Apple Bacon Caramel Pie

Some friends hosted a Pie Contest so I frantically tried to think of something fun to make that could maybe stand out.  I have only made a few pies in my life so I am not that well versed in the field.  This "ABC Pie" is not the one I submitted, but should have.  There were NO Apple Pies in the running!  I went with a Triple Cookie Pie, which was good, but this was better.

This was the first time I've ever candied Bacon, I'll never go back.

Bourbon Soaked Apples, Bacon, Caramel Sauce and Cinnamon.

It turned out really well, a great twist to a classic Apple Pie.

I used my extra Pillsbury Pie Crust to make Pie Pops.  They looked cute but it's hard to get the filling to crust ratio even.

Highlights from the Pie Contest.

There were so many various types of pies: fruits, meats, vegetables, creams and even a cow pie.

Mini Pumpkin Pecan Pies

In honor of Fall, I decided to make a seasonal treat and instantly thought pumpkin! I found this super easy Mini Pumpkin Pecan Pie recipe from The Food Network and it turned out really well.

First I mixed the dry ingredients with freshly chopped pecans thanks to my new Cuisinart.

This turned into a nice, and super sticky, dough.

I divided the dough into 24 little sections and rolled them into balls, using tons of flour. These were pressed into mini cupcake tins and baked.

I used about one big scoop of this giant can of pumpkin to make the filling while the dough was in the oven.

Then I added the filling into the mini tins, topped each one with a full pecan, and continued to bake.

They turned out really well, sort of more like a muffin than a pie, but nevertheless very tasty.

Taste of Beverly Hills: Desserts After Dark

Tonight's Taste events was called "Dessert After Dark" hosted by Duff Goldman. Right in the middle of Rodeo Drive was this insane REAL cake made by Charm City Cakes West, their new LA location!

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Duff talking to the crowd


Me and Duff!


The Charm City girls at their booth! They had three kinds of cake to try, I had the Pecan.



Mini Cupcakes from B Sweet


Strawberry Cobbler from Brandiva and Sir Jerks


Godiva Liquor


Chocolate Ice Cream Infused with Frangelico and Candied Hazelnuts from Drunken Udder


Gorgeous Chocolates from Compartes


I tried several and they were all terrific, the best chocolates I had at the event!


Cookies from DeLuscious


Red Velvet Gelato from Pazzo Gelato


Assorted Cheeses from The Cheese Shop


Fresh Peaches with Cream and Cinnamon Granola from Craft


Cotton Candy from Dolly's Sweet Dreams


Panna Cotta with Limoncello and Mint from Oliverio at The Avalon Hotel


Lemon Meringue with Whipped Cream and Peaches from Farm Shop


Chocolate Cheesecake from The Cheesecake Factory


Mini Fruit Pies from Sweet Butter Kitchen Cafe & Market


Gingerbread Cookies from Sweet Butter Kitchen Cafe & Market


Cinnamon Sugar Fonuts


Milkshakes from The Counter


Mini Pies from Simple Things


Mint Chocolate Bon Bon from Sweet Rose Creamery


Slices of Whoopie Pies from Xtreme Desserts


Irish Butter Cake Made with Kerrygold Butter


Cake from Rosebud Cakes


Vanilla Cake with Buttercream and Blueberry from Rosebud Cakes


Chocolates by Emanuel Andrén Gastronomy


Emanuel's Passion Fruit and Blueberry Lemon Chocolates

My Homemade Pastry Cream Fruit Tart

My friend came over to join me in a baking session, and it turned out we chose to make something that required no baking at all! Using my new Miette cookbook, we chose to make a berry cream tart.


It came out really well, a little soft, but super tasty. It was very simple to make, and I switched up some things which saved a lot of time. I bought the pie crust pre-made at the grocery store, and I used vanilla extract instead of steeping a vanilla bean.


The custard is rich in flavor, the salty graham cracker crust balances out the sweetness, and the berries add the perfect tartness. For a light summery dessert this is amazing!

Simple Things Mini Pies

These mini pies from Simple Things are so cute and tasty! I picked up one of each flavor, which included: Blueberry, Cherry, Lemon, Keylime, Peanut Butter Chocolate, Banana Toffee and Chocolate Mud Pie. I love this idea of mini pies, because I always feel overwhelmed by a pie's filling, especially when it comes to fruit pies. This was the perfect portion! Even though they are small, they are packed with flavor. The blueberry was like a fresh muffin, the peanut butter like a Reeses, and the mud pie like a molten chocolate cake. My favorite, however, was the "Banoffee". The toffee creme filling was dense and gooey which was a nice contrast to the crumbly graham cracker crust. Right in the middle of it all, under some whipped cream, were some banana slices. It was SO amazing, that one I would eat in a full size..