Tuesday, March 15, 2011

TWD—Citrus Pecan Sunshine Muffins and Dutch Apple Pie for Pi Day

This week’s recipe for Citrus Currant Sunshine Muffins was chosen by Lauryn of Bella Baker.  Right off, I didn’t use currants.  I used pecans instead.  Right now, I’m out of town—visiting friends in Kansas and I forgot to bring the recipe noting the other changes I made.  I know for sure that I used whole wheat pastry flour instead of all purpose flour, but that is all I can remember.  The muffins are okay.   I always love mixing zest into sugar with my fingers.

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I really liked the pecan crunch in these.  I sprinkled them with turbinado sugar before baking them and that made for a nice sweet crunch on top.

Monday (3-14) was International Pi Day and while it doesn’t really mean anything to me by way of math, it was definitely an excuse to make a pie! ;)  I’m staying with my friend, Mindy, here in Kansas and for fun asked her what her favorite kind of pie is and she said it was Dutch apple pie.  So I googled it and found one that Amy at Baking and Mistaking just posted for Pi Day that look really good.

Dutch Apple Pie 3-14-11

Amy used a recipe from America’s Test Kitchen Family Baking Book.  I followed Amy’s recipe, which is different in that the apples are cooked on the stove and the crust is prebaked.  After cooking the apples, they had a good cup or more of liquid that I really wasn’t sure was supposed to go in the pie shell.  So I scooped the apples out and put them in the pie shell, but left out the liquid.  I really didn’t want a soggy crust.  After putting the huge mound of crumble topping over the apples, I was a little worried the crumble wouldn’t be moist enough……..it wasn’t. 

But the pie was still good!  I like that the apples are well cooked.  I don’t like apple pie when some of the apples are still just a tad too crunchy.

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Too many crumbs.  A little vanilla ice cream helped with that.

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21 comments:

chocolatechic said...

Looks great.

Pecans are a fabulous addition.

I made a coffee cake out of mine

Anonymous said...

I LOVE that pie recipe, the baking husband asks for it every fall. The crumb topping is so good we put it on muffins as well.

Peggy said...

I think pecans would be great in these. You made some beautiful muffins!

Flourchild said...

Ha ha...We did PI day too...my son came home from school telling me we had to make a PIE...not knowing he was talking about the math PI! Im like...PIE day was last month..until I finally figured it out!:)

I love that you added pecans..I should have too:) Your muffins look great...like a ray of sunshine..just like you:)

Bella Baker said...

The muffins look great, and that pie looks insanely good! YUM!

Kayte said...

Pecans in these sound wonderful as well...and look wonderful, love those little muffin wrappers! Your pie is lovely!

Baking and Mistaking said...

Hi Katrina -

Left this as a response to your comment on my site, but adding it here in case you don't see! -

I'm glad you made the pie but so sorry it didn't work out perfectly! I'm pretty sure I drained all but 1/4 cup of the liquid from the apples, so perhaps that would change things. Though I did look at your pictures and your crumbs do look way more crumbly than mine. Hmmmm.
Hope you still enjoy it!

-Amy

Valerie Gamine said...

Happy belated Pi Day!

Your muffins are adorable and luscious-looking (I used peans too!)

Jessica of My Baking Heart said...

I almost added pecans, but chose chocolate in the end. :) The sugar on top of your muffins looks fabulous!

Unknown said...

I love dutch apple pie, I've been meaning to make it. Just another recipe you posted that I'm going to have to make. Katrina, my jiggly butt blames you!!

Spike said...

I was so made at myself for getting to make pie on pi day! I even have a pi tshirt I forgot to wear! oh well. Both treats look great!

Cindy said...

Two yummy recipes. Have a great visit!

Pamela said...

Too many crumbs in all of the right places!

Nicole said...

Your muffins look great and that pie looks so good. My coworker made the pies for Pi Day. It's nice to see more people celebrating Pi Day.

peachkins said...

I think the apple pie is smiling at me...

Anonymous said...

I shouldn't be reading blogs when I'm hungry. The muffins look good, but the pie with ice cream looks great!

Nutmeg Nanny said...

Yum! I love all that topping on the pie...delicious!

mike509 said...

Katrina - what a wonderful pie! I've never made one... but want to now. I'll have to put that on my to-do list. Muffins look marvelous as well! Hope you're enjoying your visit/vacation??? Happy Spring!

Unknown said...

Hope you enjoyed your trip Katrina! That pie sounds so good right now, I love apples and crumb topping together. I actually remembered Pi Day this year but then I was too lazy to actually bake a pie :)

Jaime said...

I've got the best dutch apple pie recipe on my blog :) It's under "apple crumb pie" - you must try it - it's my all time favorite

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