Bridal couples choosing Wedding Pie, not cake

Pies in the News

This is Shea the cutie pie's guy. I just read this over in the Chicago Sun Times.

It's about how Pie is becoming the replacement for Cake at weddings. Reminds me of the event we did for Liti and Michele last summer.

-------------------------------------------------

BY VINCENT ROSSMEIER

Five years ago, midway through a second date with a beautiful woman and emboldened by a little too much wine, I revealed my most fanatical belief. I set down the dessert menu, leaned back in my chair and set the crazy free.

"Before we go any further," I said, "there's something you should probably know."

She drew in her breath.

"For this relationship to work, you have to understand that at my wedding, there will be pie -- not cake -- for dessert."

I stared into her eyes, searching for any hint of fear, ready for her to dart toward the door. "If you can't handle that, it's probably best if you just get out now."

Read more.

Reappearance of the Key Lime

Hello all!

So maybe you noticed I didn't update last week. Maybe you were relieved to not have to hear about all the wonderful pies set out to tempt you into doing something against your waning New Year's resolutions. Maybe not. Last week I waited for Key Limes, that most holy of all citrus, but my fresh crate of the wonderful fruit arrived late last Friday. So no email. No time to warn y'all.

Again this week I waited, because I know I'm not the only one who adores this perfect little ball of limey wonder, I've ordered another crate. Fresh. Direct from Central Florida. And it arrived this afternoon. Just. In. Time.

So this week the Key Lime pie reappears. This is somewhat special for me. One, because it is the pie that launched Cutie Pies, and the other because it is simply my favorite. Everyone asks which of my massive pie menu has my undivided attention, and it is, after all the crazy concoctions, this feat of simplicity.

Key Limes come into perfect ripeness at the end of February. They signal the end of winter, the coming spring and the wheel of our year starting all over again. The Key Lime pie was created to simulate sunshine in your mouth, to bring the first warm glow of warmth that will lead a summer kiss of sun.

Yes, I get a bit romantic about Key Limes. They are one of our perfect fruits.

I will also have this week a wonderful, flirty little pie called Cranrazzle Cream, a Cranberry, Raspberry Cream that is simply divine.

Both will be at the Winter Farmers Market at the Hope Artist Village this Saturday, you can find directions here.

We'll also be delivering Key Limes ALL WEEK LONG. There is no limit on this one, just make sure you give us a 24 hours before you'd like delivery. We've got one last crate on the way, so there should be no problem accommodating everyone. Keep in mind because of the graham cracker crust, this pie cannot be done in small form, so whole pies only.

Special Diets: Both pies can be done gluten free. Neither can be lactose intolerant OR vegan OR diabetic. I know this puts a cramp in some sides, but if you need a delivery this week for a special occasion, give a shout, we'll see if there's anything else in my goody bag for you.

That said, I hope everyone is having a wonderful week, and a very happy end of February to you all. Here's hoping for spring and a little sun!
~Iris
--
Cutiepies - Our only competition is Mom.
http://www.cutiepiepies.blogspot.com/
(401) 331-2414

The He-Can Pecan

Hello all!!

Wow, what an amazing couple of days!! I would love to go into the politics of it all, but will simply say I'm joyful and any falling all over myself will happen in personal blogs and strictly with friends.

That said, let's head into different politics! Tuesday before last I ran into David Cicilline, Mayor of our fair city, at a neighborhood business association meeting. He was so tickled over my election pies that I offered to make one for him. I have, after all, voted for the man.

So I've come up with the He-Can Pecan, a wonderful Chocolate Pecan pie. I know Pecan Pie is sweet, but with a chunk of dark chocolate at the bottom it is perfect with just a little more. We've made this the pie of the week, so delivery will be this Friday between 5:30-7. This pie is $24 because, as I'm sure you can understand, these ingredients are a little more expensive.

