Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Cravings: Cherry Pie



It all began with these beautiful organic cherries. It's cherry season here in orchard country so there's lots of them. After snacking on them for a couple of weeks now, I decided that it was time to make ourselves (Hubby, me and babies included) a cherry pie.


Pitting the cherries is something I really enjoy, pink fingers and all. Hubby bought me this cherry pitter last year - it pits four at once and is completely splatter proof. Good thing.

Pie filling recipe:

4 cups pitted cherries
4 tablespoons quick cooking tapioca
1 cup sugar
1/8 teaspoon of salt
1/4 teaspoon almond extract
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract



This is the pie before I put it in the oven. I use a pie crust recipe that I learned in a class at the town hall several years ago, taught by a blue ribbon winner at the county fair. Her secret...Martha Stewart's pie crust recipe and really, really good butter.

Pie crust recipe:

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon sugar
1 cup butter

Combine above (I use a food processor) until mixture has pea-sized pieces and coarse crumbs.

Drizzle 1/3 cup cold water over flour mixture and work in until dough clings together in balls. Separate into two equal parts and roll out.

Bake pie at 400 degrees for 50 minutes.


Here's the cherry pie, fresh from the oven.

I spent my first trimester in survival mode. I had to eat whatever I could that didn't make me feel woozy, and had a very strong aversion to sugar. But now that I'm in my second trimester, my dietary aversions are a little more manageable. I'm even beginning to sample a few sweet things...

58 comments :

  1. Your pie is absolutely GORGEOUS! I've never had one turn out that pretty. Glad you are feeling better too.

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  2. That pie looks and sounds delicious and it screams summer! Martha's pie crusts are the best, I've used one of her recipes for years and it always comes out perfect...and I've *never* seen a four cherry pitter...what a great invention, I always wondered if something like that existed.

    So glad you're feeling well enough to be able to enjoy such a treat...I'm sure the babes are soooo happy! Here's to many more luscious, summery fruit delights! :d
    xoxo J~

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  3. Thank you for sharing. It looks SO good!
    Today I have some pictures from my small, Norwegian garden. Take a look, if you have time. You will love my sparrows!
    Have a nice day!

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  4. Hello my dear

    In silence I am a follower of your blog. I like your work and congratulations on a nice house. We are happy every day I'll look around.
    Very tasteful, this was a cherry pie! Almost smell is felt.

    friendly greetings from Hungary
    Ildikó

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  5. That looks like a blue ribbon winning pie to me...yum! And now I want my very own cherry pitter! I'm glad you have a tiny bit of your sweet tooth back!

    Kat :)

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  6. Trina,

    It looks beautiful and so delicious!!! Indulge all your cravings...you deserve it!
    xo,
    ~R

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  7. Your cherry pie looks delicious! It looks like it came from a shop! I bet it was yum. I am glad you are feeling well and that the pregnancy is going well. Best wishes!

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  8. gonna try this recipe THIS week. thanks.

    can't wait to see more pics of you as you are growing with the babies...hint.hint. :)

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  9. Good for you! The first trimester was hard for me too, but I am finally in my second! That pie looks delicious!!

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  10. The pie looks gorgeous and very delicious! I'm so happy you're enjoying the wonderful second trimester, it certainly is to be cherished..Enjoy your cherries..If you haven't already, you'll soon be feeling some little kicks and flutters with every sweet thing you eat.. Something to look forward to..Rachaelxx

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  11. Good morning Trina, that pie looks scrumptious! I only had sweet cravings during one pregnancy and it was for those Cadbury easter creme eggs. Now I can't stand the sight of them. The other two I craved broccoli...strange stuff pregnancy huh? My mother in law just took down her cherry tree last year. Between the lack of space in her yard, the birds and the mold it just wasn't working for her. So I've got cherry envy. Have a great day. ~Stacey

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  12. the perfect thing with this mornings' coffee ... yum

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  13. It looks so yummy!!! :-D I'll try so soon!!
    thank you!
    Etta

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  14. what a beautiful pie! looks delish!

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  15. What a beautiful pie! The lattice pastry is perfect! Glad to hear you're feeling better. Give in to your cravings and enjoy your pregnancy. Any thoughts on how you'll do the nursery?

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  16. Ooooh...Yummy! The pie looks delicicious. Glad you are past the feeling yucky stage. It's funny, about the only time I had an aversion to sugar/sweets was when I was pregnant too...one bite of chocolate cake was all I could take. Oh, and the smell of fish!

