30 July 2011

Blueberry Pie by Dad


  My dad made a pie! He has made this recipe for years and years and it has never disappointed. Just a pure blueberry taste. No fancy modern flavor combination, just a classic pie recipe that you can always use. So when i asked him to be the baker on a post, since he is the man who taught me to bake, he of course said yes. His choice on exactly what to make, I just kept bothering him during baking going, wait don't move your hands at all and would photograph. Luckily he is very used to it, always helping to hold up a reflector or shake some powdered sugar for a photo.
 All of the family always loves his crusts for pies, so flaky and never tough. When I finally sat down to carefully watch him make it and loon at the recipe, one thing shocked me. There is NO butter in the crust! It is shortening. My first response was 'Dad! What are you doing?!?!?' no butter in the whole recipe, oh dear I thought, but it is amazing tasting. So give it a try, the shortening works for this recipe.



I had him handwrite the recipe, so I would have a copy forever and it would truly make it his 'post.' Well, I just told him write it very legibly. So if you have any questions about it, I'll type it out if you guys can't read it or something, but it seems legible to me.


 That you all for caring so much and leaving such nice comments and emails about the many changes my life has been going through lately. Everything has gotten a whole lot better and I'm happy now. When I tried to bake and take photos during that kinda awful week everything would come of awful. I made a couple pies but the crusts would just crumble when I rolled them out even when I would use the same recipe that had always come out perfect before. I could even be bothered to take photos of the process or end result, I was only baking because my family would ask for something or fruit was going bad and I didn't want to waste. Your mood really does really effect the end result of baking, you could try to make the recipe exactly like it says but if your heart is not in it, it doesn't come out right. At least for me. Luckily things are good, fingers crossed it will last, and so there will be many more frequent posts to come. 
 
These are all film photos, obviously from the borders, which I included on purpose. Sometimes a cut of frame at the top, the rough black edges that slightly curve, I just love that aspect of film. So just the black is on purpose for anyone going, doesn't this girl know the crop tool? But its a bit more cinematic, no?

26 comments:

Unknown said...

What a unique post, I love it!

I used Pioneer Woman's recipe for pie crust after I bought her book and it was all-shortening as well, very traditional I think. It's always flaky and amazingly tender!

Unknown said...

What a fun and sentimental post, absolutely love it! And that pie looks wonderful, you're a lucky lady!

I also agree with you about the whole mood thing, whenever I'm mad, rushing, etc., and attempt to bake, nothing ever turns out! You really do need a little love when making desserts :)

GALaxy said...

I love how you presented the photos. Of course, all of your photography is really great, no matter the presentation. The pie looks amazing. I love that the berries are still whole after baking. It makes the pie look so fresh.

la domestique said...

So sweet to see your Dad contributing to your blog- and his pie is beautiful!

Anh said...

amazing post!

dad said...

I could call my blog "usually with shortening".

pips said...

I bet it was delicious! I adore blueberries and fruit pies, yours is beautiful ;)

Victoria said...

This looks just lovely! I made my first blueberry pie earlier in the week - it also had cinnamon, but lemon juice instead of tapioca, and I made it with stevia instead of sugar. I will definitely try it this way next time!

CakewithHazel said...

What a nice idea for a post! The pie looks amazing!

ania said...

looks... great.
and really without butter!
lovely photos btw.

A plum by any other name said...

There is something about longstanding family recipes. For me it's my mom's blueberry jam and my grandmother's sour cherry pie-also made ... with shortening.

Deliciously Organic said...

What a lovely post. I love the photo of your dad drinking from the straw. Too cute. :)

Anonymous said...

one day

when i have an oven

my entire building will envy me
& dent my door with knocking

you are inspiring

Amy said...

The photos are gorgeous and I love that the borders give a more intimate connection with them, as if they were just lying there waiting to be picked up. Great pictures and thanks to your dad for sharing his recipe :)

Anonymous said...

What a delight. The photos are beautiful; I love the one with the fork and the last remaining blueberry. And it looks delicious too - thanks to your dad for sharing. I'm also very glad indeed to hear that you're feeling brighter, take care.

Christina Topf-Boman said...

nice pie Steve!! I also like the white baking jacket-very professional!
I did an Gravenstein (from our tree!) apple and blueberry pie this week too! I use an organic shortening-for the crumble topping-it turns out well.

The Aspiring Cooks said...

Mmm, this looks so yummy! I love your photos and how you present the recipes. How did you transfer your dad's handwritten recipe into an image on the cpu? it's so cool!

Julie Marie said...

Vanessa and Alex: thank you! I just scanned in the handwritten recipe and uploaded it as a jpeg to get it up on here

Sashquatch said...

Such a lovely post!! I adore your photos, make you feel like you are there if that makes sense. I posted my go-to butter pie crust recipe this morn but I have tried a shortening crust recipe in the past that was very yummy, so can imagine this pie is just divine entirely. Such a gorgeous blog you have :)

Anonymous said...

I love all your posts. This one is great! I would love you to try a chewy granola bar. These recipes are harder to find. Most home made granola bars are not soft and chewy. I would love to have a great recipe.

Jaslyn said...

oh so lovely! your dad looks like a great sport

Anonymous said...

I love everything about this post, but especially that you had him hand write the recipe. Such a great idea and wonderful thing to keep!

HOB said...

Your pictures are amazing. Bravo for a lovely blog!

Kisses from Paris

Sandy said...

Photos, Pie, and your Dad, very nice!

kyleen said...

I completely agree with when you when you say that when you your heart's not in it, even the most perfect recipe doesn't turn out as good as usual. The blueberry pie looks so perfect. I've been having trouble with runny, liquidy pies lately, but your dad's looks so good that I have to try it.

Anonymous said...

Adore the hand written recipe.
I love seeing the work of his hands. Beautiful imagery!

xo
http://allykayler.blogspot.com