Penelope Pies

If this pie were a wedding cake, it would be perched on a silk-covered table surrounded by orange blossoms and set under an arbor on a vast lawn by a river. So if you’re single, you might be thinking that this is not the recipe for you. On the contrary, with enough Chambord, you can […]

A little bistro on the left bank. A light rain. A backward glance. This pie definitely paints a picture, no matter where you serve it.
The Sweetest Sweet Tart Pastry
for a single crust pie
The Filling

¼ cup unsalted butter
⅓ cup sugar
3 large pears, peeled, cored and cut into ½ inch dice

The Walnut Custard

¼ cup walnuts, […]

You don’t have to land on a tropical island with pendulous women in printed sarongs to feel like jumping ship. Everyone needs to get away once in a while. But gas prices being what they are, maybe a short trip to the baking aisle makes more sense. And if this pie doesn’t transport you, something […]

This week’s confectionary edifice is …your heart…that special place your mom has always occupied, even if “occupation” really has been the right word. Anyway, as long as she’s in there, you might as well serve something healthy and delicious, like this fig and berry tart.
Zen Master’s Sweet Tart Dough
Pastry Cream
The Filling

1 cup blueberries
1 cup […]

The magic of a fruit tart lies in the richness of its pastry cream. Here’s an easy recipe for beginners, or anyone who loves applause without a lot of work. Although there is a fair amount of whisking.
Basic Pastry Cream

½ cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1 large egg yolk, lightly beaten
2 tbs cornstarch
1 cup […]

For those of you who might never go to Provence because your boyfriend somehow ended up on the no-fly list, or because your boss would never give you two weeks in a row off without rescinding the company’s matching funds on your 401k, there’s always confectionary travel.
In some ways it’s better because there’s no […]

Lemon curd is great for tarts. A thin layer between a pastry crust and just about any kind of berries is magic. But some people think lemon curd can be too heavy or too rich. If you’re one of them, but you still want to use it for, say a Strawberry and Lemon Curd Tart, […]