A delicious flaky crust, hot gooey center studded with delicious pecans and flavored with sultry maple- It’s called Humble Pie and I want all those haters out there to have a big fat slice of it.
That’s right. I’m talkin’ to you. You, who says that pastries are insignificant. You, who say a bakery, is an unstable business model. You who say, “you’re not going to win that award.” Especially you, Yelper, who cowardly writes in the middle of the night wearing your holey flannel boxers sitting in front of your PC giving a restaurant a one star not because the food, service or ambiance was bad; but your girlfriend of four years dumped you there and you want to blame someone. It’s not the meal that made her dump you; it’s the fact that you are an asshole. I’ll even warm it up for you and put a big scoop of Tahitian vanilla bean gelato on top of it.
In every industry, and I feel especially those that are a bit heavier on the “creative” side, you fill always find those individuals who find the need to put you in your place. To make sure that you feel inferior or perhaps “yes, yes that was a silly idea you silly little girl.” But, I’m coming to realize- those people tell you those things to make themselves feel better and for what purpose? I suppose by attempting to be the individual with the superior opinion- and mind you, its AN OPINION- that somehow, well…you’re wrong. When in the end, you’re not wrong; you just see it from a different perspective.
That is what makes food so amazing- it is subjective. That gooey center of that decadent pie might be just sensational to you, but to someone else, they may not enjoy the nutty undertone of the almond flour. Or perhaps they don’t like hot pie, but like it at room temperature. It’s when individuals believe that their opinion is fact that it becomes a real issue. Food writers, critics, yelpers, restaurant patrons, fellow cooks, and owners need to remember that their opinions are just that, an opinion. Granted, constructive criticism is necessary for anyone to excel- but always best when it is constructive, NOT destructive.
This doesn’t come down to me being sensitive- believe me I have taken the criticism and really tried to find the silver lining in it. But when someone attempts to withhold that piece of good’ol American pie from me, why should I let them? My little dream is to make damn good pastries along with not killing myself with the hours, ridiculous wages and egos that go with the territory. Is it delusional for me to want that little slice of the American dream?
Which again comes to the haters- those who have nothing good to say about anyone or anything… What did your mother teach you again? If you have nothing nice to say, shove that piece of pie in your hole because no one wants to hear it. Really.
Humble Pie:
Yield: serves 8
Pie Crust:
4.5cup all purpose flour
1T +2t sugar
1.5t salt
1 egg
2.5oz ice water
2t apple cider vinegar
12oz cold unsalted butter
2oz vegetable shortening
Method:
Place all dry into a kitchen aid bowl. Cut butter into small nickel size chunks and add to dry mix with shortening. Add egg, water, and vinegar slowly while mixing on slow speed till it comes together. Will make 4- 8” pies. So, yeah, freeze the rest of the dough unless you have a lot of haters out there. Then in that case, double the recipe.
Maple Pecan Custard Filling:
12oz cream
3/4cup sugar
3/4cup maple syrup
2 cup pecan halves
2 eggs
1.5t vanilla extract
Method:
Boil the cream and sugar together. Reduce for 15 minutes or until it is 10oz. Stir in the maple syrup and allow to cool for 10 minutes. Add the eggs and vanilla into the mix.
Blind bake the pie shell until set, place pecans in the shell and pour the mix on top. Bake the pie at 425F until the pie filling slightly puffs around the edges but the middle is still a bit jiggly.
You can garnish with whip cream, mascarpone cream, ice cream, etc.
