California Eats: Pie Hole

 

 

I have found the world's best pie crust. I realize that's a hefty statement to begin a post, but I'm dead serious about that. There are dessert enthusiasts who are self-proclaimed "pie people." You know the type. They forgo the cupcake treat for the slice of apple crumble, insist that you put candles on their birthday pie, and tell you everything that needs to be known about Olallieberry pie. I don't know if I'd call myself a pie person, but I'm definitely a pie crust person. Buttery flaky, graham cracker crunchy, or oreo cookie crumbly, I'm all about it 'bout it. The filling is just the icing on the...pie.

 

 

Pie Hole has it all right; the crust and the pie filling. That might not sound like something special, but pie golly it is.

 

The Place: Downtown Los Angeles has all the good eats and this place is no exception to that rule. Pie Hole is a bit tucked away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Located in the Arts District, this pie joint is surrounded by trendy Lofts and condo developments, a mish mosh of up and coming eateries, and cute boutiques that sell things you want but don't need. (I also saw one of the winners from America's Next Top Model in one of those boutiques. I was star struck but had to play it cool because I was in LA afterall.)

 

The inside is as simple and rustic as it gets with bare walls and clean uncomplicated furniture that would make any IKEA designer happy. (I'm not sure if my decoration lingo is up to par here, but whatever.) Their storefront is lined with a few tables for you and a friend to enjoy an afternoon snack. I also need to give props to the man at the cashier as well as the young guy who served my pie. They were both super friendly and warm. It's nice to have your pie served with a witty joke or two. I dig it.

 

The Menu:

 

Their menu includes Sweet, Savory, Whoppie, and Crostata pies. You can even order a whole pie a day in advanced! Note. To. Self. On the other side, you have iced coffees, teas, and even creative sips like Thin Mint Lattes. Say WHAT?

 

I love how the menu is written on butcher paper with a sharpie pen. No fancy calligraphy here. This tells me one thing and that's Menu Change ups. I can just tell that this place uses fresh ingredients and fruits and veggies that are in season, hence the change ups. I appreciate that. They are also creative as hell and they are constantly coming up with new and inventive flavors like Thai Iced Tea pie! 

 

The Eats:

 

 

 

I ordered the Maple Custard Pie and an Iced Coffee. As I type this, my mouth is watering and my heart is aching for more. This pie was insanely good. Like, eyes roll to the back of your head, good. My slice was almost like a crème brulee with a thin sweet, dark maple layer on top. Every bite was thick and satisfying. And the crust....Oh Lord, the crust... it was flaky, buttery, and laden with the love of a real deal pastry chef. Trust me, any foodie will tell you that the love of the food IS an ingredient and Pie Hole has love written all over it. I have never tasted a crust this buttery before. You can't get this kind of flakiness from a store bought crust. It's perfection.

 

 

My husband got the Mexican Chocolate pie and it was definitely mexican chocolatey. It was creamy and rich and had that mmmmm quality that warms your tummy. Maybe it was the cinnamon or that love I was talking about earlier. Who knows. This one had a crumbly type crust that was just as good, but I can't speak much about this since I was having a full blown foodgasm over my Maple Custard Pie.

 

Maybe I am a pie person now.  My birthday is this month and I'm even having crazy ideas of replacing my Oreo ice cream cake with this beaut. I don't know much about Olallieberry pie but I just spoke it great detail about flaky crusts. Pie Hole has definitely converted me. Pie Hole, if you're reading this, thank you for your simple and delicious pies. My birthday is on the 18th in case you'd like to send me one.

 

 

Wandom Wednesday: Addictions

1. There needs to be an Instagram Anonymous and I need to be the president. I am on that thing way too much for someone who has a job and a LIFE! I posted 6 times yesterday and feel embarrassed about it. Like, who the hell am I for showing you what I'm eating, wearing, thinking, or pooping? Oprah?

2. I am also addicted to games on my iPhone. Brizzle, Bejewled, Temple Run, Bakery Story, Words with Friends... I'm all over that like brown on brown rice. Send help immediately.

Birzzle

3. On that note, I am finally winning at a game of Words with Friends. This never happens to me. Sadly, people think I'm going to blow them out of the water because I'm a teacher, but I actually suck at Scrabble. It's because I'm impulsive and don't think about my words before I throw 'em down.

