Chef's Blog

10 Recipes Every Cook Should Know: Apple Pie

The second recipe we believe every home chef should know is apple pie! Apple pie is eaten all year around and it’s the perfect dessert to bring to a get together or just make on rainy day. It may seem daunting at times with all of the steps that make […]

Chef's Blog, Chef's Notes Plus, Family Fun

All About Meringues

Have you ever tried to make a lemon meringue pie and ended up with a sort of sad, droopy meringue top? We all have! Luckily, once you master the meringue, it’s a super simple trick to have up your sleeve for pies, cookies, and even cakes! Whipping egg whites with […]

Chef's Blog, Chef's Notes Plus

Alumni Spotlight: Erin McDowell

You may know her for her pies, or her helpful but relatable how-to videos, or maybe you just know her from Instagram, where you follow along for the occasional sighting of her little dog, Brimley! But here at the CIA, Erin McDowell is family, and like all of our alumni, […]

Pies and Tarts

Apple Slab Pie

Makes one, 5 1/2 by 17-inch slab pie Ingredients 2 lb Golden Delicious apples, peeled and cut into 1/4-inch slices 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice 1 cup granulated sugar 3 tablespoon all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/8 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg Egg wash, as needed […]

Main Dishes

Beef Pot Pie

Makes one 9-inch deep-dish potpie Ingredients All-Butter Pie Dough (single crust) Egg wash, as needed 8 oz red potatoes, cubed 3 tablespoons canola oil 12 to 16 ounces beef sirloin, cubed 2 cloves garlic, minced 2 tablespoons sherry 1 3/4 cups beef stock 3 carrots, peeled and cut into ¼-inch […]

Desserts

Blitz Puff Pastry

Makes 2 pounds of dough There are a few ways to make ultra-flaky puff pastry, but this one is the quickest (that’s why it’s called blitz!). The layers in puff pastry are a result of folding the dough four times. We included a photo at the end to show you what […]

Desserts, Pies and Tarts

Butterscotch Cream Pie

Makes one 9-inch pie The rich caramel flavor in this pie is achieved by heating the dark brown sugar and butter until it caramelizes and develops a full, buttery flavor. Finished with swirls of whipped cream, this pie is a perennial favorite. Ingredients All-Butter Pie Crust, blind baked, single crust […]

Pies and Tarts

Chai Vanilla Tart

Makes one tart – 8-10 servings Tart Filling Ingredients 1/3 cup sugar 2 tbsp cornstarch 1 3/4 cups milk 1 egg 2 egg yolks 2 chai tea bags 1 tbsp unsalted butter 1/2 tsp vanilla extract Ground cinnamon, as needed Sweetened whipped cream, for topping Directions In a medium bowl, […]

Desserts, Pies and Tarts

Cherry Cheesecake Hand Pies

Makes eight 4 1/2-inch round hand pies The slightly tangy cream cheese filling complements the acidity of the fruit in this hand pie. The cream cheese crust is tender yet durable, making these pies perfectly portable.