We Bid Adieu, We Start Anew!
End of year musings and hopes for the year ahead
Hey y’all!
A little house keeping up front! We are switching over to a monthly newsletter going into the new year! This is going to give me a little more headspace, time and bandwidth to write and get you the perfect pie whilst I am in the throws of what will hopefully become my second book. (speaking it into the universe so I am held accountable).
I am going to follow in the foot steps of one of my favorite musical artists and lyricists, Katie Crutchfield better known as Waxahatchee and in lieu of a New Year’s resolution choose a word that I will carry around with me, like a photo in my wallet, or a thought in my head that will remind me to step out of my box in the name of growth.
What I learnt in the lords year 2024, is that I need to be looking forward. I struggled, as many of us do, with looking back and holding on to things that no longer served me. Whether it be emotionally, financially, physically. I was clutching on to the threads and crumbs of things that I needed to leave behind because it brought me a sense of comfort, but truly at what cost?
In 2024, I pushed myself to be more truthful with myself and with others which resulted in so many breakthroughs, tough decisions and endings to make space for new beginnings. Through this I have changed, forever and more than likely for the better.
At the tail end of 2024 moving into 2025 I chose “freedom”. Freedom to make mistakes, bing bong around, freedom to come and go as I please from situations both physically and mentally and most of all freedom to make space for new and wonderful things that have yet to enter my life. My reasoning for this is as a card carrying Virgo girlie that constantly pulls the Queen of Wands I have a tendency to really just put my head down and power through a long list of never ending to do’s that I have. In the pure act of just getting shit done, yes it feels like that is just the nature of being an adult person in the world but no one wants to end up being a joyless task-completer with tension headaches and the tightest shoulders in the world.
In the hopes 2025 is a little better than the absolute sh*t storm 2024 was I hope to just go where its warm. Not like byeeee i’m going to the Bahamas but more like byeeeee i’m going to the feeling that I get when I listen to Our House by Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young (the demo version with just Graham Nash and Joni Mitchell, for her giggle on the recording makes my heart sing, you can feel how in love they were in the center of your chest).
2025, will I hope be a year of nurturing the relationships that fill my cup, and continuing the quest of finding a place the simplest happiness and a sense of security within myself.
Notables in 2024!
Best Meal: Kisa - the best value, the most unexpected and it wasn’t just because I was there with some of my closest childhood friends doing shots of soju every 10 minutes.
Best Musical Album: Tiger’s Blood by Waxahatchee - did you really think I was going to name another album if Katie Crutchfield put one out she can do no wrong. My favorite track on the album is Lone Star Lake but Right Back to It is just pure musical and lyrical genius. She recently made her second appearance on NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert and about 200 of those views are just me playing it on repeat! Enjoy!
Best Purchase: Cloud Carry On from Baggu - I am a person that lives for travel efficiency and ease. As someone that has crossed many miles, flown my skies and bounded through many airports. I am always in search of ways to make my travel experience more enjoyable. This bag is IT for a carry on, it is so light and so adaptable it basically acts as a whole other bag which means yes you get to pack another pair of shoes. It slips on the the handle of your carry on, it fits under the seat in front of you and it folds up into the zip pouch that is uses as its internal pocket when you are putting it away. All of this makes my old accessories designer heart sing!
Best Travel Adventure: Schooner American Eagle in Rockland, ME - my biggest summer adventure this year for spending 4 nights and 5 days on the Schooner American Eagle! It was my first time in Maine and I went big! I got to bake in a wood burning stove on this wonderful sail boat, make sure wonderful friends and make memories that will last a lifetime! I couldn’t recommend a trip on the Eagle more! Tell them Stacey sent you!
The Pie!
What I wanted to achieve with this pie for an alternate to your typical holiday pie! I wanted it to be jewel tone and smell like mulled wine at an ugly jumper party in Bridget Jone’s Diary and boy I think I cracked the code! It is best served slightly warm with a little cold cream or unsweetened wiped cream.
Cranberry, Dark Cherry and Apple pie with Spiced Oat Crumble
Ingredients:
Crust: Single, all butter pie crust, rolled, crimped and frozen
Filling:
1 ½ cups cranberries, fresh or frozen
1 ½ cups dark cherries, fresh or frozen
2 cups shredded Granny Smith apples
¼ cup granulated white sugar
¼ cup light brown sugar
¼ teaspoon cinnamon
¼ teaspoon cloves
¼ teaspoon ginger
1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste
¼ cup corn starch
Pinch of kosher salt
Topping:
¾ cup all purpose flour
½ cup rolled oats
1/3 cup light brown sugar
1/3 cup granulated sugar
¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ cup unsalted butter, softened but still cool
Crust Dust:
1 teaspoon all purpose flour
1 teaspoon granulated sugar
Egg Wash:
1 egg, beaten
1 teaspoon water
pinch of salt
Optional: Demerara Sugar
Preparation:
Make the Filling:
In a medium sized pot over medium heat add in all filling ingredients. Stir over medium heat and cook down till the fruit becomes tender and the filling thickens, 10-15 minutes. Spread filling out on to a sheet pan to cool. Set aside till ready to assemble pie.
Make the Topping:
In a large mixing bowl, add in all dry topping ingredients. Using your fingers, combine all ingredients till all dries are evenly mixed. Break in pieces of soften butter into dries, using your fingers slowly work butter into dry ingredients until mixture forms coarse crumbs. Set aside till ready to assemble pie.
Assemble & Bake:
Preheat oven to 375°F. Place prepped pie crust on to a parchment lined sheet pan. Brush crimps with egg wash and sprinkle with demerara sugar. On base of pie crust sprinkle crust dust and swirl with fingers. Fill pie crust with filling mixture. Top filling mixture with crumble mixture, pile crumble evenly over filling. Bake at 375°F for 1 hour, rotating 30 minutes into baking time. Bake till crumble of golden brown and a little filling has bubbled up. Cool for at least 2 hours before slicing. Best enjoyed with whipped cream or cold cream drizzle on top!
Still a few of these bad boys left in the PIE SHOP
llustrated by @shelbywarwood
Made by @oxfordpennant
dreamed up by my idiot mind 🩵
One to declare the best way to eat a slice of pie and one so you are always guaranteed to have your slice and eat it too!
Pie a la modé
7” x 21” pennant made in Buffalo, NY $35
Slice of Pie
4” x 9” pennant made in Buffalo, NY $15
Till next year my slice companions!
xoxo
Stacey
FREEDOM 🙌🏽