We've also got Chocolate Puddin' Pie up for you at the market. It's not very jiggly, just moist in the middle with a power punch of chocolate. After last week, I felt chocolate was in order. This pie, should you like to order it, is only $20, just like usual.

Get your orders in before Thursday at NOON!

Today, Wednesday, is the last farmer market of the season, at least for Cutie Pies. We are going to be at the Winter Market, which starts on Dec. 6th, that's a Saturday, at the American Locomotive Company on Vally St. Do join us, there's going to be a whole lot of wonderful farmers, bread bakers, cheese makers and, of course, Cutie Pies, for your eating pleasure.

Now, on to Thanksgiving.

Cutie Pies was featured in the ProJo's Food and Lifebeat section today. The calls and emails have been... ah... well, overwhelming is a good word. I recommend y'all get your holiday orders in as soon as you can, because we're cutting off after 1,500. We're not there yet, but it won't be long. Pick up a ProJo, it's a pretty good article.

What flavors are we offering this season, you ask?
Sweet Potato Pie $20
Traditional Pumpkin Pie $20
Apple Ribbon $22
Naughty Pumpkin Pie $24 (fused with brandy and covered with candied pecans)
Walnut Maple $25
Classic Pecan Pie $25

We'll be taking orders via email and over the phone, the number is located at the bottom of this post. All orders are pre-pay and pick up is from Monday the 24th to Thanksgiving day, Thursday the 27th at the Blue Elephant. Yes, you can order at the Blue Elephant as well. Payment: We'll be taking credit cards, cash or check. Whatever is best for you.

Ok, so I'm very excited about the future, not just in pie world, but in all the world. I hope you guys feel this, too, and join me in working toward better days. And, of course, eat some really good pie. Thanks, and hope y'all had as good a night last night as I did.
~Iris
--
Cutiepies - Our only competition is Mom.
Make your holiday order NOW!
(401) 331-2414
cutiepiepies @ cox DOT net

You like pie? So do I.

I've been meaning to post this for a few days. Apparently my man Obama likes pie as much as I do. And he feels the same way about business as I do.

Now, I've said I wouldn't push my political views with my business, but there is a reason to post this. We at Cutie Pies are going to put election day pies. Four of them to represent each candidate, and you could choose whatever election day pie fit your fancy. I'd invented a pie for each, the Obama pie being Aloha Obama! a Pineapple Pine nut pie... but after this little clip I had to choose Sweet Potato. Barack really likes Sweet Potato. Take a peek.

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

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

Eachy Peachy Pie!

Good morning, everyone!

Let me start this week by thanking everyone again for letting us contact you each week to let you know what's going on with Cutie Pies and for being such a great support. I so look forward to seeing each one of you every week at the markets or delivering to your door. So far this has been a wonderful experience, thank you.

That said, I've been missing home these past few weeks. As most of y'all know I'm just a southern gal and look forward to certain foods that just aren't up here. Namely, peach pie. I've had the biggest craving for peach pie and hope you guys are feeling it, too.

Just think, soft, sweet, succulent peach pie goo dribbling down your chin, wrapped in the tenderest of crusts. Oh yes, it's peach time. We've just received a load of peaches that can't wait to settle down in someone's happy tummy. So yes, Peach is our flavor of the week. Wonderful, perfect peach.

Also going on this week: We may not be at the Broad St. Market this Saturday. We're waiting to see if our wailing, crying and pleading over the past few weeks will get Cutie Pies of the waiting list and into the vendor's stands at this week's Indy Art Fest down at Burnside Park this Saturday.

If you haven't heard about this, it's a fantastic event with music all day, the Rock'n Roll Yard Sale and a Water Fire to boot. To see a list of events just go here.

Even if Cutie Pies doesn't get in, go on down anyway (after visiting us on Broad St), lots of fun to be had and a wonderful time for the whole family.
,
That said, we'll be at Burnside Park this Friday from 11-2:30 and will have many delights on hand to tempt your diet. Think peach. Fuzzy, warm, sweet peach. Have a wonderful day, y'all!
~Iris

Blackberry Creamsicle & New Market!

