This may not be the most aesthetically pleasing, beautiful pie, but it suuuuure was delicious! After it almost caused two kitchen fires, I'm thankful it was tasty, as I certainly hoped it would be worth the effort.
I received Sister Pie, the cookbook as a gift this season. This cookbook shares the same name as the flagship Detroit bakery, which is changing the game and part of the reason for the recent economic flourish in Detroit. They consider themselves a "triple bottom line business," working to support their employees, environment, and the economy. Run by two sisters, featuring an all-female staff, it's been on my list of places to visit upon our next trip to see family back in Michigan. Their cookbook is absolutely gorgeous, heartfelt vignettes and beautiful matte pages of how-tos and mouthwatering recipes. I mean...Squash Tahini Cardamom, Apricot Raspberry Rose, Sour Cherry Bourbon...one will be baking pies for days after reading this one! This Christmas, I opted for the Cranberry Crumble Pie - I'm always a sucker for cranberries, as they usually get pegged as being purely a Thanksgiving food, when really their flavor has so much potential.
The kitchen fires were mostly my fault, turns out when you're baking a butter-rich crust, you ought to have a baking sheet underneath the pie dish. A lesson I learned when blind baking the crust prior to adding the filling and crumble. A memo which somehow did not get relayed to my mom when we baked the actual pie at her house. Hence, almost two kitchen fires.
Thank goodness it was delicious and worth all the hassle, and oven cleanings that ensued.
