Recipe: Edgar Allen Pie

Quoth the raven: dinnertime.

Last year for a Pi Day party I made Edgar Allen Pie (in a square pie dish, because pie are square). It was such a hit I made it again this year.

Due to popular request, here is my recipe for Edgar Allen Pie.

Crust

• 2 c plain flour
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 c oil
• 3 Tbsp cold water

Blend salt into flour. mix in oil into flour until absorbed. I prefer the K-beater on my mixer. Add the cold, cold water one tablespoon at a time until you get a good consistency in dough.

To roll out, roll out between two pieces of parchment or wax paper. This is necessary. Don't think you can cheat and roll this out with flour. It won't work the way you think it will.

Roll out a top and bottom crust. Place bottom crust in your pie dish. Blind bake in a 170°C (350°F) oven for about ten minutes. Don't let crust get too brown or it will burn later.

Fill pie with filling and place top crust over pie. you can seal the edges if you wish. Optional: brush top with watered egg mixture for a shiny top crust.  Bake in oven at 200°C (400°F) for about 30 minutes or until golden brown on top.

Filling

Note: no need to be precise in your measurements. If all you've got is 300g of raven, then that's all you've got.

Chop then saute in butter or oil:

• 1 onion
• 3-4 purple carrots (Purple is recommended for spooky effect. Yes, they will turn everything dark. That's what you want. Orange carrots can do if you must, but it won't be as theatrically effective.)
• 2 sticks celery
• 1 tsp dried or fresh sage

Add:

• 400g (1 lb) boned raven. (Okay, I'm kidding about the raven. Use any dark bird meat like turkey, duck, goose or pheasant--something with personality and flavour. (Chicken is NOT it.) Whatever you do, do not substitute crow. Nobody likes eating crow.)  Note: you can use leftover, precooked meat if you wish. If adding raw meat, cook until no longer pink.
• 1 cup vegetables of your choice (broccoli, corn, green beans, sweet potato all work well in this dish).

Blend:

• 2 Tbsp corn flour 
• 500ml stock (chicken, turkey, pheasant, vegetable... nothing too strong or dominant)
• 2 Tbsp cranberry jelly (Raspberry will do if you have no cranberry)

Pour into pan with raven and vegetables and stir until thickened.

Add:

• 200ml sour cream. Mix in well.
• Salt and pepper to taste. Be generous with the pepper.

Pour filling into pie crust, top and bake. It's okay if you have some filling left over: tomorrow's lunch. If you don't have enough filling, add a few more veggies.

If your sense of humour turns to the darker side, reserve some of the ends of the purple carrots. Slice in half so they look like beaks. Before baking, cut slices in pie crust and poke carrots through so they look like beaks trying to escape a la Stargazy Pie. Delightfully macabre touch.

Serve with a raised eyebrow and Alan Rickman's voice.

_____________________________
Her Grace enjoys cooking, especially for great effect.

Days I Celebrate in March (TASE Day)

We need a TASE Day. I celebrate TASE Day whenever I want.

March 1 - First day of Australian Autumn.  Yes, Australians celebrate the beginning of their seasons at the beginning of the month and not on the solstice/equinox. This is because we tend to follow what actually happens in the weather, as opposed to what happens in the sky. We tend to follow how the Aboriginal people mark the weather.

Up north in the tropics, they only have two seasons: Wet and Dry. Much of the country celebrates the usual four seasons. Here in Western Australia, many of us observe the six seasons of the Nyoongar people. Today is looking to be a right old scorcher, typical of Bunuru.

March 14 - Pi Day. Yes, I make pie and we eat it.  Last year we were invited to a Pi Day party. I made an Edgar Allen Pie.  Okay, so I didn't have raven. I went with dark turkey instead, and purple carrots to make it go all sorts of nice black. It was a total hit. This year, I coincidentally have turkey in my fridge, so I'll make Edgar Allen Pie again this year.

March 15 - Ides of March.  Yeah, I'm a casual fan of Shakespeare. So much of our vocabulary and modern literature owe him much. editminion.com has a Shakespeare option you can turn on during analysis.

March 17 - Happy Birthday Relief Society.  On this day this year the Relief Society is 174 years old. We're having a birthday party and a service auction (people donate acts of service and people get to 'bid' on them with points they won through games we play at the party.) Next year looks to be like a really big year for celebrations. I'm hoping we do something spectacular. Possibly get together with other Relief Societies in the area and do a really big bash.

March 17 - St Patrick's Day?  If you want to celebrate by drinking beer and wearing green, go right ahead. I won't, because I don't have a single drop of Irish blood in me.

March 19 - Vernal Equinox - First Day of Spring for the Northern Hemisphere. I observe this more as an astronomical interest instead of a weather interest.  Also, the pre-dawn morning sky has been most interesting with Jupiter setting, Mars riding high and Venus shining brightly. It's a shame I have no desire to drag my telescope out that early most mornings. Maybe I will tomorrow simply because I Can.

25-27 March - Easter. I love Easter from Cadbury Creme Eggs to the celebration of the Atonement of Christ. I also like getting time off from work and school. This release from secular life allows me to focus on the reasons I have a Thousand Year Plan. (I also take the time to work on the Fifty Year Plan and to spend time with family and friends.)