Case in point, yesterday I threw down HOES because I thought it was funny. After I pressed SEND and laughed my head off, I realized I could've put SHOES. I is stupid.

4. I'm also addicted to these. Boston Cream Pies My friend Christine had me over for dinner and she made these for dessert. I think she's trying to sabotage my exercise plan. Thanks, Christine. Some friend you  are.

via Annie Eats

5. I want to write another Wandom, but I have to check my Instagram and lose more Words with Friends games. Toodles.  

Those Crazy Kids

This weekend I was lucky enough to spend time with this face.

We celebrated my nephew Sebby's 4th birthday. My my how time flies. It was only yesterday that I was pinching these little chipmunk cheeks.

(It looks like hubby doesn't have fingers, but I assure you he does have all 10.)

Now, this growing cherub can talk in complete sentences, count higher than some of my first graders ever could, and has my dad's iPhone password memorized so he can access the camera and take a gratuitous amount of pictures of our feet and nose hairs. Next thing you know he'll be graduating from college and becoming President of the United States. ::le sigh::

For his birthday, I spent a ridiculous amount of time trying to dip these balls in chocolate. So difficult! Any tips on how to get them to stop falling off the damn stick would be greatly appreciated.



Since his birthday was pirate themed, I attempted these guys. They kinda sorta look like pirates, right?

After we scarfed down cake and chocolate balls, Sebby hired me as his personal Nerf Gun reloader. His muscles are too weak to reload the Nerf gun, so I spent a good hour doing it for him... and then doing it again and again and again. I cherish these moments because one day, he will be a teenager who will not need my help on little things like this. ::double le sigh::

On a different note, wouldn't that be nice if the biggest problem in your day was having to reload darts back into your Nerf Gun? I will trade that in for getting up at 5:30 for work ANYDAY!

Last week, I let my students write their 2012 resolutions. They are definitely living the simple life. I am jelly. I want to stress about these kinds of things instead of adult things like making sure to scrub the tub once a week. I can never remember.

I let them choose their own fonts. This kid felt a little Ol' School. He's kickin' it Gothic Style.

Instead of running a 10K, I will be changing it to "Eating Hot Cheetos ZERO times a year, instead of once a year." Those things are deadly. Not just for your tummy, but for the skin of your fingertips and everything around you that is white.

Oh, those Crazy Crazy Kids.

Part I: Birthday Spa and Spaghetti

I'm so rude. I forgot to mention a certain some one's birthday. Can't believe I forgot! Sonic celebrated his 4th birthday this month. Call us crazy, but we took him out for his birthday. We took him to Molly's Souper, which I've been meaning to do a California Eats on because it's sooo delicious and cheap!



It's nice because they have a little patio area specifically for pets! The waiters even serve the pups ice cold water! And best believe that have a menu full of yummy treats! Sonic was in heaven! He is a spoiled Mamma-Jamma! If you're wondering what he ordered, you're strange, but he had the Chloe's Chicken Catch-a-Catori. He gobbled it up in seconds. He would've eaten anything, seeing he eats weird things on his spare time...but who are we to judge other cultures.

Ok, so back to my birthday! I'm also a spoiled Mamma-Jamma! My actual birthday (Monday) was filled with texts and calls ( I love how Hubby's side of the family all sang happy birthday on our machine!) and literally over a hundred FB posts and Twitter wishes. Blessed is an understatement! Felt like the luckiest girl in the world! My friend Christine also went out of her way to make a fantabulous funfetti cake just for ME!!

 No no, you don't understand...this is a HOMEMADE Funfetti cake from scratch. If that's not friendship, I don't know what is. It was insanely good! No lie!

I also followed my tradition, which was started 4 years ago and went to Glen Ivy Hot Springs Spa. Sounds indulgent but I only go because You get in FREE for your birthday! How the heck can I NOT take advantage of that? That's what I'd like to know!

This is the Disneyland of Spas!

..Via..

My favorite person to go with is my mommy, but she couldn't get the day off. Boo for having a birthday on a Monday! So, my lovely friend Irish came with. We had a blast talking for hours, reading for hours, sitting in the pool for hours, and of course eating!

We shared a Salmon Salad and Chicken Nachos! I realize that Nachos aren't a Spa food but it's a birthday food so leave me alone!

After a whole day at the spa, my hubby took me out to dinner to one of my favorite places. Old Spaghetti Factory! I was craving Mizithra! (I hope this is what I crave when I'm preggos. That would be cool) We are going to leave our fancy dinner for this weekend on my birthday trip!