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  17. Good Morning! Mmmm your pie looks wonderful and I think I will try your recipe for pie and crust once my cherries are ripe. I moved to Kansas from near the Okanagan Valley in British Columbia and I REALLY miss the fresh fruits that were available up there. Fruit is so expensive here in the middle of the country! I'm glad you're starting to feel a bit better and you're able to eat a few things you haven't been able to lately. I've gone through this 5 times...so I sympathize with you! Take good care of yourself..thanks too for the inspiration (for the pie that is!)...Maura :)

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  18. Sounds and looks like a tasty way to spend a trimester. Lovely, lovely post. A friend brought a cherry/blueberry pie for our celebration this week and I gobbled it up, not having had one in a few years. Yum.

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  19. mmmm. now i have a craving and i'm not pregnant! looks delicious!

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  20. Ohh, looks good. I want some cherries too.LOL

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  21. Mmmm. This makes me so hungry! This pie is perfect....I can't get mine to look this good. They taste good though so that's a good start.

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  22. That pie is so gorgeous I can almost taste it. You are brave to make your pie-crust from scratch. I just might have to try it.

    -Rene

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  23. Your pie looks delicious. When I was a child my aunt and I made a cherry pie. She asked me to prepare the cherries so I took the stem off and washed them. I had no idea there were pits inside. You can imagine the surprise when everyone had cherry pie after dinner!
    So glad you mentioned about problems with comments. Yesterday, comments kept disappearing on my blog.

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  24. It's a beautiful pie, and looks yummy! How cool is that multi-pitter?! Mine is a single version, and comes complete with splatters!:)
    xo,
    joan

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  25. Cheers to getting past the wooziness of the first trimester:). Your pie looks fabulous. Those are two lucky babies to have a mama who makes pies that look like that:).

    xoxo,

    Blair

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  26. I have recently started following your blog and I love it. I think it's the simplicity of it I love the most. I love making pies too and I am now dying to know where your husband got that cherry pitter from, please, please, please let me know if you can. I have never thought to look for one, just always end up with pink fingers too :-)

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  27. Thanks for posting a lovely recipe for Cherry Pie.
    I've just come across your blog and love everything country and everything farmhouse, though I live in an old converted mill in England!
    I'll visit again soon.

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  28. So weird. Sometimes I feel like your blog parallels my life but just on a different coast. Lilacs, Peonies, Cherry Pies! But I guess the seasons are not that different and make everyone want to enjoy to the fullest. I just made my first cherry pie for my dad. I've been experimenting with pie crusts and things to do with them...try the Chard Tart from the Joy of Cooking. Delicious. And the best cook book ever. If you don't have it, I will send you the recipe.

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  29. The pie looks yummy. I am sure hubby and babies (did you say babies?) enjoyed it. Carla

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  30. Gorgeous pie! My husband's favorite. I've never made a lattice crust but would love to try sometime. You really do have the perfect country life.

    xo
    LeAnn

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  31. Oh I love that woven crust -- I admit to cheating and just laying the strips on top of one another; yours is picture-perfect!

    I hope you enjoyed it!
    Congratulations BIG TIME on your "delicate condition." Having been thru infertility issues, 25 years ago, I understand how very special this time is for you.

    My daughters are now 24 and 23. And it's all worth it.

    Blessings to your old house, from OUR old house!
    Cass

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  32. There is NOTHING like lovely cherries from the PAC NW! I'm so bummed because I'm not going to be out there until the beginning of August and I think that will be too late. I especially love the Royal Annes.....Glad to hear that you survived the first trimester; hopefully from here out you will THRIVE! Enjoy those cherries for me {sigh}!
    xx Suzanne

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  33. That is looking totally yummy! I did cherry picking as summer job when I was studying at University. Still love cherries even after that ;0)
    alicia

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  34. Hi There! What a beautiful pie! Just the thing for summer and I know when I was pregnant, what was good tasted REALLY good, nothing like the intensity that pregnancy brings: both the cravings and the tastes!

    Stop on over to my blog for some newborn baby photos I'm sharing of my grandson...he's a sweetie!
    *Ü*

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  35. Beautiful Trina. I shall copy down your recipe also! I am planning to make your asparagus pizza on the weekend. I pulled out my old Moosewood and found that dough recipe and realized I had once made the calzones on that same page!!

    Anyway, I love a tried and true recipe. I bet it was AMAZING. I did not grow up around cherry pies (rather blueberry, strawberry rhubarb, etc.) but think they are in my Top 2 now.

    xo T.

