we got this
Slowly, but surely, Yuki and Neva have sorted out who is the boss (Yuki is the boss) in the four weeks since we brought our puppy home. Don’t worry, Neva has never wanted to be the boss of anyone and she seems to enjoy having someone in charge. It’s most evident on the field after Neva has chased the tennis ball a bazillion times and is ready for a big drink of water. We pour the water and Yuki, who only gave chase 2.5 times and isn’t all that thirsty, saunters over and sticks her little face into the water dish, pushing Neva’s face out. Neva will sit back, panting like crazy, patiently waiting for her little sister to finish before she even considers getting near the water dish. But more than that, Yuki and Neva have become pals. I’ve caught them hanging out together with greater frequency and sometimes in the mornings, they both hop up onto the bed with us and it feels… peaceful. It feels right.
band album cover?
chilling out after an evening fetch/chase session
This past week the girls went out for several hikes and Yuki practiced overcoming her fear of strangers and other dogs. When Yuki is uncertain, she backs up and growls or even barks. But instead of letting her cower and be antisocial, we ask the approaching hikers if it is okay for Yuki to say hi to their dogs or to them. Once she sees that these people and/or pups are friendly and not so scary, she perks right up. She’s building her confidence, which is great. We also got Yuki out on the standup paddleboard to see how comfortable she felt on the water. Yuki is a little champ with lots of hidden talents.
we think yuki is growing taller
somehow walking these two is easier than walking just neva
sitting nicely on the paddleboard
yuki is so calm that jeremy could actually paddle while standing
We are now just over a month into summer and it is starting to taste like true summer with all of the berries, peaches, tomatoes, corn, zucchini, melons, and cherries in the markets. It’s a good time for fruit pies. Now I love me a good pie, but for the longest time I didn’t make pies because I couldn’t get the pie crust right. A few years ago, my friend gave me a big bag of frozen pitted sour cherries. She said, “Make a pie or something!” I kept those cherries in the freezer until last year when I finally found a great pie crust recipe that is consistent, easy, flaky, and delicious. It’s great because I haven’t managed to screw it up yet!
butter, salt, water, sugar, flour
scatter the butter over some of the flour, sugar, and salt
sprinkle the rest of the flour over the dough
drizzle cold water over the dough mixture
fold the water into the dough
wrap and refrigerate the two disks of dough
Make the pie dough first because it has to chill for a couple of hours. While the dough firms up in the refrigerator, you can start on the filling. The filling is made up of cherries, sugar, lemon juice, salt, and tapioca starch. I didn’t have tapioca starch, so I used quick cooking tapioca pearls (which I don’t recommend). The cherries can be fresh or frozen. If using frozen cherries, let them thaw to about 50°F and reserve all of the liquid that collects. I was worried that I had too much liquid and that the tapioca pearls wouldn’t cook enough during baking, so I cooked the filling for 15 minutes to reduce the liquid and firm up the filling. I think if you were using tapioca starch with fresh or frozen cherries, you’d be fine to skip simmering the filling.
sugar, thawed cherries and juices, lemon (juice), tapioca, salt
add the lemon juice
mix it all together
cook until thickened
As the filling cooled, I rolled out my pie crusts: a solid sheet for lining the pie plate and then some fun with my attempt at a lattice top. I like to roll my pie dough out between two sheets of plastic wrap to keep it from sticking to my rolling pin or the work surface. It eliminates the need for added flour. When the dough is about 1/8 inch thick, I peel one plastic wrap sheet off, then invert the dough into my pie plate and peel the second sheet off. Gently press the dough into the shape of the pie plate and then pour in the filling. If your top crust completely seals off the pie, be sure to cut some steam vents into the top.
rolling out the dough
cutting lattice strips and other shapes
ladle the filling onto the pie crust
making the lattice
The pie gets a half hour of chilling in the refrigerator, which is plenty of time to get the egg wash ready and the oven preheated. Brush the egg wash over your pie crust and then pop the pie into the oven for an hour or so. I used a foil tent to prevent the crust from burning in the last 15 minutes, but in the future I might just wrap foil around the edges and let the center brown a little more.
egg yolk, egg, pinch of salt, cream
whisk it all together
brush over the pie crust
bake until golden
The two things that really make a great fruit pie are: an excellent flaky, flavorful crust and delicious, ripe fruit. It’s so simple and yet it eluded me for quite some time, until now. I no longer worry about wasting good fillings on unreliable pie crust recipes which means more pie in this world. And how can that be a bad thing?