My Kuya, Katrina, and Sebby came along, too!

It was a perfect way to spend my birthday! I didn't even know what to wish for because I feel like I have all I can possibly want in life. Good family, good friends, and good food.

So, I just wished for more Mizithra.... DARNIT, I told you, that means it wont come true. Oh welps!

Birthday Celebration Part II coming soon... My friend/co-works will be taking me to a special lunch!

• How did you spend your last birthday?

How to Make a Hello Kitty Cake

I make cakes sometimes. Remember.

Every now and then, family and friends will ask me to make them a cake. I gladly say yes, because I really enjoy making them something that will make them smile. Buuut, then I start panicking a little bit...ok ok... A LOT a bit! I want it to be great so I start to plan, prep, and freak the heck out! Anxiety starts to creep onto my back and rides me like a sorority girl on a mechanical bull. It'll whisper all kinds of things that make me worry.

Your cake will stick to the pan. Nobody is going to eat it. Someone will find Sonic's hair in the fondant. You'll run out of time and everyone will throw tomatoes in your face. You're weird.

When I actually get to making the cake... I commit full force and ignore everything in life including hunger pangs and bladder alarms. I'm  in the ZONE and I LOVE IT!

This week's challenge was to make a Hello Kitty Cake for my friend Linette's graduation party. My creative juices activated! (That sounds gross, Joanna)

Marshmallow Fondant

Ingredients:
16 oz. bag of mini marshmallows (get the good stuff!)
2 lbs bag of powdered sugar

1 cup crisco

3 Tbs of water
extra powdered sugar for dusting
extra crisco for hands

If you have a mixer with a dough hook, it is best to use it. Not only is it easier, it is less messy. If you do not have a dough hook, use your hands and mix the ingredients in a bowl. Just be warned... this will be MESSY!

Also, it's best to dust powdered sugar on your countertop before you put the mixture on it. This will prevent sticking.

When everything looks combined, pour onto the counter. Be sure to scrape EVERYTHING from the bowl til the very last crisco shmear. 

It's best to make this the night before. Leaving it on the counter is fine, but if you will be making this days ahead, put it in the fridge. Just be sure to plastic wrap it tight!



The Cake

Linette requested Marble, so I made a box of cake. Thanks Duncan Hines. I put it in the fridge to cool completely and harden just a bit. This will help you carve it easier. I printed Hello Kitty's picture straight off the internets and used it as a template.

YAY for cake scraps! They went straight into this belly ::points to muffin top belly::

I also cut out a piece of cardboard to fit the cake exactly (you shouldn't really see it) so that I can move the cake around.



Then, I topped it with a simple Chocolate Cream Cheese filling and stacked level 2 right on top!

   

I stuck it back in the fridge for about an hour and applied a regular buttercream frosting as a crumb coat. A crumb coat will help the fondant stick to the cake.

Microwave your fondant for about 20 seconds. Make sure it isn't melty, but it is firm enough to hold together, yet soft enough to roll out. It should be pliable. Roll out to about 1/8 of an inch or so.

I bought some rings that go around my roller to help get the perfect thickness. I highly recommend them. Roll it out enough to cover the cake...and then some. It should be overlapping quite a bit. Pat down and mold fondant to the cake with your hand. Cut the excess with a pizza cutter and pat the edges clean.



Now, I must apologize because I was so much in my cake zone that I stopped taking pictures. But, in a nutshell... I colored some fondant and rolled the nose and bow. I used black icing to pipe the eyes and whiskers.

Hubby asked why she doesn't have a mouth...It's because she speaks... from her heart. ::tear:: gag!

Then, I got crazy and made another box of cake, rolled out more fondant, and attempted a body. This is what I came up with... graduation Lei and all.

This cake-gift took me 10 hours to make. I had fun and wish that I could've kept it for myself. 

My anxiety subsided when I presented the cake at the party. It was a hit. Everyone thought it was amazing ::blush:: and some even said it tasted yummy. I'd like to think I did pretty darn well.

This always hurts a bit...

My birthday is coming up and I hope someone will make me a cake. I don't care if it looks nice, I just want to feel like someone took the time to make me something sweet and special. I like chocolate or Funfetti...in case you were wondering.

• If you could have your next birthday cake made...what design would it be?
• Favorite cake flavor?