Free (nook/Kindle) Hoosier Mama Book of Pie [Chicago Artisanal Bakery Tales Cookbook]

[ATDrake]

The Hoosier Mama Book of Pie: Recipes, Techniques, and Wisdom from the Hoosier Mama Pie Company by Paula Haney with Allison Scott is a lavishsly photo-illustrated retrospective collection of anecdotes, recipes, and more from the eponymous Chicago local artisanal bakery which emphasizes fresh seasonal ingredients, free courtesy of publisher Agate's Midway imprint.

This looks pretty nifty, and takes the time to give you a good grounding in the know-how making and assembling the various relevant basic parts, as well as anecdotes on the origins of each specialty recipe, from "history of this type of pie" sort of tales to "I got this recipe from my friend X's family and no one knows where it came from before that but we like to make it every holiday", as well as the bakery business aspects as well.

Currently free, probably just until the weekend @ B&N (may also drop in the UK) & Amazon (not available to Canadians, but also free in the UK), and might also show up later as a DRM-free PDF download available worldwide directly @ the publisher's webcatalogue page, where you can currently download one of the recipes and watch some video clips of the author/founder talking about her bakery and preparing one of the recipes (apparently not the currently downloadable one).

Description
When Paula Haney first opened the Hoosier Mama Pie Company on March 14, 2009 (Pi day, appropriately enough), she worried whether her new business could survive despite specializing in just one thing. When she opened her storefront that morning and saw a line around the block, she realized she had a more immediate problem: Did she make enough pie? The shop closed early that day, but it has been churning out plenty of Chicago's most delectable pies ever since.

Haney started her career as a pastry chef at Trio, one of Chicago's top fine-dining restaurants. There, she spent many exhilarating and exhausting days creating fabulous new desserts to keep up with the restaurant's head chef: a then-unknown Grant Achatz, who would go on to culinary superstardom. This frenetic innovation left Haney in search of classic comfort food on her days off. Her disappointment in being unable to find a good slice of pie in all of Chicago led her to one conclusion: She needed to open her own store.

Specializing in handmade, artisanal pies that only use locally sourced and seasonal ingredients, Hoosier Mama Pie Company has become a local favorite and a national destination, gaining praise from Bon Appetit, the Food Network, and Food & Wine as one of the top pie shops in the country. Now, The Hoosier Mama Book of Pie delivers all the sumptuous secrets of buttery crusts, fruity fillings, creams and custards, chess pies, over-the-top pies, and even the stout and hearty savory pie. While pie has a reputation for being difficult to master, the book's practical and laid-back tone will help bakers both new and old make the perfect pie for every occasion.

The Hooser Mama Book of Pie also includes tips on technique, fascinating historical anecdotes, and an emphasis on special seasonal recipes, as well as quiches and hand pies. With beautiful, full-color photos and a classic, retro design that recalls the mid-20th century golden age of pie, this book reflects all the warmth and personality of the Hoosier Mama Pie Company's cozy Chicago storefront. The focus on using local produce and employing the farm-to-table philosophy helps home bakers make the freshest, most delicious pies imaginable. Now readers can take a little piece of the Hoosier Mama Pie Company anywhere they go.