Celebrate my three years of blogging with a decadent treat: chocolate cherry pie! With a layer of gooey fudge, a layer of fresh cherry filling and a chocolate pie crust to tie it all together, this is the ultimate summer treat!
Three years people! That’s about 2 years and 50 weeks longer than I thought I would be doing this for.
Back on August 7th, 2011, when I published my first post, if you had told me that I would still be at it, three years later, I would have laughed. Out loud. This was going to be a fun little hobby that I would drop when I got bored and found a new hobby. Somehow, over the last couple of years, the whole thing evolved completely. It went from hobby into a business that I love and feel passionate about. I never dreamed that I would become a professional recipe developer, a freelance food photographer, and, um, a blogger with, y’know, real people reading what I have to say. But I love every last minute of it, and I have y’all to thank for that!
I thought that in honor of my three years of blogging, I would share my t0p ten amazing things that happened during the last couple of years…it might be a little (or a lot!) self glorifying, but please bare with me!
10) This is kinda old news, but still an amazing thing that came out of being a blogger: I became a magazine columnist, writing a recipe column for Ami Magazine. Magazine columnist? Lil’ old me? It doesn’t get old!
9) I went from taking terrible iPhone photos to having a photo studio, where I have a gazillion shelves of props, studio lights, and other paraphernalia related to being a food photographer. No jokes. Me. Real clients. Bringing real food and products to my studio where I take real nice pictures. Pinch me someone?
8) I’ve gotten to partner with some amazing brands (such as Hellmann’s, Whole Foods, Kleins Ice Cream Sharpies and more), who’ve helped support this blog while continuing to bring you all the recipes you’ve come to know and love…at no charge to you. Can you say win-win?
7) I’ve attended some amazing events and conferences, such as Eat Write Retreat and KosherFest (three years of this and I am still awed over my press pass every time!).
6) I have made some amazing friends through blogging. Some I’ve met, some I haven’t, but I feel like I know them so well! Maybe some day…
5) My blog went through a major facelift about half a year ago! I went from the free template that screams “newbie blogger here!” to hiring the most amazing designer, Mirel of Oomph Creative to create a beautiful logo for this site, plus a whole tech team to redesign this site and give you all a more user-friendly experience, including the printable recipes you all keep asking for!
4) I’ve started giving cooking demos and cooking classes – including a big knife skills demo this coming sunday in Evergreen in Monsey. I hope I’ll get to meet a bunch of you there! (Want me to do a demo/class in your community? I’d love to – email me!)
3) Me and my recipes have been featured in some amazing places like Yahoo Shine, Glamour Magazine, Cosmopolitan Magazine, BuzzFeed, and so many more. It’s such an honor to be featured and recognized for my hard work! In fact, Relish Magazine named me as one of the top five kosher food bloggers to follow online! Lil old me, can you imagine?
2) I got a talented assistant (who’s a great baker herself!) who will be helping me on various aspects of this site, to make sure you get the best experience possible! I’ll be introducing you to her in a future post, but for now, just know that she was the one who brought you that fabulous quinoa salad roundup…with more to come!
1) By faaaar the most amazing thing that’s happened to me over the last three years is that I got to interact and meet with so many of you. I got to hear about how my recipes have graced your Shabbat and holiday meals, how they’ve turned your picky eaters into veggie lovers, how your parties have been enhanced by my creations, and how you turn to my blog when you’re stuck for supper ideas. It’s gratifying but also humbling to know that so many thousands of people are making and enjoying my recipes – and every time I hear it, it makes my day all over again. Seriously, the feedback (and compliments;) never get old – so please comment on this post and let me hear from you – what you’ve made, how you found the blog, how long you’ve been reading, anything you want to tell me!
Anyhow, I am not here just to toot my own horn and brag. I want to tell every one of you that dreams do come true. Ok, I never dreamed of this exact situation, but I’m most definitely a dreamer. I am a creative person. I’ve always wanted to do something. Make something. And so I worked hard – every single day – to build what I’ve got into the best it can be. And you can do it to. Don’t sit and wait for the dreams to happen to you. Go out and chase them!
I don’t know where the next three years will take me (or where I’ll take the next three years) but I really hope you’ll all join me for the ride.
And now, let’s celebrate with some amazingly decadent and delicious dessert: chocolate fudge meets cherry pie. And yes, it is as amazing as it sounds!
