Friday is PIE DAY! and a GIVEAWAY!

Welcome back to PIE DAY!

Style expert Matthew Mead posed to me the idea of a pie inspired by his new SUMMER magazine.

I couldn't resist such a challenge, and inspiration can be found on every page of this gorgeous publication, so
my job was easy. Every story is delightful, and he truly captures the feeling of summer in every one of it's guises-from cool, breezy days at a beach house, to parties filled with sweet treats and thirst quenchers, to rooms filled with vibrant summer hues. Naturally, I was especially drawn to a layout filled with saturated color and quirky combinations. I can appreciate white rooms and pale pastels, but color really sets my heart aflutter!

The day before the magazine arrived, I was eating a bowl of papaya for breakfast. It is not something that I purchase very often, but I found myself thinking, "I really should eat more papaya." This was very quickly followed by, "I should really make a pie with papaya!" The next day, when I came upon this story in the magazine, the color immediately brought to mind that bowl of papaya. Furthermore, the circular design on the front of the sideboard looked just like slices of citrus on top of a pie. I had my pie inspiration!

Papaya and Blood Orange Pie
inspired by "Color Bazaar" in SUMMER with Matthew Mead

single 9" pie crust

3 large papayas, peeled, seeded, and diced
2 blood oranges
1/2 t cointreau (optional)
1/4 t orange bitters
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup + 1 T brown sugar
1 T flour

-zest and juice one of the oranges
-very thinly slice the other orange (slice ends off first)
-arrange these slices in a glass pan in slightly overlapping layers
-mix orange juice, cointreau, and bitters together
-pour liquid mixture over orange slices
-sprinkle 1 T brown sugar over top
-bake at 400 degrees for 25-30 minutes, until tender
-set aside to cool

-combine diced papaya, sugars, and flour in a bowl
-mix well
-stir in orange zest
-spoon into prepared pie shell
-overlap crust on top of pie about 2 inches
-bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour
-arrange roasted orange slices in a circle on top of the pie

This is the perfect pie for any summer celebration. The papaya is subtle and sweet, and the blood orange slices give it just enough tang. Plus! the beautiful colors are a festive addition to your summer table.

To celebrate the return of PIE DAY and the release of SUMMER with Matthew Mead, you have a chance to win a copy of the magazine. I know. So exciting, right?!? Two lucky readers will win!! Just leave a comment below telling me your favorite summer activity or celebration. Be sure to leave a way for me to contact you too!