Culinary Adventures with Camilla

I have been friends with Jenn since we were in high school. And while most teenagers were probably out on dates on a Friday night, you could usually find me and Jenn at home. Most Friday evenings, we'd have dinner, bake an apple pie, and watch movies. Yes, we were hell-raisers, weren't we? Apple pie and movies... So, when Jenn realized that we were celebrating her birthday on Pi Day (that's 3.14 - March 14th!), we settled on pies as the theme. Naturally, she asked for an apple pie. Done. Ingredients makes one 9" pie Crust 2 C flour + more for rolling 1/2 C organic powdered sugar 3/4 C butter 2 T vodka 1 T Calvados (apple brandy, or more vodka) 1 T cold water Also needed: parchment paper, rolling pin, pie pan Filling 3 to 3-1/2 pounds apples, approximately 8 medium apples (I used organic Gala apples) 1/2 C  organic light brown sugar, divided 3 T flour 2 T Calvados (apple brandy, or more vodka) 2 t freshly squeezed lemon juice 1/4 t koshe...

I have a few Peter Mayle books on my bookshelf. Last February, we read A Year in Provençe as a #Winophiles' tie in; you can read my post A Book, An Inspired Braise, and A (Surprise!) Bottle of Redfrom Provençe . And Chasing Cezanne was a Fun, Fluffy French Caper.   So, when I was looking for something easy to read last weekend, I picked up  French Lessons: Adventures with Knife, Fork, and Corkscrew  by Peter Mayle*.  On the Page In French Lessons , Mayle offers readers a quirky food and wine map of France as he traipses around the country in search of culinary adventures. He attends the annual messe des truffes in Richerenches; that's a Sunday mass to celebrate the black truffle. He goes to Bourg-en-Bresse to join in the annual celebration known as Les Glorieuses  where they honor and feast on the blue-footed Bresse chicken. In the chapter "Undressing for Lunch", he visits a famed clothing-optional beachside café in St. Tropez. And he is initiate...

Happy Pi Day! Every year Coleen of The Redhead Baker invites her blogging pals to post pie recipes in honor of the day. And, in previous events, I've shared Lamb, Basmati Rice, and Grape Leaf Pi(e)  and   Matcha-Chocolate Pie . And I actually just did a round-up earlier this evening in my post  Mathematics, LEGO, and a Pie Parade . But here's the pie rack for the 2019 edition of #PiDay with Coleen... 4 Ingredient Lemon Ice Box Pie by Creative Southern Home Brownie Pie by Hezzi-D's Books and Cooks Carrot Pie by Savory Moments Grapefruit Pie by Kate's Recipe Box Kentucky Pie by For the Love of Food Key Lime Pie by Simply Inspired Meals Lucky Lemon Pie by The Spiffy Cookie Mexican Chicken Pie by Karen's Kitchen Stories Mini Shepherd's Pies by Cheese Curd In Paradise Mushroom Galette by Caroline's Cooking Rhubarb Berry Pie by The Redhead Baker Sky High S'mores Pie by Food Above Gold Spaghetti Pie by A Day in the Life on the Far...