Pie Pops - Banana, Homemade Nutella and Blueberry.

We recognize people who are "alone" very easily, especially during Valentines Day. I'm one of those. Maybe I'm giving out obligatory chocolates, maybe I'm accompanied by other "alone" people but I've never officially given a special chocolate to a Valentine.  

So when I say "I hate Valentines Day", do NOT take my word for it. I mean, who doesn't love to make a big deal out of chocolate! I know I do (I'd make chocolate our currency if I can)!

    

Anywho, Valentines Day is another reason to show your love. It is another excuse to make a big deal out of surprises and romance. Another day to show your relationship off to everyone else...

That being said,

I hate Valentines Day.

This day of the year, cheesy lines aren't "gay", couples in a public lives in their own world, girls making duck faces are suddenly tolerable and chocolate stores turned evil.

Dear future me, go get a room.

For now, if it's a chance to bake, it is a chance I wouldn't miss. And since appearance is oh-so-important for today, let's try to make things look prettier and mini'er than I would prefer.

Banana Filling:

1 banana cut diagonally

a pinch of cinnamon

1. Mix the ingredients together.

Nutella Filling:

makes about 1 3/4 cup nutella spread.

2 cups shelled and skinned raw peanuts

1/2 cup of your darkest, richest unsweetened cocoa powder 1 1/4 cups powdered sugar 1/4 teaspoon salt plus additional to taste (I used an extra 1/8 teaspoon) 3 tablespoons peanut oil

1. Heat the oven to 400 degrees. Spread the peanuts evenly over a cookie sheet and roast until they darken, about 10 minutes, rattling them around a bit halfway through to they toast evenly.

2. Transfer the peanuts to a food processor and grind them for about 5 minutes. First they’ll become a paste then they’ll become more of a paste and finally, they’ll liquefy. Scrape down the sides as needed.

3. Add the cocoa, sugar, salt and two tablespoons of the oil to the food processor and continue to process until well blended, about 1 minute. 

4. Add the last tablespoon of oil if the consistency seems too thick.

Blueberry Filling:

• makes about 16 3-inch pie pops.
• 1/2 recipe puff pastry dough (recipe from: previous post)
• 1 1/4 cups blueberries
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 2 teaspoons lemon zest
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 1 egg for egg wash

1. Mix all ingredients together. 

2. Prepare cut out doughs, push a skewer stick into one of the doughs.

3. Spoon sufficient filling onto the dough.

4. Seal with another dough piece. 

5. Using a fork or the skewer, push down the edges of dough.

6. Bake at 190 celsius for 20 minutes.

7. Brush egg wash sparingly on the crust.

8. Bake for another 20 minutes or until golden brown.

9. Do not move the skewer around while pie is still hot.

I used several different fillings. Because I'm not a big fan of Blueberry, they're too classy for me. I love chocolate and bananas. I'm like that. Onto what it tastes. They're pies! They're awesome pies on pops!

Happy Valentines,

Jes