π Day
Or what mathematics has to do with pie
We’ve all learned about the mathematical number 3,14 (π to be more exact). Only that this year, thanks to my kid, I’ve actually found out that PI (π) is also a day where we get to celebrate by eating PIE.
What exactly is π (pie) Day?
It seems that Pi Day takes place every year, since 1988, on March 14th and it recognizes the mathematical constant π. Also known as pi, the first three and most recognized digits are 3.14. The day is celebrated by pi enthusiasts and pie lovers alike!
It all started in San Francisco, in 1988, when when Larry Shaw, an employee of the Exploratorium Science Museum, organized the first official event and in 2019 UNESCO declared it the International Day of Mathematics.
The main event organized by UNESCO this year is a webinar which takes place Friday 13th.
For me, the main event that marks PI Day is baking a pumpkin pie for my kid to take to school.
Why pumpkin?
Because it’s one of the most delicious pies and they don't bake it here in Finland, but for the Romanian in me, that brings back a lot of happy memories.
Plus, it’s the perfect pie for the cold weather (there are some +°C outside, but not so many in the thermometers, plus dense fog, and rain….)
I LOVE baking or cooking for those close to me and all the children that come over. I buy the ingredients and I make all from scratch. Very rarely I buy a pie for example (only the su börek from the Turkish shop, which we simply adore). I am not a great cook, I have a friend who is a chef, but I can't complain. No one ever left my home with an empty stomach :)
You can read more inspirational mouth watering foods for cold days in this article.
That being said, let me share this delicious pumpkin pie recipe. It's all vegan and vegetarian, not because I am a vegan, but it's better for the allergies (if there's a child with allergy at dairy, or eggs or nuts)
Ingredients for dough:
300 gr flour (I used plain wheat flour, you can use your favorite)
100 grams sugar
40 ml of sunflower oil
100 ml of water (I used at room temperature)
1 tea spoon of baking soda
Half of a tea spoon of salt
Ingredients for filling:
1 kg of grated pumpkin
Sugar
Cinnamon
Steps:
Prepare the dough because you'll need to let it rest for 30 minutes in the fridge.
How to prepare the dough:
put the flour, baking soda, sugar and salt in a bowl and make a little hole in the middle of it. There you will pour the oil and start mixing with your hand while you’ll pour the water slowly. Mix it until it pleases you. Then put it in the fridge covered in a plastic bag.
Start grating the pumpkin.
Put it in a pan on the stove to take out all its water out. Plus it gives a delicious flavour. You can also add some nuts if you want.
After 30 minutes, take the dough out of the fridge and with a rolling pin roll half of the dough.
Transfer the dough in an oven tray, make sure to use a fork to pierce the dough from place to place and then add the pumpkin, some sugar and cinnamon. All, if you like it.
Roll out the second half of the dough and put it on top of the filling.
Again, pierce the dough with a fork to let the air circulate, and with a brush put some sunflower oil, so that the dough doesn't dry in the oven.
Let it in the oven for approx. 40 minutes, at 180°C.
Take it out, let it cool, cut it whatever form you like.
Add some powdered sugar and enjoy it!
Do you celebrate π Day? If so, how ?
I’m asking because until this year we’ve never heard of celebrations for math day.
Let me know!
Enjoy your PIe!