3.14 – A Day for Pi(e)

0

Eat pie on Pie day.If you walk into my house on March 14, the first thing you’ll notice is a vast array of smells. 

The perfume of sugared berries wafts through the air, accented by the fudgy fragrance of something chocolate. Underneath, you can detect the faintest hint of savory scents: Italian spices and pepperoni, along with beef sautéed with peas and onions.

After your nose recovers from such an onslaught, you might take a look around and notice that, yes, all of these delicious dishes are round. 

Why is there such an abundance of aromas, and a celebration of circles? It’s Pi Day, of course. 

The History

I was an adult the first time I celebrated Pi Day. One of my friends loved math and introduced my husband and me to the enchanting concept of Pi Day, which honors the mathematical constant  π (pi) on March 14, a numerical play on its rounded value of 3.14.

If you are a bit wary of the all “National {Insert Food Here} Days” that have become ubiquitous, you’ll be happy to know that Pi day has pre-social media origins. It was first celebrated in 1988 and recognized by the United States House of Representatives in 2009. Definitely legit. 

Have pecan pie on Pi Day.Since my first Pi Day celebration more than a decade ago, I’ve kept the tradition going in my family. It’s now a day my kids look forward to every year!

At our house, we begin prep a few days ahead of time, and we make several pie crusts from my favorite recipe. By the time the big day rolls around (see what I did there?), we are ready with an array of dessert pies of all sizes, as well as shepherd’s pie, pizza pie, and egg pie (quiche.)

Everything is circular, and it’s all absolutely delicious. 

Silly? Yup. Frivolous? Absolutely. Fun? Without a doubt. 

Bake Your Own

If you’re interested in joining in on the Pi day fun and celebrating at your house, here are a few of our favorite recipes to get you started. 

Chocolate Chess Pie :: This fudgy pie is easy to make and incredibly decadent. We typically make it with regular pie crust, as opposed to chocolate graham crust, but we have also had it with a standard graham cracker crust. No matter the crust, it never disappoints. 

Shepherd’s Pie :: A more recent addition to our lineup, I make this recipe in my circular Corningware to keep the right geometric shape. It’s delicious and filling, adding a little bit of nutrition to the day. Leftovers reheat well even a few days later, perfect for St. Patrick’s Day!

Lemon Meringue Pie :: My kids saw this type of pie on an episode of Kids Baking Championship, and they begged to make it nonstop, so of course, it had to hit the pie lineup. It’s tart, sweet, and tastes like summer, even in March. 

Egg Pie :: Dubbed “egg pie” when my littles were toddlers, the name stuck, and as such, it makes an appearance in our pi-day celebrations. We use a simple recipe for quiche, and add-ins vary based on whatever I have in the fridge. It’s a good catch-all and tastes just as good at breakfast on March 15 as it does on Pi Day. 

Triple Berry Pie :: My personal favorite, this triple berry pie never gets old. I really love the mix of berries and the way the flavors mix together to capture a fruity sweetness. Since March is a bit of a toss-up when it comes to fresh berries, I often use the frozen variety when I make it on Pi Day. 

Buy Your Pi(e)

If making a bunch of food at home isn’t your thing, consider patronizing one of our local restaurants for your Pi Day celebrations. 

JudyPie :: Located on Grapevine’s Main Street, my kids love this shop because it has small pies (serves two to three), so I’m more likely to let them each get their own for super special occasions.

Texas Harvest Pie Company :: A small, family-run shop in Keller, you’ll get lots of homebaked goodness in its pies. Plan ahead or celebrate late, since it’s closed Sundays! 

Buttermilk Sky Pie Shop :: With locations all around the metroplex, this pie shop has an extensive selection from which to choose. (Also closed Sundays!)

For a Big Pizza Pi(e)

Pizza pie is a good twist on Pi day, and some restaurants offer Pi-inspired deals. Most years, Blaze Pizza locations sell personal pizzas for $3.14, and Pie Five almost always has some sort of discount. Even Papa John’s gets in on the action wit. Of course, you’ll want to call ahead to see that discounts are in place before heading to your favorite pie spot!

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here