Hello all, and I do mean all y'all!

Yes, I'm a little late this week, but with good reason. We've been having a heck of a time getting together our Pie of the Week, and as I don't want to throw out pies we've done before we've been on a great hunt for blackberries. Yes, sweet, tart, sometimes stinging blackberries.

Now I know you guys don't think these black beauties are the sweetest of berries, but when in a Blackberry Creamsicle Pie, they are all kinds of sweet and fun. Order up before tomorrow evening (sorry again about the long wait) and get delivery on Friday evening. You can call or email and just like that you get a pie.

We're also starting up a new Farmers' Market this week, while still doing the Friday market at Burnside park downtown we'll also be heading out to the Broad St. market on Saturdays from 9-1. It is supposed to be right at the Algonquin House. You can find directions here.

At the markets this week we'll have, in addition to the Blackberry Creamsicle, Blueberry Star Pies and Strawberry Chocolate Chunk.

Well, if I don't hear from anyone about delivery, make sure to stop in and say hi at one of the markets. As always thank you for your continued support and here's hoping y'all are having wonderful weeks.
~Iris

PREVIEW: In my next post there will be pie pics as well as our full flavor list. Want to learn more about the Cutie Pie philosophy? Read this.

Heritage and Invention Recipes: What We Do

Here at Cutie Pies we specialize in two kinds of pie: Heritage Recipes and Inventions.

Heritage recipes are pies that your grandmother, great grandmother or great great grandmother would have made, recipes that haven't been seen or made in more than two generations. It is very important to me, on a personal level and as a baker, to keep these recipes alive. Not only are they wonderful testaments to the inventive spirit, skill and resourcefulness of these men and women, but also a much healthier one.

If you look at the ingredient lists of todays pastries, cakes, breads and pies you'll notice at least one ingredient over and over again: Corn syrup. Corn syrup is an evil thing, sweetening things that don't need sweeteners and causing all sorts of health problems. We prefer not to use things like corn syrup, food coloring, glucose, fructose or any such preservatives. It is unnecessary. Working with heritage recipes insures we will never have to use modern preservatives, as these products didn't exist when the recipe was written and used.

Instead an apple will snap in your mouth rather than taste like warmed over apple sauce and blueberries will sparkle with fresh lemon rather than bottled lemon "flavoring". What exactly is "flavoring" anyway? The idea behind Cutie Pies isn't just good, local, organic and fresh as humanly possible desserts, it's also about letting natural ingredients speak for themselves in a way we haven't let them in a long time.

Our other type of pie, the Invention recipe, come out of the heads of the Cutie Bakers. While still using the principles behind a heritage recipe (local, fresh) our bakers create a new heritage that may not have been possible in the past.

A good example of an Invention recipe would be our Orange Buttercream Dream. The inspiration for this delicious fragrant little pie was the Creamsicle, that wonder of excellent childhood memories. Our baker, Iris Monroe, asked how exactly could she create this flavor using fresh, organic oranges, but in the confines of our mission to keep everything as natural as possible. She achieved what can be called the closest thing to a Creamsicle, in pie form, that defiantly tastes like the original frozen treat.

The other idea behind Cutie Pies as a company and as a responsible local community member is something special not often seen in business today: Fun.

With our three sizes; Whole Pies, Cutie Pie and Tiny Taster, you'll experience something fun and wonderful to look at and to taste. Our playful flavors range from a mammoth mountain of chocolate pie named The Helepolis (Greek for Taker of Cities) to the silly Bada-Bing Cherry. As to size, well, nothing can beat a Cutie Pie for a delightful, single serving or a Tiny Taster for nothing but a bite, however even our Whole Pie size will create ohs and ahs, especially after the first bite.

Thank you for taking the time to read about our company and thank you for supporting a small, budding local business that wants nothing but to serve excellent treats to an adoring public.