i’ll have a slice, please
the proper fruit to crust ratio
pie for my pie hole
Sour Cherry Pie
[print recipe]
slightly modified from Serious Eats
dough
from Serious Eats
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tbsps granulated sugar
1 tsp kosher salt
2 1/2 sticks (10 oz.) unsalted butter, chilled and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
6 tbsps cold water
filling
28 oz. pitted cherries (if frozen, thaw to 50°F and keep the liquid)
1 oz. fresh lemon juice
7 oz. granulated sugar
3/4 tsp kosher salt
1 1/2 oz. tapioca starch (I used quick cooking tapioca, but don’t recommend it)
egg wash
1 egg yolk
1 large egg
1 tbsp cream
pinch of salt
Make the pie dough: Combine 1 1/2 cups of flour with the sugar and salt in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse to combine. Scatter the butter over the flour mixture. Pulse about 25 times or until the dough clumps together. Sprinkle the rest of the flour (1 cup) over the dough and pulse until the flour is just cut into the dough (about 5-10 pulses). Pour the dough into a large bowl and sprinkle the water over it. Using a spatula or spoon, fold the water into the dough until it begins to form a shaggy ball. Cut the dough in half and shape each half into a disk about 4 inches in diameter. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate for at least 2 hours before rolling. Roll each disk of dough out to 1/8-inch thickness. I like to roll my pie dough out between two sheets of plastic wrap. Line your 9-inch pie dish with one of the pie dough sheets, gently pressing the dough into the form of the dish.
Prepare the filling: Combine the cherries, lemon juice, sugar, salt, and tapioca in a large bowl until mixed. [Optional (but it’s what I did): Pour the contents into a medium saucepan and simmer for 10-15 minutes until the filling has thickened.]
Assemble and bake the pie: Pour the filling into the prepared pie crust. Top the filling with the other pie dough sheet and seal or crimp the edges. Cut vent holes into the pie crust. Refrigerate the pie for 30 minutes. Adjust your oven rack to the lower middle of the oven and preheat to 400°F. Whisk all of the egg wash ingredients together in a small bowl. Set the pie on a rimmed baking sheet and brush the top of the pie dough with egg wash. Bake for 1 hour. Place an empty baking sheet on the upper rack above the pie or use a loose foil tent to prevent burning of the crust. Bake 15 minutes more until the center is bubbling. Remove from oven and let cool to room temperature before serving. Makes 1 9-inch pie.
more goodness from the use real butter archives
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cherry (ice cream) bombes |
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roasted cherry bourbon swirl ice cream |
|
peach pie |
|
strawberry hand pies |
July 25th, 2018 at 3:46 am
I’ve followed you for a long time, and I’m so glad to read about Neva and Yuki. My own pup is currently at the end of days. Reading about them is a balm right now. Thank you for sharing.
July 25th, 2018 at 4:17 am
I really loved this post, especially the photos, from the pups to the pie. It’s so heartwarming to see your girls bonding. Please keep up the good work! I live in Florida and seeing these gorgeous shots of your Colorado mountains makes me feel a tiny bit cooler.
July 25th, 2018 at 4:45 am
With all of the news I don’t enjoy hearing these days, it is so wonderful to see Neva and Yuki good news stories. I am so happy that adding Yuki to the family has been such a great thing. The pie looks yummy. My weird husband doesn’t eat fruit, and my weird kids love fruit, but only in its natural state. BUT, my son told me that he and his girlfriend made apple pie this month, and he ATE it. I will definitely be making a pie over the holidays!
July 25th, 2018 at 4:52 am
I love dessert. Any kind. But sour cherry pie is my absolute FAVE and lucky for me this year, I put about 30 pounds of cherries in my freezer. PIE FOR EVAH!
July 25th, 2018 at 6:19 am
So happy to know Yuki and Neva have become such good pals. We lost our sweet rescue Boxer girl 2 weeks ago and really want to get another dog so our Doberman will have a pal (we’ve always had two dogs.) This Dobie is so jealous though, so will need to wait for just the right little rescue. But seeing Neva and Yuki gives me hope!
Also very happy to know you too have been intimidated by pie crust. I can bake all kinds of desserts, but my favorite is pie and the crust has always intimidated me because my past efforts have been so inconsistent. Can’t wait for it to cool off enough to bake and try your recipe!
July 25th, 2018 at 6:33 am
My best friend Rita, may her soul rest in peace, was the best pie-maker! Her trick was cold cold water, not ice water, and don’t touch it so much. Of course you added the flowers on the lattice…such beautiful details! She would have given you an A+. And cherry is always the best…well blueberry too…um apple…ok peach…
Oh your sweet pack! Two is better than one. They teach each other, play with each other, protect each other. Nothing better! She has grown! Lucky girl to have found the Darling-Yu home.
xoxo, jill
July 25th, 2018 at 10:07 am
Pie looks awesome doggies are adorable! One question what type of cherries did you use?
July 25th, 2018 at 10:09 am
Sorry just noticed you used sour cherries I was afraid of that I live in Georgia I can never find sour cherries here. Bummer.
