Pi Day 3.141592653589...

If you like brown sugar flavor...
About 4 years ago, my son made this pie because he likes pecan pie, ...after he takes out the pecans! But it was really good!!! It's super easy for a kid to make. There's no corn syrup in it. (We only had 3/4 c. of brown sugar so he used white sugar and molasses for the remaining cup). We only baked it for 45 min., let cool for 1 hr., and it was perfect! Not liquidy at all! Also used a 10" pie pan. Next time I think we'll try adding some chocolate somehow, then perhaps it will taste like a See's Candy Bordeaux - yum!

Pecanless Pie

1/3 cup butter, softened
1 3/4 cup brown sugar*
3 tablespoons heavy cream, or cream
3 eggs, well-beaten
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg (NO MORE - it will overpower the pie even in small quantities!)
1 tsp. vanilla
1 pie crust, uncooked
Prepared whipped cream for topping (optional)

Pre-heat oven to 350ºF. Cream together sugar and butter, then blend in the beaten eggs, cream, nutmeg and vanilla. Beat this mixture until well blended and slightly fluffed. Pour into the pie crust and bake for 45 - 55 minutes. (Check the pie at 35-40 minutes, and cover the crust with foil or a pie guard if it seems really dark.)

Allow the pie to cool for a minimum of 1 hour. If you prefer it to be more liquidy, take it out of the oven at 40- 45 minutes and eat it after 1 hour. It can take a while to set, so have patience if you want a firmer pie. Serve with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream, if desired.

*(Brown sugar substitute: 1 ½ Tbsp. Molasses + 1 C. White Sugar = 1 C. Brown Sugar)

Traditional Hindu / Ayurveda = 6 Tastes

From the Dr. Oz website

By Kulreet Chaudhary, M.D.

What Is taste?

According to ayurveda, taste is “the sensation the tongue experiences” when you eat. Having diverse tastes in your meals helps to satisfy cravings and prevents overeating. Although we spend a lot of time evaluating the carbohydrate, fat and protein content of our food, we rarely think about the variety of taste of the foods we eat.

It is easy to think of examples of sweet tastes (apple pie), salty tastes (potato chips) and sour tastes (lemons). But how often do you think of bitter, pungent and astringent foods? Each taste is necessary in order for your mind to feel satiated after a meal.

Examples of the 6 Tastes

Sweet

• Most grains such as wheat, rice, barley and corn
• Pulses (legumes), i.e. beans, lentils and peas
• Milk and sweet milk products such as ghee, cream and butter
• Sweet fruits (especially dried) such as dates, figs, grapes, pear, coconut and mango
• Cooked vegetables such as potato, sweet potato, carrot, beetroot, cauliflower, and string beans
• Sugar in any form such as raw, refined, brown, white, molasses and sugar cane juice

Sour

• Sour fruits such as lemon, lime, sour orange, sour pineapple, passion fruit, sour cherries, plum and tamarind
• Sour milk products such as yogurt, cheese, whey and sour cream
• Fermented substances (other than cultured milk products) such as wine, vinegar, soy sauce or sour cabbage
• Carbonated beverages (including soft drinks or beer)

Salty

• Any kind of salt such as rock salt, sea salt and salt from the ground
• Any food to which salt has been added

Pungent

• Spices such as chili, black pepper, mustard seeds, ginger, cumin, cloves, cardamom and garlic
• Mild spices such as turmeric, anise, cinnamon, and fresh herbs such as oregano, thyme and mint
• Raw vegetables such as radish, onion and cauliflower

Bitter

• Vegetables such as chicory and bitter gourd; other green leafy vegetables such as spinach, green cabbage and brussels sprouts
• Fruits such as olives, grapefruit and cocoa
• Spices such as fenugreek and turmeric

Astringent

• Turmeric, honey, walnuts and hazelnuts
• Pulses such as beans, lentils, peas
• Vegetables such as sprouts, lettuce and other green leafy vegetables; most raw vegetables
• Fruits such as pomegranate, berries, persimmon, rose, apple and most unripe fruits