Cherry pie with almond crumble

For me,  nothing says summer more than a fruit pie. Still, in the summer I like to be out and about instead of sweating over the perfect pie crust which is one of the reasons I prefer a crumble to a pie covered with crust.

While farmers' markets in our area often carry amazing pies made from their own produce, I can't always find the one pie that I really hanker after - cherry pie.

Strawberry-Pistachio Tart

My, my, my. It has been a while hasn't it? Long-time readers of my blog may notice this photo was taken before I got my fancy camera, so that will give some hint of just how long it's been. And still - still - the colours sing on your screen, don't they? Just imagine how it looks in person.

I just couldn't bring myself to blog about this when it was cold and blustery, however. And now, that the weather has been consistently warm and sunny for at least a couple of weeks my attention has also turned to fruits and pies and summer-time treats.

And while I love baking cakes and cookies from scratch, I like to let fruits speak for themselves when they are in season.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Tarts

Do you love chocolate chip cookies? Do you love the buttery goodness of a pie? Do you want to whip up something quickly with what you have in your pantry? You'll want to bookmark this post.

I first read about Bakerella's Chocolate Chip Cookie Pie, when a friend of mine told me she was making this recipe alongside pumpkin pie for their family's Thanksgiving celebrations. I was intrigued, and I couldn't resist searching for the ingredients in my pantry.

Momofuku Milk Bar's Crack Pie

What can I say about this pie that hasn't already been said? One bite and you're hooked. It'll make an addict out of you. Yadda yadda yadda. Thing is, I made this pie out of sheer curiosity.

After attempting to buy a single pie from David Chang's Momufuku Milk Bar online, for $44US, only to be informed they don't ship to Canada, I was nearly perspiring from the sheer torture of not knowing what a $44 pie would taste like. I'm a bit of a food snob. If it costs more, it must taste better, right?

Bobby Flay's pumpkin pie with cinnamon crunch and bourbon-maple whipped cream

I have to admit I was wary when making this pie from Bobby Flay's new book "Throwdown!", which features recipes from his cooking challenge show on Food Network. For one, whenever he is challenged on his baking skills, he is nervous because he knows baking is not his forte.

Second, even he acknowledges taking the easy way out by making a graham cracker crust rather than making a pastry crust. Third, he admits the "Throwdown" show audience booed him for using pumpkin puree from a can. Well, he won the challenge.

So when my co-worker and I agreed to bring pumpkin pie leftover from our Thanksgiving celebrations, and be judged by our peers in an informal "Throwdown" of our own,  I was feeling pretty unbeatable. After all, I'm the more domestic of the two of us - married with a kid and I bake all the time, while my competitor is a bachelor and admits not to baking.

Bourbon and orange pecan pie

I have already made this four times in as many weeks. You've heard me whingeing about my lack of time before, so what's the deal?

I tore this recipe out of one of my favourite magazines, "Real Simple." And sure enough, this recipe is real simple.

What's the secret? Well, as the labour and delivery nurse told me while I was delaying getting the epidural during my labour "Don't be a shero."

After having a child I no longer try to be a shero. If there are shortcuts, I might just take them.