Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Chai and Pear Tango

Cutie Pies, oh my!

Alright, I've always wanted to call you guys my cutie pies, but having done it once I'll never ever do it again. Just got it out of my system. Ok, so hope everyone had a good week and is looking forward to the wonder of official fall. But first....

Thanks to everyone that's sent their kind words and support. It was a tough week for me and my family, but your thoughts did follow me down south. And your flowers, too!! Thank you to VJ for sending a lovely bouquet to the service, that really was above and beyond. I'm grateful to all y'all.

Which is why, when I came back to some surprisingly chilly weather, I thought to give y'all something to warm the night chills out of your bones. The pie of the week this week is perfect for fall. It's called Erin's Sweet Chai Pie, named after a beautiful redheaded friend of mine who happens to love chai and gave me the idea.

This spicy, sweet little thing is as close as you can get to a pumpkin pie without cracking a squash. Also very surprising, the last thing you'd expect is a creamy, sweet, spicy pie made from tea. And yes, it is defiantly made from tea. Something you have to experience to believe.

To order the pie of the week for home delivery just give a shout by email or phone before noon on Thursday, and it'll magically appear. As with most pies, this one is $20 and that's COD.

Not to disappoint those wishing to hold on to summer, I've got a lil' somethin' somthin' for y'all, too. Pears are still lovely right now, and we haven't had any pear pies this year, such a shame, so I've brought y'all White Chocolate Pear Glaze. Yes, I know, not a very exciting name, but I'm working on it.

This one is a subtle pear glazed over with a honey and clove glaze then laced with white chocolate. Very soft, sweet, almost a tender embrace for your tongue. Maria, one of my very best friends in Providence, hates pears with a passion, and yet sat with this one and gobbled it up. Says it must be right on to me. This pie will only be at the markets this week.

The Chai pie can be done gluten free, sugar free and vegan. The White Chocolate Pear Glaze can be done gluten free, sugar free, but not vegan. If you need any of these contact us via email or phone as soon as you can. Special orders take a little more time, so keep that in mind when ordering.

Speaking of special orders, I love birthday orders. I mean, c'mon, what rocks more than a birthday? Especially when it isn't yours. We got a Cutie first, and I always love our firsts, a young lady named Emma ordered a vegan pie for her birthday, which is very cool. She picked out an Apple Raspberry Crisp, which I made mile high in my excitement. What makes this a first is that this is Emma's first year as a vegan, and it's our first vegan birthday pie. Yea on us all, everyone wins and I so love that.

And finally, this Thursday we're going to be at Food for Thought, an excellent benefit run by the Genesis Center which works very hard to feed the hungry. As far as I see it, you get to eat great food and people who really need food get to eat great food, too. Yea! We all win! I love that.

Not only do you get to see Cutie Pies there, but some of my absolutely most favorite restaurants in Rhode Island, like CAV, Apsara , of course the Blue Elephant, my good friends at Sin, El CentroAmericano, Sunrise Land Shrimp (yes, the bug guy!) Trinity Brewhouse and Aspire just to name a very few. C'mon out Thursday night between 5:30 and 9, eat, drink and kick up your heels. You know you want to. For more information take a peek here: http://eyeofprovidence.org/fft/

Alright, that's about it for this week, see you at the Wensday market at Brown and at the Downtown Friday market from 11-2. Have a wonderful week and break out your sweaters!
~Iris

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Coconut Turtles swim with Strawberries

Hey there, everyone!

Wow, a whole lot going on this week, and a few changes to our schedule. But only for this week. First let's get to the pie o'the week.

You like coconut cream pie, right? Ok, well add chocolate and caramel to it and make it a coconut turtle. Decadent isn't even the word. Smooth, creamy, chocolate and caramel laced, chunked out with lots of coconut and velvety perfect. Those of you that have had our regular coconut cream have touched heaven, now you can live there.

Our other feature pie is Strawberry Vanilla Twist. It is my grandmother's second favorite pie in the world - her favorite being a sweet potato with baked in cheddar cheese, but I didn't think that would sound as nice to as many people.

Ah, but the Twist. Take my beautiful flaky pie crust, layer the bottom with fresh strawberries, cover them in a thick, rich vanilla custard goo and bake together. The berries and vanilla mingle into something light, delicate and wonderful, like a first kiss or a perfect blue day.

As to this week's changes. I'm sorry for any inconvenience, but there will be no Friday market, and unless you've already ordered the pie for home delivery this Friday evening, you can't get it to your door. We will only be doing the Wensday Brown farmers' market on Thayer and George. You can find directions and maps here: http://www.farmfresh.org/food/farmersmarkets_details.php?market=5

I'm presenting my grandmother's second favorite pie because she passed away early Sunday morning. I have to head down south for the services, and, of course, to help my mother. I will be returning in time for next week's markets and will have something wonderful in hand. But for this week... well, there's a lot going on, as I'm sure y'all can imagine.

Obviously I won't be providing any gluten free, vegan or sugar free options this week. Again, I apologize. Next week will be something perfect for y'all, I promise.

