Category — Events

[Be sure and read to the end to day, folks.  There's a very special announcement for you.]

O.k.-O.k.-O.k.  I. am. SO. EXCITED.  Today when I got the mail, guess what?!?  I got a package addressed to little ol’ me!  And it’s not even Christmas.  Or my birthday.  Or Mother’s Day. 

And when I opened it guess what I got?!?  Hmmm, you’re dyin’ now, aren’t ya?  Hmm?!?

LOOK!!

And, who, you may be wondering, would send me tangerines and a navel orange?  Well, I’m going to tell you.  Todd and Diane over at White on Rice Couple sent them to me. These are a couple of super funny, mighty talented, and unbelievably friendly folks.  And even if they hadn’t sent me goodies, I’d still say those nice things.  Because they are true.  If you don’t believe me, you should hop on over to their blog and check it out, because they send free stuff to people all the time.  All you have to do is ask.  They call it “Sharing the Love” and I call it groovy.

You know something else that is mind boggling cool?  They GREW these!  Holy Sh!t people!!  I live in Michigan.  Do you know what it looks like here right now?  Kinda grey, kinda brown, gloppy, muddy, wet, mushy - with parking lots spotted with cement colored snow hills from months of heavy plowing.  (Those snow hills will still be here in MAY!)  It’s really not pretty.  Nothing but mold and lichens growing here.  And they sent me gorgeous home grown food.  Unreal. 

As I opened the package Katie walked into the dining room.  “Look!  Todd and Diane sent me fruit!  From California!  They GREW these.  In their backyaaard.”  She furrowed her eyebrows a little and said “They grew them?  That’s weird.  Are they safe to eat?  I thought they were supposed to come from a temperature controlled truck.”  Fricken’ smart ass.  But, do you see how deprived we are here?  My kids think that oranges don’t really grow on trees in backyards.  They come from trucks.  Sigh.

Thank you, thank you, thank you, Todd and Diane.  You’ve made my day, my week, my month!  And, you’ve let me teach something new to my children.  And I think you’ve taught me a thing or two about giving, too. 

Speaking of giving, tomorrow I’ll be offering free downloads of my last cookbook; Angie Pangie Celebrates:  Chinese New Year.  Be sure and check in so you can get be among the first to get your first copy.  If you use Twitter you can follow me here.  I’ll send an update when I release the cookbook. 

[Updated on 3.15.08 - Hi Folks!  I've updated this post to incude pictures, but left the original post the same.  Thanks for reading!]

Happy Pi Day, everyone!  I want to thank Evil Chef Mom for offering to host the Pi Day Event.  It was great fun telling everyone “Happy Pi Day” (and then explaining it to them). 

I wish I could say that I had as much fun making this pie as I did participating in the Pi Day Event and eating it.  But, I’d be lying if I said that.  My pie isn’t really overly difficult to make, but I was having one of those days where if things could go wrong they did.  When I made my crumbs for the crust they looked. like. mud.  I do not know what happened, but I took pictures because I couldn’t believe it. 

Then, I forgot to add the eggs.  Not just one egg, but all of them.  I had to start all over because you can’t just, ya know, pour it back out of the crumb crust.  Doesn’t work so well.  OH, and then, when I pulled it out of the oven, I just, ya know, reached right in and grabbed it.  Sans pot holder.  Um, o.k. Angie.  Are you in there?

Up until about an hour ago I was feeling like today was much better!  But, this recipe is apparently still determined to make my life hell because now it’s time to post the recipe and guess what?  I can’t even find my notes.  I cleaned off my desk today.  Guess I tossed them.  Good thing I have a great memory, right? 

I did get some awesome pictures.  This pie is a complete drop dead knock out blonde (the macadamia nuts make it look like a blondie pecan pie, sorta).  But, now that’s it’s time to upload pictures . . . (I can’t even believe this) I realize that my SD card is in my daughter’s camera and my daughter is at her friend’s house for the night . . . with her camera.  Do you see what I mean?!?  WTF?!?

So, I’m sorry I’m a bit late in the day getting this up, but I did make a Pie for Pi day.  A troubled pie, mind you, a naughty pie, even.  While I don’t have pictures to prove it, I gave half of this naughty pie to my friend Holli this morning in an attempt to banish it (and the problems) from my kitchen.  Holli’s a nursing student and if you know anyone who has ever been a nursing student you know that they appreciate anything you do for them . . . even giving them a slightly rebellious pie. 

At the risk of making my blog crash and bringing down all the internets . . . I will now post the recipe.  And tomorrow I will post some pictures.  If you all are still out there.  I’m almost scared to say this, but this is a damn good pie.  I mean, a killer pie.  But, you’ve been warned, o.k.?

Chocolate Macadamia Nut Pie

3 eggs
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup corn syrup
1/3 cup Irish Cream
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup macadamia nuts, coarsely chopped

For the crust:
15 chocolate wafers
1/4 cup macadamia nuts
2-3 tablespoons butter

In a food processor pulse chocolate wafers and nuts until finely ground.  Slowly drizzle butter and mix with a fork until you have a mixture that resembles wet sand.

Press crumbs into a 9 inch pie plate.
Refrigerate crust until ready to use.
Preheat oven to 300F degrees.
Using a mixer, blend together eggs, sugar, salt and butter until creamy.
Add the corn syrup and Irish Cream, blending well.
Stir in the chocolate chips and chopped macadamia nuts.

Pour into prepared pie pan.
Bake for 1 hour to 1 hour and 15 minutes until top has turned golden brown and is set.
Cool on a wire rack and keep leftovers refrigerated.