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  36. Hi Simone,
    Hubby picked up this cherry pitter on one of his business trips to California. A couple of years ago I decided to make my first cherry pie and was shocked that our entire county had sold out of them!! People love their cherry pitters around here! So I'm sorry I can't tell you where he got it. All he remembers, and I'm quoting him here, "either in Sonoma, Oakland, or Fieldsburg..." I'm laughing as I write because I know that a list of towns doesn't narrow it down much, but think it's adorable that he does. Cutie pie husband.
    Trina

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  37. Trina, that looks like pure pie perfection.
    Beautiful post, as always.:)

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  38. Greetings! Such a gorgeous pie for a gorgeous Mommy-to-be! Thanks for the recipes, pie and crust. I've been in a blueberry pie mood lately and have made two. But now am craving a cherry pie. Will use your recipe and hope it turns out as lovely as yours. Tried to post congratulations on your post announcing your brilliant good news, for some reason couldn't get post to "do". So I'm sending you best wishes and blessings for a healthy pregnancy

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  39. miam miam... i love summer and all its fruits!!!! :)

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  40. Have I missed something? You said "for Hubby, me and babies included"......are you referring to your baby and Lucy or are you having twins? Thanks for an update, if I have totally missed the boat!!
    Beth Thomas

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  41. What a gorgeous pie! Just stumbled upon your blog-it's awesome! I'm envious of your baking skills!

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  42. PS...I tried your recipe last night and the pie was divine. Thank you so much for sharing.
    Glad to hear you have a bit of your sweet craving back.
    I'm so thrilled for you and know the rest of your pregnancy will be smooth sailing. And soon you will have two beautiful bundles in your arms. Congratulations again.

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  43. This is the best Americana photo I've seen! I am going to look for a cherry pitter. See what you learn while blogging!
    Do you think that pie would make me look fat?
    Happy Baby. Cherish every moment.

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  44. I don't know you...but would like to get to know you at your farm - ours is The Simple Farm....and so, can I come over for a piece of you pie? Cherry is my very favorite btw...

    Love site. Will add you to my blog roll.

    xoxo to my new friend...lylah

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  45. Hi Trina,
    Thanks for getting back to me. As I am in San Diego and my in-laws near Oakland I figured with a big part of the state covered I should be able to find one with that list of towns :-)However I opted for just trying Google and voila, found one on Amazon. Ordering now.......
    Simone

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  46. Simone,
    I found a name on the pitter - it reads 'Progressive.' Sorry I didn't mention that earlier!
    ; ) Trina

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  47. I just posted about cherries today...I love them. And that lattice work crust is beautiful. I wonder if I could pull this off...

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  48. That's got my mouth watering - lovely,lovely!

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  49. Trina,

    I must admit, being 5 months pregnant, I was a little reluctant to read this post...it seems like anything delicious-looking makes me have an immediate craving for it! Someone can just say something....and my mind starts thinking...."when can I get a hold of some of that?" Haha....oh well though. It's all apart of pregnancy.

    Okay, I said "a little reluctant" because I obviously read it...and your pie looks SOOO good! I'm such a pie person, too. Before I make this into a novel, I just wanted to say from one preggy to another---eat hearty, healthy, and stay happy!

    Now if you'll excuse me while I write down this recipe....

    Gail

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  50. Perfect - it must be the exact one I ordered on Amazon today.
    Thanks again.

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  51. Trina, our local store here in the Adelaide Hills had Californian cherries for $30.00/kg. (2.2lb to 1kg.) yesterday - I think that works out to be approx. 60c per cherry!! Yes, it's Winter here & for some reason we are flying in your Summer produce, go figure. Martha would be proud of you girl & that beautiful pie. Glad the 24hr. nausea (stupidly named Morning Sickness by some equally stupid male Dr.) has passed, I still recall it's crippling effect.
    Millie ^_^

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  52. ok, now i'm seriously missing summer!! you've got so many lovely images in these last few posts Trina, i'm seriously going into summer withdrawal down here!!

    {i love reading about you 4, not just 2 anymore - so, so, soooo cool!}

    jules xoxo

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  53. Excellent pie! I am so glad you are able to enjoy it now. I will have to track down that fabulous pitter...
    Roe

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  54. I'm drooling here - that sure looks good!

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  55. This looks delishious! I can't wait to try it.

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Thank you for leaving your thoughts. Kind regards, Catherine

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