Our favorite pies & tarts.

Tropical Pineapple Pie

Pineapple Pie - the perfect springtime dessert!
Pineapple Pie – the perfect springtime dessert!

Happy Pi Day!

In honor of one of our favorite math days, we will be celebrating as usual with a lovely slice of pie! One of our favorites is Pineapple Pie — I know, I know —  I had never eaten (or even heard of) pineapple pie either until about 17 years ago when my husband first baked one. He found the recipe in a fantastic cookbook I gave him for Christmas one year & it’s been a favorite of ours ever since.

The filling is so good, it is tempting to eat the whole thing with a spoon before it even makes it into the pie shell. The sweetness is wonderfully balanced with just a hint of tang from the pineapple. Perfect for spring or summertime, it’s also quite the treat during autumn or winter when you’re feeling the urge for a tropical getaway…even if it’s just of the culinary variety.

What are some of your favorite springtime pies? Do you prefer fruit pies this time of year or more of a custard or cream type?

Happy Baking & Happy Pi Day!

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Originally posted in March 2016.

 

Onion Tart

Oh, wonderfully delicious onion tart! The first time we remember being blown away by one was at Epcot’s International Food & Wine Festival more than a decade ago. The France kiosk had a version that was perfectly caramelized with a crisp yet light crust — it impressed us so much that we looked through a bunch of cookbooks that afternoon hoping to find a recipe that seemed similar so we could try to make one at home. We purchased a couple of books & tried them when we returned but they weren’t quite the same as the deliciousness we had that day at the park.

Over the years, Mr. The Inspired Parent has tried different versions — he’s nailed it with one that is now a family favorite.

Alsatian Onion Tart | theinspiredparent.com

The crust in our version has a bit of corn meal in it, making it a more savory-style crust. We find that this not only adds a great little crispy quality but the flavor pairs perfectly with the onion mixture. Don’t rush cooking the onions — low & slow is the key to increasing the flavor of the onions, softening them nearly to the point of caramelization though you’ll back off on the heat before getting to that point.

As long as you keep an eye on the onions so they don’t brown, this is a simple recipe and quite an impressive one that your friends & family will love!

Happy Cooking!

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