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Beer and Peach Potpie

 

Peach and Beer Potpie2

This bowl embodies a bit of culinary contradiction. It’s a bit of soup, and it’s a bit of a dessert, two genres of  menu items that don’t seem to be easily meshed. But I have a love for soupy pies, given to me by a young kid I met in the back of a squad car.

I used to work with propation kids, I’ve told you that before, all from different parts of Los Angeles, some with gang ties, some without families, all wanting help in one form or another. Peter (*Name changed) was a walking contradiction to what most people assume was inside this big kid with a criminal record.

Peach and Beer Potpie

He was a sweet, honest, hard working kid that had never so much as been tardy from any class he’d taken. He had, however, stolen some food when his mom was too drunk to buy groceries and his little sister needed to eat, this earned him a all expense paid trip to Juvenile hall and then a spot in a Group Home. His grades were good enough, he always stayed out of trouble, and I was able to find him part time work at a Jewish deli & bakery in the Valley. When his birthday rolled around I asked what he wanted, the company I worked for had a small budget for special occasions that I was able to access for a present for him. "Pie making…stuff." He’d been working in a kitchen for weeks, fell in love with his ability to produce really great food, but outside work he’d never made food that didn’t require a microwave. I bought him a pie pan, a rolling pin, pie weights and pie cookbook. His reaction to the gift was much more shy and reserved that I’d expected. When I asked him why he was quiet, he said, "This is the first birthday present I ever got. Thank you."

I had to immediately whisk him to the kitchen to put said gift to use or I would have cried all over him. Instead we made a pie. The crust was gorgeous, but with limited ingredients in the state funded Group Home, the pie turned out a bit more watery than I had intended. I was deflated. He didn’t notice. He took one bite and a huge smile lit up his big face. It tasted great, and he had no preconceived ideas about what homemade pie looked like because he’d never seen one. Now, soupy pie makes me happy.

Peach and Beer Potpie4

I found out a few years ago that Peter is doing really well, he’d put himself through culinary school, works as a chef and teaches classes at the community college.

Long live pie.

Beer and Peach Potpie

Ingredients
  

  • 6 cups 6-8 large peaches yellow peaches, sliced (peeled if desired)
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1/3 cup white sugar
  • ½ tsp cinnamon
  • 1/4 cup flour
  • 3 tbs cornstarch
  • pinch salt
  • 1/3 cup hoppy wheat beer
  • 1 sheet puff pastry thawed
  • Egg wash 1 egg, 1 table spoon water, beaten

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 400.
  • Add the peaches to a large bowl. Sprinkle with brown sugar, white sugar, cinnamon, flour, cornstarch, and salt. Use your hands to stir the peaches until they are fully coated with the dry ingredients and all of the dry ingredients have been moistened.
  • Pour the beer over the peaches, gently stir to combine.
  • Place 4 oven safe bowls (1 cup size) on a baking sheet. Divide the filling evenly among the bowls.
  • Roll the puff pastry out on a lightly floured surface, cut into 4 squares. Cover each bowl with a square of puff pastry. Brush with egg wash.
  • Bake at 400 for 18-22 minutes or until golden brown.

Peach and Beer Potpie5

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Comments


Tieghan June 28, 2013 um 3:12 am

Such an awesome story. Peter sounds like a pretty cool kid! This Pie also sounds pretty awesome! My brother would LOVE it. I have to try and make it for him soon!

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Gerry @ Foodness Gracious June 28, 2013 um 6:25 am

Great story and the pie sounds quite freaking delicious…

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Jenn G June 28, 2013 um 7:37 am

Such a great story. I will definitely think of this story next time I get (or make) a soupy pie! =)

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cassie June 28, 2013 um 8:04 am

I will always go for soup for dessert if it involves beer and peaches. This is amazing!

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kate C. June 28, 2013 um 11:11 am

That story brought some tears to my eyes! Thanks for sharing and the soup/pie sounds intriguing!

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Michelle Collins June 28, 2013 um 12:00 pm

Such a unique and delicious-sounding combination!

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Christie June 28, 2013 um 1:23 pm

I’m currently writing a new hit country song about my pie being soupy from all the tears I cried – don’t worry, I’ll give you all the credit.

Thanks for another wonderful post/recipe. You are the bright spot in my day.

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Mr. & Mrs. P June 28, 2013 um 1:54 pm

This sounds phenomenal!!! Genius recipe.. Saved for later!!!

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Karie Engels June 28, 2013 um 5:25 pm

Fantastic photos, love the recipe!

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ashley – baker by nature June 29, 2013 um 5:49 am

I can’t even begin to tell you how much I love everything (!!!) about this post!!! Incredible!

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Sarah C. June 29, 2013 um 5:46 pm

It really is a nice to see real writing on a blog these days. I loved the Peter story, and the recipe. Well done.

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Valerie June 30, 2013 um 8:45 am

There truly is something magic…almost ethereal, about a homemade pie, the process itself requires a bit of alchemy. No wonder Peter fell in love with pastry.

Beautiful story – exquisite pot pie. I love food that straddles the fence between sweet and savoury!

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DessertForTwo June 30, 2013 um 10:02 am

This looks ridiculously delicious. And in my world, any dessert that is ridiculous must be devoured! YUM. Thanks 🙂

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Whitney S. June 30, 2013 um 10:41 am

This looks AWESOME. And what a fun way to connect this kid to a positive future.

What beer did you use?

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Sarah | The Sugar Hit June 30, 2013 um 6:35 pm

Oh wow – I love the sound of this. Beer in sweet foods is an awesome idea. Beer in any foods is good, I guess.

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dishing up the dirt June 30, 2013 um 9:15 pm

This was the perfect story to read before I hit the sack for the night! I can’t help but think you helped shape "peter’s" decision to go to culinary school. What a lovely young man and beautiful story!

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meredith in sock monkey slippers July 3, 2013 um 2:55 pm

love this story and the pie…oh dear lord the pie.

Reply

F Mo March 19, 2019 um 8:06 pm

Thankfulness to my father who told me about this blog, this blog is in fact awesome.

Reply

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