Something that never ceases to amaze me is... human behavior. This probably explains why I'm a Psych major. But honestly, humans are strange. We're all strange. Our behavior ranges from extreme jerkiness to extreme weirdness to extreme kindness. I feel that when you're living in the dorm, sharing a small space with everyone else, this becomes super-duper clear. Because you're around these people ALL THE TIME, you get to see sides of them that you would never otherwise be exposed to.
Jerkiness:
- People who puke in the communal dorm sink and just leave it there for 2 days.
- People who clog the toilet, and don't unplug it even though there is a toilet plunger sitting 5 feet away. TRUE STORIES OF DORM LIFE, EVERYONE.
Weirdness:
- When people flip every single poster in the hallway upside-down. It's FINALS WEEK. Are you truly so bored of studying that you think this is fun? Or are you taking easy classes and have a lot of time on your hands? I don't understand...
- When people steal toilet paper from the custodial closet. Why?! There's toilet paper in the bathrooms. Why exactly do you need your own stash?
Kindness:
- When everyone in the dorm chips in to buy the custodian a present to thank her for all of her hard work.
- When people get together to do volunteer projects in the community
- When people say, "Thank you" to the staff members who work around the dorm community.
- LOTS more examples, but it would take too long to talk about each and every kind act :)
All in all, I've definitely met some real sweetie pies and cutie pies throughout my years at UCSC. And I'd like to honor those people with literal CUTIE PIES! These are miniature pies baked in muffin tins. My friends who tried them said they were some of the best apple pies they'd ever tasted. I know that you'll love them too! I adapted this recipe from Dani Cone's Cutie Pies Cookbook, which my homeskillet biscuit (aka best friend forevah) gave me for my birthday.
Make Approximately 18 cutie pies
Pie Crust:
2 Cups whole-wheat flour*
3/4 Cup salted butter, room temperature
1/4+1/8 Cup white sugar
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
Place the butter in a medium bowl. Using a hand mixer, beat until it is softened. Add the sugar to the butter, and continue beating until it is light and fluffy. Gradually add the beaten eggs to the mixture, and beat it until it is just incorporated. Dump in all the flour at once, and beat it until it just starts to form a dough. Using your hand, pat the dough into one large round. Break the round in half, and wrap each half in plastic/saran wrap. Place the dough in the fridge for at least 15-30 minutes so it will be easier to work with.
Place the butter in a medium bowl. Using a hand mixer, beat until it is softened. Add the sugar to the butter, and continue beating until it is light and fluffy. Gradually add the beaten eggs to the mixture, and beat it until it is just incorporated. Dump in all the flour at once, and beat it until it just starts to form a dough. Using your hand, pat the dough into one large round. Break the round in half, and wrap each half in plastic/saran wrap. Place the dough in the fridge for at least 15-30 minutes so it will be easier to work with.
*Note: I really like the nutty, earthy taste you get from using whole-wheat flour in the crust. If you're not a fan, feel free to use all-purpose instead.
Apple filling:
5 medium Granny Smith apples
1/4+1/8 Cup brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
3/4 tbsp corn starch
Peel your apples and cut into half inch cubes. In a medium sized bowl, toss the apple filling ingredients together until the apple pieces are completely and evenly coated.
Crumb Topping:
1/4 Cup salted butter
1/3 Cup brown sugar
1/3 Cup flour
1/4 Cup oatmeal
1/4 tsp cinnamon
In a small/medium-sized bowl, mix all ingredients together except for butter. Cut the butter into small cubes or pieces, either with a knife or a pastry blender until the mixture resembles coarse bread crumbs
Constructing the Apple Cutie Pies:
1. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees.
2. Line a muffin tin with paper cups.
2. Line a muffin tin with paper cups.
2. On a flat, well-floured surface, roll out your dough to 1/8 inch thickness. (It helps to work with one half at a time so that the dough will stay cold and won't be too difficult and sticky to work with.
3. Using a 2 1/2 inch cookie cutter, cut out rounds of dough. Using your fingers, carefully press the rounds into the paper muffin cups and crimp until the dough reaches about 3/4 of the way up the cups.
4. Fill each of the crusts all of the way full with the apple filling.
5. Spread the crumb topping over the apple filling of each cutie pie.
6. Put pies in the oven and bake for approximately 22-25 minutes, until the crust looks golden brown. Depending on your oven, you may need more or less time, so check periodically. Let pies cool completely, then enjoy!
3. Using a 2 1/2 inch cookie cutter, cut out rounds of dough. Using your fingers, carefully press the rounds into the paper muffin cups and crimp until the dough reaches about 3/4 of the way up the cups.
4. Fill each of the crusts all of the way full with the apple filling.
5. Spread the crumb topping over the apple filling of each cutie pie.
6. Put pies in the oven and bake for approximately 22-25 minutes, until the crust looks golden brown. Depending on your oven, you may need more or less time, so check periodically. Let pies cool completely, then enjoy!
The picture above shows how the pies will look before they go in the oven.
To all my cutie pies out there, give these a go! :) I hope you have a fantastic day!
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