Banana Cream Pie

I love pie.

Our family trips to Arizona at Christmas always meant one thing: pie.  My grandma, Margaret, was a fantastic pie baker.  She would always have a multitude of pies to choose from.  My mom's favorite was always Apple Cheese pie, but my dad and I were never picky. 

I have been trying to live up to my grandma's reputation as Pie Queen for the last several months.  Every pie lover knows that the proof of a good pie is in the crust.  So, I had to perfect a decent crust recipe.  Then, I started to experiment with the flavors a bit, and this meant combining multiple recipes to create a delicious Franken-pie.  What's wrong?   Not the best name for a pie?  I get you.  How does "Caramel Apple Crumb Pie with a Cinnamon Roll Crust" sound?  I still prefer Franken-pie, but I kinda like zombies.  Pie and zombies.  Yes, I do have magnetic zombie poetry on my fridge.  

Chocolate Chip Cookies

After the coffee cake misadventures, I decided to try a slightly easier recipe: Chocolate Chip Cookies.  I realize that everyone and their uncle has a recipe for chocolate chip cookies, or, if you're like me, you go for the tried and true recipe on the chocolate chip bag.  Admit it!   But I have a man with an insatiable hankering for chocolate chip cookies, and when he wants cookies, he gets cookies.  This one goes out to the biggest cookie lover I know.  Stay tuned and I'll give you his take and appraisal on these fine cookies. 

Coffee Cake Takes 1 & 2

In the kitchen, I was driven by two separate yet equally important goals; bake and cook, doing the best I can to be true to my great-grandmother's recipes; and create something delicious to share with those I love.  These are my stories. 

In "Law and Order," the crime would now be investigated, lots of grizzly details would be revealed, and there would most likely be an "oh shit" moment at some point.  My first attempts at recreating Estella's coffee cake followed a very similar pattern.  In fact, the second attempt was more of a cliff hanger than an absolute resolution.  So, before we descend into Mordor (this may be a slight exaggeration), here is a picture that you may find heartwarming...

What does this black and white fur ball have to do with coffee cake, you may ask?  Well, if we're very lucky, nothing.  Stay, Minou, stay.