Saturday, March 14, 2009

It's Pi Day! Thin Mint Strawberry Pi (You Want Pie with That?)

Thin Mint Strawberry Mascarpone Pi
Strawberry Mascarpone "Mint" Pi

It's Pi Day! (3/14 = 3.14)

To celebrate, the baking group You Want Pie with That? is posting their monthly pie selection today. This month's theme, selected by Elizabeth of Cake or Death, is Herbs and Spices.

I'm sure my other bakers are pulling out the mortar and pestle to grind cardamon pods, spent the month growing rosemary on their windowsill, or went to their Indian spice store.

Um, my herb is totally exotic.

It's pretty rare...only found in certain areas.
Like the delicate saffron, it is harvested by hand.
It's as addicting as the stuff they make from poppy seeds in Afghanistan.
The selling season is short and only sold by certain designated individuals.

My herb is the Girl Scout Thin Mint!
(Okay, it's a stretch, but I figure Pi day would appreciate the pun)

Thin Mint Strawberry Mascarpone Pi

Thin Mint Strawberry Mascarpone Pi Thin Mint Strawberry Mascarpone Pi
I took food processed about 1 1/2 sleeves of Thin Mints to make 1 1/2 cups of crumbs. (I didn't have enough so next time I would go for 2 cups of crumbs). Added 4 T (1/2 stick) of melted butter. Pressed into tart shell and baked 10 minutes at 350.

I blended an 8 ounce container of mascarone cream, 1/4 cup sugar, 1/3 c heavy cream, and 1 t vanilla for the filling.

Thin Mint Strawberry Mascarpone Pi
California strawberries...yum!

Be sure to check out the other creative You Want Pie with That? bakers!

54 comments:

  1. Yum! I love the special and rare herb that you used! You can only get GS Thin Mints once or twice a year, right? ;o) Looks delicious, Mary.

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  2. oh that looks so nice ! So delicious. I don't know what thin mints are but they must be yummy :)

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  3. I absolutely love your herb and pie! It looks delicious. You are so imaginative.

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  4. What a beautiful dessert. It looks like an exotic flower opening its petals.

    I usually celebrate Pi Day with my students by doing all sorts of related activities. They would love it if I served them all this at the end!

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  5. That is gorgeous! Happy Pi Day to you. What a great way to celebrate!

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  6. Yes, thin mints are rare indeed! Looks totally scrumptious!

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  7. Agh! I just gained another pound! You are a pie baking MACHINE! And a librarian, to boot. Hard to beat that combination! ;)

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  8. Yum, this looks really delicious! The flavors sound terrific together. I love Thin Mints!

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  9. Oh my goodness, this looks sooooo good! Just the kind of thing i like to eat :)
    I love how all your strawberries are all standing up!

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  10. Thin mints are my perfect spice, for sure! This pie looks totally divine. Happy Pi Day! I wish I had your pie to celebrate the holiday!

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  11. I chased the neighbor kid in a brownie uniform down the street to buy this elusive herb!

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  12. Ah yes, that rare thin mint...one of my favorites :) Such a fun pie!

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  13. Your strawberries look so perfect. I continue to be jealous of the California produce :)

    Happy Pi day!

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  14. Thin Mints are may favorite of the Girl Scout cookies, but I haven't gotten my hands on some in FOREVER. And your strawberries look absolutely perfect. Thanks for sharing!

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  15. OH MY GOD!!! Dawn of Vanilla Sugar recently asked what our favorite flavor combos were and I said chocolate, cream cheese and strawberries. Well Hello Dolly look at that pi!

    I have all the ingredients for this too and i want it NOW. Looks so SO good.

    Drool!

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  16. happy pi day! and those strawberries look deeeeelish!

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  17. Love it! Thin mints totally qualify as an herb. Mint, right! Love the flavor combos on the pie. Looks quite delicious!

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  18. So, when can I expect delivery of that Pi? Anything with mint and strawberries just has to be good for you, right?

