Have I ever told you that I’m a gigantic baby and cry all the time? I feel like I have.
What I’ve realized is that I think I actually like crying. I cry at weddings, I cry when I say nice things to people, I cry when I watch TV. And what’s kinda sick is that I actually watch shows that make me cry ON PURPOSE. Parenthood? Such a cry-fest of a show, and I looooove it! Yesterday, I spent most of the day in the kitchen with the show Secret Millionaire playing in the background. Have you seen this show? Good gracious. You will need a lil’ tissue.
If you haven’t seen it, let me give you a summary: A millionaire disguises himself/herself and goes “undercover” to an underprivileged city or neighborhood. They seek out people who are running foundations, charities or people who are simply trying to make a difference. Some of the stories are really amazing. If you’re ever having a terrible day, experiencing terrible people (this happens, some people do suck), watch this show. It’ll make you believe in the good of people all over again. The show always ends with the millionaire giving these people checks to help their foundations going. There’s usually tons of tears. If you love crying, you MUST watch this show!
This pie is dreamy.
It took me a few tries to get it right. But I finally reached the ratio I like. The chamomile to buttermilk to lemon zest to honey is delicious. It’s sweet–not too sweet! It’s floral, fragrant and the chamomile is subtle. It tastes like a fragrant cup of tea on a cold day. It makes you want to take out a blanket, curl up on the couch and CRY! Just kidding. No crying. Just a pie-eating.
Ingredients
Pie Crust:
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons white granulated sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 stick 4 ounces unsalted butter, very cold
- 1/4 cup very cold water
Filling:
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 3 tablespoons dried chamomile or 3 chamomile teabags
- 1/2 cups white granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons good quality honey
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon lemon zest
- Pinch of salt
- 3 large eggs
Instructions
- In a large bowl, mix together the flour, sugar and salt. Using a box grater, grate the cold butter atop the flour mixture. Working quickly, and using your hands, break the butter bits into the flour until they're evenly distributed and resemble the size of small peas. Add 1/4 cup of water and mix. The mixture will be shaggy at the point. From here, add 1 tablespoon of water at a time until the dough comes together. I ended up adding about 1 1/2 more tablespoons of water, equalling 1/4 cup water, plus 1 1/2 tablespoons. Flour your counter and dump the dough onto it. Knead the dough a few times until it comes together; form the dough into one solid disc. Wrap the disc with plastic wrap and transfer it to the refrigerator to chill for 1 hour or overnight.
- Remove the disc of dough from the refrigerator. Liberally flour your work surface and rolling pin. Begin to roll the dough, being sure to rotate it every so often to avoid sticking, to a 12 to 14-inch round. Wrap the dough around the rolling pin and unroll it over the pie tin. Gently fit the dough into the bottom and up the sides of the pie tin. Trim the dough around the pie tin, and using your thumb and forefinger, crimp the rim of the crust into a v-shape. Score the bottom of the pie crust with the tines of a fork. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Transfer the pie crust to the refrigerator to chill for 30 minutes. Line the pie crust with foil or parchment paper and fill it with beans, rice, pennies or metal pie weights. Transfer to the oven and bake for 15 minutes. Carefully remove the lining and pie weights and bake for an additional 5 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool on a wire rack until room temperature.
- Meanwhile, let's make the filling. Combine the buttermilk and chamomile. Allow the mixture to steep at room temperature for 2 hours. Give it a taste and make sure you can taste the chamomile. If not, it might need 30 more minutes. Pour the mixture through a fine sieve (if the holes are too big you'll have little bits of tea) to strain. Set aside.
- Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. In a medium bowl, whisk together the sugar, honey, flour, lemon zest and salt. Next, beat in one egg at a time, until the mixture is thick and thoroughly combined. Pour in the buttermilk and whisk until completely combined. Pour the buttermilk mixture into the par-baked pie crust. Carefully transfer the pie to the preheated oven and bake for 30-40 minutes, until the center of the pie is set. Allow the pie to cool on a wire rack until room temperature, about 1-2 hours.
If you’re up for a good weekly cry I must recommend StoryCorps on NPR. I’m sure there’s a podcast but that would just be too deliberate on my part to seek it out. I prefer for the Friday morning broadcast to bowl me over during my commute. It’s a project where real people record themselves, often pairs of people who’ve lived through something significant that they reflect on. It didn’t use to be such a tear-inducing experience, but for the last year it’s been guaranteed to make me cry.
Ooooo…I’m sure they have a download. I’ll check it out. Thanks for sharing with me. I love podcasts like that.
Perfect, comfort food !
AmeriAus Blog
I like my tea in pie form, so perfect!
For crying shows, I highly recommend One Piece, an anime. You will be bawling and blubbering. The manga books are better, but if you prefer watching over reading, the anime is good
wow this is different… different good … can’t wait to give it a try
Your thoughts on crying made me think of this quote:
“It opens the lungs, washes the countenance, exercises the eyes, and softens down the temper, so cry away.”
– Charles Dickens
It just feels good sometimes! Anyway, I’m a long-time follower, first time commenter. Love your writing and recipes!
Ahhh! What a beautiful quote. I love the part, “..and softens down the temper.” It so does. Thanks for being here!
I just got teary eyed looking at this recipe! I love a good cry fest and this pie is getting me going!
Cry away, my dear fwiend.
Did you link to the recipe? What am I missing?
I have no idea what happened. I put in the recipe and this morning it wasn’t there. UGH. It’s there now!
I am not much of a crier but even i can break at a good story line. What a flavour combo! I think this would make a great night time snack pie!
Wow! This pie sounds amazing…believe me or not, I’d never heard of chamomile baked goods before and this pie totally conquered me! Can’t wait to give it a go…You always have the best ideas, Adrianna!
xo, Elisa
I love that this pie is delicate and complex, but also sturdy and comforting. Maybe we humans could learn from this pie. LOVE IT! Ps totally watch sad shows on purpose too.
I cry all the time too – I seem to not be able to get through a book at the moment without crying! I need pie!
FoodNerd x
http://www.foodnerd4life.com
This pie sounds craaaaazy good!! Love that filling.
That sounds like such a light and fragrant combination, will give it a go!
Pie <3
Carina
http://www.carstina.com/