The only other thing I can think of is Food for Thought. Cutie Pies has joined up with over a dozen other restaurants and foodies to serve at their annual event at Rodger Williams Park. It's a good cause and a good time, check it out here: http://eyeofprovidence.org/fft/

In other good news and excellent causes, I have to thank everyone over the last two weeks. We've raised over $1000 for hurricane relief. Thank you. It is small, yes, but every bit counts.

That's it for this week, folks. Sorry if all's a little glum, but I'll be back next week all chipper and full of cuteness. Hope everyone is having a wonderful week.
~Iris

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Falling in Love with Pie

Hey there, y'all!!

We've been working really hard over here at Cutie Pies to bring y'all some new things, or at least new options. I, personally, love many choices, so it goes to figure I'd make sure you guys have as many as we can think of over here.

Usually I'll pop out something strange like an orange pumpkin this time of year, but I'll save that for later in the season. Instead I'm following up last week's Chicago Blues pie with something just as sensual, but not quite as unusual.

This week is Falling in Love. So named because it's considered, in my neck of Louisiana, to be a spell pie. You feed this thing to someone you want to fall in love with you, or even better, split it, and who could help but feel romantically toward you? We're talking a rich chocolate crust filled with organic dark chocolate, fresh mashed up raspberries and swirled with a mint ribbon.

I'd love you if you served that to me!

Sometimes, when you feel the weather start to turn a little wet and you know fall is on the way, you can't help but want someone to curl up with to watch the leaves. This is my way of making that happen. For home delivery just give a call or email. Deliveries are on Friday between 6-7, and this wistful little pie is $20.

Also this week we'll be featuring Lemon Blueberry Pop! at our markets Downtown and at Brown. Yes, I know we just did this two weeks ago, but it is still a tremendous pie and was requested by one of my most favorite clients of all time, so I couldn't resist. There will be no other repeats for the rest of the year. Yeah, I know, I rock.

The Falling in Love pie can be done gluten free, but not vegan or sugar free. Sorry guys, just way too rich and far too much chocolate. Next chocolate one will at least be vegan friendly. The Lemon Blueberry Pop! can be done gluten free and sugar free. Vegans kinda lose out this week, I'll make it up to you next week.

In other news we've just signed on with Food For Thought, a big Providence/Rhode Island food fest happening on the 24th of this month, I'll post more details when I get some. Also I'll be on Jen's Dish on the 24th of this month promoting Cutie Pies, talking about Food For Thought and just talking about the wonder that is good food. Again, more details next week. Oh! This is *VERY* exciting news, I've actually got someone to work on the website so it'll actually be pretty and more updated. Yea! I don't have to do it all anymore! So keep an eye out, there's a lot developing over here and I'm so happy to get to share it with y'all.

Oh, last thing, from now on the mailer is going be sent out on Mondays. I do apologize for any inconvenience, but it makes sense with us doing the Brown market on Wednesdays.

That is it , folks! Hope everyone is having a delightful week, despite the rain.
~Iris

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

Chicago Blues - Bluest Pie Around

Hello all!

Welcome back to the Cutie Pie news letter and greetings to all the new folks! Hope everyone had a safe and happy holiday weekend. Labor is always a good thing.

Now, before I go any further I'd like to say that I'm very concerned for my fellow New Orleanians and Louisianans. Things are not as bad as with Katrina, but it's still kinda bad. All Cutie proceeds this week are going toward relief effort. I know it isn't much, but right now it's the least I can do.

At least you can feel better about stretching out your diet and getting a pie.

So! The pie of the week! This week I'm offering up my Chicago Blues: a chocolate crust filled with a dark chocolate/fudge filling, smashed with blackberries and blueberries. It is a dark, rich, deep soul fulfilling pie that echos some of my favorite things about the end of summer and the come on of fall. Chocolate is in, berries will soon be out, so we mix the two.

Also this week I'll be featuring my Orange Buttercream Dream. That's the pie that tastes like a light, fluffy pie version of a Orange Creamsicle. I figure with such a dark and rich pie there should be a balance with a light, silky one. Both are excellent.

The Chicago Blues can be done gluten free, but not vegan or sugar free.
The Orange Buttercream can be done gluten free and vegan, but not sugar free. I need to be notified for these types of special orders by Wednesday afternoon. I know it's short notice, I'll get the mail out on Mondays from now on, promise.

For all other orders just give a shout before Thursday night for Friday evening delivery. Call, email, flag me down, send a carrier pidgin.

Also we're starting a new market on Wednesday! Yea! The Blown University farmer's market runs from 11-2 at Wriston Quad on Thayer St And George St.
You can find directions and maps here:
http://www.farmfresh.org/food/farmersmarkets_details.php?market=5

That's about all for this week, we'll see you at the markets and on delivery days. Hope everyone's having a good week and closing out the summer with joy.
~Iris
--
Cutiepies - Our only competition is Mom.
Now available at the Blue Elephant, Blue State Coffee, Hudson St. Market
(SOON!),Cuban Revolution, City Girls Cafe, Boston Tea Room, Eddie C's Salon (Saturdays only), Ten Minute Max (Sept!) and for whole pie delivery.
Look for your favorite Cutie Baker at your local Farmers' Market!
(401) 331-2414
http://www.cutiepiepies.blogspot.com/