Page 15 - Pie It Forward: Pies, Tarts, Tortes, Galettes, and Other Pastries Reinvented

named because locals used a pie plate to bake the

cake layers).

And since provisions like flour were scarce, they

had to “cut corners”—they literally made the pies

round. That’s where the phrase comes from! True

story!

READER: Is a tart a pie?

PIE: Yes. So is a galette. Anything with a crust

(that’s not a cake) and with yummy fillings is pie

in my book. While the traditionalists would

maintain that the shape has to be just so, with the

crust acting as a baked bowl for the fillings, I defy

anyone to tell me that I can’t get dressed up once

in a while. I like to go “sleeveless” now and again,

like when I wear a jazzy number called a

“napoleon,” with layers of pastry and creamy

fillings galore. I know it may offend some, but

there are days that I like to expose my assets.