Ain’t No Fly in this Buttermilk Pie

I'm very excited to share with you today a little gem of a town I was able to venture to for a whole afternoon. As I walked the charming and whimsical square of Glen Rose, Texas, a chance encounter with a Buttermilk Pecan Pie served at Anderson’s Restaurant, eulogized the magnetism of what should be a care-free state of mind. At first, I dillydallied over the musing of such a pie. Buttermilk? Ugh! Seriously? I never had acquired the taste of buttermilk and the allegory of “flies in the buttermilk”, well, let’s just say, inhibited the snag even further. To my daunting dismay, however, the ingredients in this pie translated to something vibrant and viable. Oh joy, it was like eating a Pecan praline! The mesh of the cloying filling: buttermilk, vanilla, good seasoned pecans, coconut and white chocolate riveted within a crumble buttermilk topping, depleted any animosity I had towards buttermilk. The stigma of buttermilk is forever gone. Psst, come closer as I whisper…ain’t no fly in this Buttermilk Pecan Pie!

I've Got a Crush on You!

General consensus from my own unofficial poll taken over the weekend concluded that very few people had heard of Pineapple Pie and much worse, never tasted one. So, I was completely elated when I was invited to try Paris Coffee Shop’s Pineapple Pie, served only on Mondays. The flavors of this pie worked beautifully together: the light golden pie crust embodied by a pineapple custard-like filling with tidbits of crushed pineapple in every single bite and nestled to perfection under what appeared to be a whopping three inch lightly scorched meringue. The hymns of praise eluded from my mouth after the very first bite! True nature has manifested into this tropical flair! The pie was wonderfully serendipitous, delightful to the taste buds, delectable to the palate and did I mention, because it's pineapple, the instant ‘throw in’ of essential Vitamins A and C. Va-Va Voom… I never eat anything that’s not beneficial to my health or my taste buds! This pie is a serious contender to all the others that were beautifully showcased or perhaps only on Mondays, it morphs into global domination. The extravagant affair I was having with this pie, put me in my own luau state of mind. Oh Pineapple Pie, I’m so crushing on you!

I think I've Died and Gone to Heaven

The word PIE has to be a sultry acronym for Precise Intense Eating! Paris Coffee Shop serves up the most of the quintessential Coconut Cream Pies. This pie crust was no cracker crumb aficionado; faux paus crusts are sooo not cool. The homemade crust was airy, yet had a rich texture filled with a thickened coconut flavored pudding gloriously layered with a water melting meringue and then finally topped with gorgeous, toasted coconut flakes. The decoupage of the intensely sweet layers, gave me the greatest feeling and relief coupled with giddy anticipation of having finally found the most decadent Coconut Cream Pie on the face of this universe! There's a chemical released when you eat this pie that produces the hysterical adrenaline necessary for wanting to take your passions and dreams further in life. Well okay, so it sounds a bit overdramatic but seriously uh huh...it's the pie enzyme! OMG, OMG, OMG *swoon! This pie makes me feel like assessing all the unmentionables (take that to be interpreted as you may). Experiences this enjoyable should be illegal. If the quote "You'll have pie in the sky when you die" dares to be taken literally, then kill me painfully and oh so slowly and let me go to pie heaven!

The Sweetest Little Things...

I toppled onto Hot Rodz Café in Terrell, Texas, where they served up one of the most iconic of American traditions…pie, only moon shaped and petite and oh so cute and oh so marvelous! So, the idea of packaged little pies typically found in fast food restaurants always sent me into a frizzled frenzy….eeeww fried, greasy pies! Contrary to what appears that I don’t endow in good eating habits, I don’t eat fried foods but I was open to testing the relative merits of what is deep-fried. The glory of a fried pie resulted in a satisfied tummy and comforted soul. This place gave you the choice of peach, apple, cherry or chocolate fried pie; I opted for the apple one. If a baked turnover was delicate and refined, the FRIED one was outrageously, amazingly luscious. Served up warm, this pastry was puffy and crisp on the edges and sprinkled with powdered sugar, but tender and pillowy within. The filling of finely cut apples sautéed with cinnamon and butter no longer posed an eating hazard. In fact, I would have traded a clogged artery or two given the opportunity to eat more than one in the same sitting. The two mini scoops of Blue Bell vanilla ice cream on top was just enough to add more pleasure to the palate. If you just happen to be asking if these little hand pies would make a perfect breakfast pastry, well then, the answer would probably be a resounding YES! I could have these for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Aaah…it’s truly the little things that count!

Addendum to Pie and Thanksgiving Havoc

I felt I needed to clarify a few misconceptions. The part where I wished I had single-handedly prepared the Thanksgiving feast all by my lonesome...completely conjured up in my head only for a few insane moments. I think at the time my insulin was at a conspiring low level. For a laugh or two, I do amuse myself now and then. The couple of side dishes I did prepare, the baked beans and the apple sweet potatoes casserole alone were enough to put me in holiday frenzy! My apron off to all the Marthas out there who with blood, sweat and tears, hopefully without dripping any of those salty additives on the food, make Thanksgiving meals what they should be! Now back to reality...

Truly, Madly, Deeply!

I recently acquired a new sensation by way of tasting a Cappuccino Pie with chocolate sauce. It had a subtle coffee taste, a little bittersweet, not blowsy but giving me the most delightful chill. It was delicately made up of a centered chocolate ice cream alongside a heap of whipped cream and drizzled atop with a white chocolate sauce. In some moments, there's nothing better than a good friend to share such a joy with but my friend, P, who chooses to remain anonymous fearing she will fall into the untamed women of cake eating category, took one bite and placed it back on my side, all for me?? The two second guilt of eating it all by myself in her presence quickly decipitated. After having devoured the entire pie by myself, I felt godlike, as though I could conquer enemies, lead armies, entice lovers, yadda yadda yadda..... Should you want to feel the aura of what is truly madly, deeply, go to the Yucatan Taco stand for this topped out dessert!