July 25th, 2018 at 4:12 pm
Thank you for the recipe- it looks delicious. My sour cherry tree produced well for the first time this year. Most of the cherries went into jam (OMG delicious jam) and into cherry syrup but now I’ll have another recipe for next year!
I love the pictures of Neva and Yuki! In my next lifetime I want to come back as a dog to be adopted into a family like yours! Your parenting skills are exemplary! Thank you for sharing.
July 26th, 2018 at 3:40 am
Just lovely to see Neva and her sweet sister bonding – I’m sure even moreso for you! We are who we are Neva – glad there’s peace!
Also YUM
July 26th, 2018 at 9:30 pm
Cute pups!!
Where did you buy your sour cherries?
I live in Boulder and can’t find fresh like I used to in nyc.
Thanks and have fun with two!
July 28th, 2018 at 5:06 am
It’s fascinating to see a dog’s behavior change when another one joins the household. We adopted a dog who was nervous and fearful while she was the only dog, but overnight turned into a calm leader when we adopted a second dog. I’m glad Neva and Yuki have worked things out so well. Now I have to go bake a pie…
July 31st, 2018 at 6:12 am
Oh – those dogs. Love it! Your blog is such a pleasure with the gorgeous pictures of CO and the dogs.
July 31st, 2018 at 7:55 pm
I love cherry pie and I’m glad to see someone else knows the joy of making it with a food processor. I never see frozen cherries in stores and the canned is subpar, but I have found that Cherry Stop in Traverse City, Michigan will ship frozen cherries. I buy ten bags at a time and they last me about two years.
August 9th, 2018 at 10:11 am
Jen – Oh, I’m so sorry to hear that :( I hope the transition is easy and painless. Spoil that pup of yours and give it a gentle squeeze for me <3
Deborah - Thank you! And I hope you ARE feeling cooler. We've been experiencing hotter than usual summer temperatures here - I don't know how you Floridians do it!
Kristin - I think sometimes it takes a girlfriend or boyfriend to introduce your kids to foods they otherwise wouldn't touch at home. And the solution to your husband's non-fruit pie eating ways is to make a chocolate cream pie or some such awesomeness ;)
Blaire - OH MY GOD, I am seriously jealous because I think sour cherry is one of my faves now and I don't have any more in the freezer :(
Glenda - I'm so sorry about your girl. Dogs are such a special part of our lives. I do hope you find a good fit for your sweet Dobe <3 And I'm anxious for cooler weather, too, because I am definitely making more pies!
jill - Right? Pies are so simple and wonderful that all of them are THE BEST :) We really love the little Yuki girl. One day you and the good doctor will have to meet both of the pups xoxo
Patty - I honestly don't know where to source sour cherries around here. These were given to me by my friend. However, Angela commented below that Cherry Stop in Traverse City, MI ships frozen cherries. So that might be a solution!
Deb - Cherry tree?! That sounds sublime. I absolutely love sour cherries! And thanks - sometimes we don't feel like we know what we're doing, but we just try to make it a good and happy life for the pups :)
cherie - xoxo
Irene - They were given to me by my friend. I *think* she got them from Pueblo, but I don't know for sure. Angela's comment below lists a source in Michigan that sells frozen sour cherries (Cherry Stop).
Tonya - We wouldn't have guessed that Yuki's addition to the family would change Neva for the better! Amazing, right? But we are so happy that they are friends and they like to play together. xo
Amanda - Thank you xoxo
Angela - Awesome! Thanks very much for the tip! xo
August 14th, 2018 at 5:45 am
Oh yeah…my daughter has a French Silk recipe that would be right up my husband’s alley…gotta try that one.
August 15th, 2018 at 1:14 pm
I am flop over these pictures! your photos of the pups are so lovely and warm and fuzzy… I think your pack is just right now and I am so happy for you that you found first Neva, then Yuki and that she “completes you (and Jeremy and Neva!)” Can’t wait to see photos and hear stories about how Yuki does with your dad! omg, those two may never separate! I’ve mentioned this before, that about 11 miles from my home (here in NOVA) there used to be a beautiful cherry orchard (and many other beautiful orchards), but urban development is spreading across our once beautiful farms and my cherry orchard is now a housing community. Thanks Angela for the tip on Cherry Stop!
May 5th, 2019 at 1:21 am
Thank you! So happy to finally find a pie dough recipe with some flavor! Others I’d tried using lard, etc. were so bland. Using your recipe with the real butter and sugar gave it that melt in the mouth flavor. When I grew up in Everett, WA we had a “pie cherry tree” in our backyard. Now living in Hawaii, I was delighted to find the tart cherries in the frozen department. Needless to say, the cherry pie was a hit and the family loved it! THANKS!!