Phat Beets! Pot Pie

Happy Spring! 

It's officially time to tiptoe through the tulips, and a light rain is falling.  Well, for most of us it's still pretty cold outside, and tip-toe-ing may cause a little chill.  

What's the remedy? Phat Beet Pot Pies, of course!  With a puff pastry and fresh veggies, and leftover organic roast chicken, making Chicken Pot Pie Nouveau is easy enough to make, for yourself or for a crowd.  My version is special because I've made this pie from the leftover veggies that came in my share this week from the Phat Beets! Box*.  

Even though early spring is the least diverse time of year for veggies, this is still quite a wonderful pot pie using local carrots, rosemary, onions, and a hint of ginger.  Phat Beets is bringing the food justice to the people! ...And good food to the pie blogger's kitchen.  

"Phat Beets Produce aims 'to create a healthier, more equitable food system in North Oakland through providing affordable access to fresh produce, facilitating youth leadership in health and nutrition education, and connecting small farmers to urban communities via the creation of farm stands, farmers’ markets, and urban youth market gardens."

*You can find them online and sign up for a Beet Box if you are in the East San Francisco Bay Area.

Mission Pie is Pie in the Mission, SF

Following the city of San Francisco's love affair with baseball and the World Series Parade during the October of 2012, I needed something really grounding...it was time to get back to The Pie Blog.  I did something long overdue...I visited Mission Pie San Francisco, and to make up for the sabbatical from Pie and all things Pie, I went two (2) times in one (1) day !

Plum Pie at Mission Pie

Thus ends the Pie hiatus.  It ended up being one of the most happy and wonderful Pie days of all time, a weekday, (not even a holiday,) and since both visits were memorable, for pie and friendship, this counts as a special Pie day 'forever-more'.  It is the Return of Pie.

The first visit occured at 10:15 in the morning, the second, at closing, 9:45 pm, with my four Pie tasting comrades --experts. We agree. Piez waz exzellnt.  San Francisco Mission Pie rules the Pie universe unquestionably, and is located at Mission and 25th.

A Year of Great Pies ...A Grand Finale

A Year of Great Pies comes to a Grand Finale at Grandma's house...

There you have it...what I'd call an EPIC year of Pie has come to a close.  What that means is, that new pies are coming.  Fresh, fruity, yummy, homemade, perhaps you have a Pie that brought you together with friends, family, that was the centerpiece to a heart story.  The Pie Blog memorializes those special pies.  (That's what Pie Bloggin' is all about!)  THANKS to the Pie contributors this year!

Grandma has the Classy Touch. Homemade Pies in Maryland presented with love.

Grammy's Holiday Home Dessert Table.

A gorgeous southern Pecan Classic. Do not attempt a calorie count.

Starry Apple.  Home Comfort Cooking.  My gratitude to the chef and photographer who contributed these beautiful pies!

Here Come Mini Pies

Here come the Mini Pies from "Baltimore Bob".  A beautiful vegetable pot pie, and 3 mini pies, and a pumpkin pie that has a whimsical touch...these were all photographed by the cook.  Very nice! Thanks for the contribution!

3 Veggie Minis

 Pumpkin Jack Mini Pie

4 Fresh Apple Pies for the Special Person who passed the Maryland Bar Exam. Congrats!

Tiny Pies and Cake Pops

Dad's Tiny Pie, Raspberry 2011

That's a truly tiny Pie!  Dad doesn't bake much...but when he does, he is using an Emeril Pie and Cake Maker.  'I found it in the Hammacher Schlemmer catalog," he said, proving you could have your cake and eat pie too.  (Eat Pie!)  Tiny bites and personal sizes are in favor right now.  Check out these customized cake pops - designed especially for a fiesta with musical alumni and my dogs, who are the inspiration for these cake pops pictured...once getting past the sculpted sugar, there's delicious flavors of cake under there like s'mores and red velvet and german chocolate cake!

Mini Aussie and Musical Notes 'Cake Pops' October 2011

π San Francisco lives up to the Reputation: A Review

...π San Francisco.  A Place for Pizza Pies...if you aren't familiar with this Pie Blog, you may not have realized that, included, are pizza pies ... most welcome and fabulous topics for pie discussion.   

This is a Rare Pie Blog Restaurant Review.

A gentleman friend and I went to sample the Pie, of the now locally famous π Bar on Valencia Street, San Francisco.  The joint opens at 3:14 pm daily and is a few blocks from my office.  Perfect!

I was excited to see right away there was a White Pizza on the menu for $13;  I'll have to get that another time (when I can have it to myself.) The π Bar features a sophisticated array of delicious beers on tap, and the friendly wait staff gave us lots of tastings.  The Gentleman had a Beligian White (refreshing and delicious!) and the Lady had the Pinot Noir from Sonoma (another story later on my journey through Pinot Noirs of Sonoma...) 

Then came the pie:  a perfect flaky thin crispy crust, just the right amount of sauce, and just how we liked it!  We tried the Italian sausage, portabella mushrooms, green pepper and onions, and all the ingredients were as perfectly cooked, as they were when my mom took me as a kid to get a slice up in NYC, except here I got to order a nice California wine and hear some excellent live jazz (and accordion guest appearance!) ...for a casual after-work meal on a budget, I was impressed.  Certainly this is the best NYC style pizza in the Mission.

These folks even have a Manifesto, check it out.  The π Bar SF can be found on Valencia Street and Pi Bar SF.  They get a tip of the hat and some love from ...The Pie Blog!

Here's a little retrospective of the Indian Summer moments ...a precursor to the fall parade!  The Pie Blog is gearing up to finish the year 2011 with amazing pies.  ...Eat Pie!

San Fran-Berrylicious Pie and homemade crust...raspberries, blackberries & blueberries

Lila's Mojito Pie for Ben's Fiesta in Berkeley

Stone-Plum Pie, comfort at home.