Neitherdidthecaramelcreamwhatevernotevenclosetoapiepiewhichisatestamenttowhyyoushouldneverbakeinabadmood.