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  19. Yum! I love your stretch of the imagination.

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  20. I love Thin Mints. This looks absolutely stunning. I bet it was justso tasty!

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  21. Oh, deliciousness! What a perfect Pi day pie! Those berries...ahhhhhhh.

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  22. Oh, now, I think we have our winner folks... no need to even vote for our favorite pie this month. Mary's got it in the bag :)

    LOL, no seriously, your tart looks fantastic and sounds delicious.

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  23. I bought way and I mean WAY too many Thin Mints this year -- I just love them. Even with all the baking I do these days, I feel like Thin Mints will always hold a special place in my heart. So I've been feeling like I need to find a great recipe to use up some of them, lest I eat them all, frozen (the best way), 1/2 sleeve at a time. And you've provided such a awesome recipe. Thank you!!!

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  24. I don't think I have ever had something minty with strawberries. Such a good idea, especial since it includes chocolate! :)

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  25. Gorgeous pie! I love your special herb addition. ;) Mascarpone and strawberries is always a hit with me!

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  26. Well, I will just have to stop talking to you now, I am SOOOO jealous of your photos!

    I LOVE mascarpone in a tarte... Woo HOO!!! Is that a cookie bottom?

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  27. Just love it. Bow to your beautiful pie!!

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  28. Another amazing creation. I got sucked in to the girl scouts today and got some samoas. I am so loving the combo of strawberry and mascarpone and chocolate/mint!

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  29. That looks amazing! (And I'm a sucker for Girl Scout cookies.) The side slice view set me to drooling! Libby

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  30. I love thin mints! Darn, that was a good idea. Your pie looks gorgeous -great photos.

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  31. This is perfect! Thin Minuts, marscapone, strawberries. Mmm, good!

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  32. Lovely! What a great pie to celebrate with. :) Happy pi day!

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  33. The mint, chocolate strawberry combination sounds awesome!

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  34. thin mints don't have a chance in my house, i would be lucky to find the empty box! looks delicious.

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  35. Hahaha I can totally see your case that Thin Mints are "herbs".... Lol ;D

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  36. Thin mints .... I will now be adding that to my must have spice list!

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  37. This is the perfect way to celebrate Pi day!

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  38. I love it!! It's so luscious and refreshing. And did I say delicious? YUM!

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  39. Love it!!!! What a great combination!

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  40. It's an interesting combination of flavours, and yet totally logical. I love it!

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  41. OH EM GEE! yum yum yum!

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  42. Sounds awesome! I heartily approve of this "herb" pie! :)

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  43. I'm so bummed I missed Pi day. Your strawberry pi looks delish!

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  44. You've done it again! I don't think there's anything anyone could ever dislike about this pie. And I'll eat anything with mascarpone :)

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  45. Love the rare and exotic thin mints! What a beautiful pie, can I have some?

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  46. What a beautiful pie! And I love that you used Thin Mints -- great idea! The filling sounds really scrumptious too...

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  47. Oh yum. Everything sounds delicious. The strawberries are gorgeous. You can't go wrong with Thin Mints. And the mascarpone filling. That just shot the whole dessert out of the stratosphere. YUM>

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  48. Not only is this gorgeous, but it screams out for you to have a bite. I've been thinking about girl scout cookies ever since they started passing them out a few weeks ago. This is perfect!! You've got my vote!

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  49. Wow that looks amazing! I have tried my best to stay away from those drug dealers known as girl scouts this season so I don't have any thin mints on hand to make it, but I can just taste the mint and creaminess. Great recipe!

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  50. Very clever! Looks delicious, Thin Mints are my favorite GS cookie.

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  51. That looks delish! And those strawberries, mmmmmmm........

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  52. I need to make another tart ASAP! UCLA librarian perhaps? Which of the many on campus??

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  53. Num Num! Good way to utilize those evil Girl Scout cookies! I'll take that as a spice any day :)

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