Penelope Pies

Just like the good manners your mother taught you, the Zen Master’s sweet tart dough is an invaluable basic; and one that can increase your value in a marketplace sorely in need of simplicity, grace, and excellent taste.

6 tbs unsalted butter (not cold this time, room temperature)
½ cup confectioner’s sugar
2 large eggs
1½ cups all […]

There’s nothing worse than being in Scotland and serving your guests a gingersnap crust. Not that you’d be baking on a vacation to Balmoral, but just in case.
Shortbread Crumb Crust

1 cup shortbread crumbs
¼ cup unsalted butter, melted
1 tbs granulated sugar, or honey
1 tbs flour
Preheat oven to 350°
Combine all the ingredients until well blended
Turn out into […]

Bettina Mitchell from Wichita, Kansas says…
“I can never get the right amount of dough when I divide it in thirds. Either there’s too much and I have to cut it or there’s not enough and I have to stretch it over a blank spot in the pie pan.”
Bettina (nice name, by […]

Aside from a few detours into sweet pastry and no-bake cookie pie crusts, Penelope has been making her Ultimate Pie Crust for years. Then she made the pie crust from the Zen Master’s Apple Pie recipe. Flour, salt, butter, and water. It doesn’t get more basic than that. And was it ever delicious! But […]

What was that adage about the fastest way to a man’s heart? Through his intellect? No. His compassion? Get a grip. His abs? Getting warmer…Wait, wait…oh right, the place every good pie seeks to satisfy. Which means that making a Sweetheart Raspberry Tart is one of the few ways you can tart it up, […]

Trish Carbonari from Peoria, Illinois writes…
“Nothing personal, Penelope, but I gained three and a half pounds over the holidays and do not, repeat do not, want to look at another piece of pie.”
Okay, let’s not get crazy. There are low carb solutions, like curbing your carbs by using a nut crust instead of the traditional […]

Starlit skies embracing windswept trees, furry creatures howling at the moon, and wide rivers running along ancient castles have inspired German artists for centuries. The atmosphere didn’t do too badly for German bakers either, although they preferred to stay in the kitchen where it was warm rather than attempt to take over neighboring property just […]