- 2 cups flour
- ¼ cup sugar
- ¼ cup cocoa powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 egg
- 1 cup butter or margarine, ice cold
- 6-8 Tablespoons ice water
- ½ cup butter or margarine, melted
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 egg
- ¼ cup flour
- ¼ cup cocoa
- ¼ teaspoon baking powder
- 4 cups pitted cherries
- 2 Tablespoons water
- 1 Tablespoon Kirsch (cherry brandy), optional
- 2 Tablespoons lemon juice
- ¾ cup sugar
- ¼ cup corn starch
- In the bowl of a food processor, mix together the flour, sugar, cocoa and salt.
- Cut the butter/margarine into cubes and add to the food processor. Pulse in short bursts until the mixture resembles coarse (and uneven) crumbs. Do not over-mix.
- Add the egg and ice water, starting with 6 tablespoons and adding additional tablespoons as needed. Pulse until mixture just comes together. Do not add too much water!
- Remove the dough from the food processor and roll it into a ball. Flatten into a disk and place in a plastic bag in the fridge to chill.
- combine all ingredients in the bowl of a mixer and beat until combined. Set aside.
- Combine all ingredients in a small pot. Bring to a boil and lower flame. Stir frequently for about ten minutes until the mixture appears jelly-like. Remove from heat and allow to cool.
- Preheat oven to 350. Roll out half of the dough on a lightly floured surface. Place it inside a 9 inch pie pan.
- Pour the fudge filling into the pie, then spread the cherry filling on top.
- Roll out the other half of the dough and cut into strips. Place over the pie in a lattice form (full instructions for lattice here).
- Bake the pie at 350 for about 45-50 minutes. Let it cool before serving.
Thank you, as always, for stopping by! Would you please take a minute to leave a comment in honor of my third blogiversary? 🙂 -Miriam
Woohoo! Happy 3 years–you’ve come so far!!!! There’s no stopping you now! 🙂
Wow I love how chocolately this pie is, right down to the crust. Happy 3 years!
Mazel Tov Miriam! Amazing milestone for an amazing person!! continue reaching for the stars…
Boy 3 years fly by! Can’t believe my little old friend is so famous — and rightfully so! You deserve to brag a little, today is all about you! Happy bloggiversary Miriam!
I’ll consider myself one of those great friends made over your journey – and I’m glad of it! Cheers to the past three years and to many more awesome recipes/photos ahead!
Congrats Miriam! You summed it all up perfectly! Love the photo and recipe in today’s post! Wishing you much continued success!
Congrats!! I love ur blog. It’s amazing what you accomplished!! U hav every right to brag! May you enjoy many more years of continued success! The pie sounds amazing!
Congratulations! This dessert looks like a great way to celebrate 🙂
Congratulations! I loved reading about your blogging journey, and I will have to try your Chocolate Cherry Pie – it sounds wonderful!
I’ve loved following your blog these last three years. Always curious to see what you’ve been working on for the magazine and in general. Happy third!
Woohoo! Happy anniversary! I’m so happy you chose to start this blog…… Love following you on here, in Ami, and on instagram. Still don’t know how you have time to do it all, but keep it up! 😀
I’m not really sure either, but I sure am glad you enjoy! 😉
Congratulations on all you’ve accomplished in the last 3 years! I will admit I’m a little jealous of your photo studio. 🙂
This pie looks absolutely amazing!
Thank you Christin, and thanks for stopping by! My studio sure is amazing!
Chocolate cherry pie? That looks amazing! What a great way to celebrate 3 years of blogging. Congratulations! 🙂
Thanks Marcie, and thanks for stopping by!
Happy Anniversary! This is a significant milestone and you’ve had some amazing experiences along the way! 🙂 Glad I found you. And, this Chocolate Cherry Pie looks like the perfect dessert to celebrate it with! Cheers and congrats!
Thank you Kristi!
Congrats! What a lot of accomplishments you made in blogging during the 3 years! Good for you! : ) And chocolate cherry pie is such a special treat to celebrate with.
First off, congratulations! Second, what a phenomenal looking pie. I love how dark and, dare I say, seductive it looks. Yum!
Thank you so much Russell!
Manyyyyy congratulations Miriam. 3 years is an amazing milestone! 🙂 Can I tell you, that countdown was in NO WAY anything close to bragging, if anything, it was the most honest and inspirational countdown that tells us that blogging is an amazing platform to reach out to people globally and I am so so soooo glad I came across your blog! :* It is absolutelyyyyyyy BEAUTIFUL and so is this chocolate cherry pie!!!!! Pinning! 🙂
Congratulations, Miriam! I have been following your blog from day one and have been so impressed with how you have evolved so much as blogger, recipe developer, photographer. Wishing you continued success . . .
Mazel tov on your blog anniversary. Keep up the great work!
The crust calls for butter no shortening and an egg. The instructions refer to shortening no butter and don’t mention what to do with the egg. Please help. Thank you
Instructions have been clarified.
Can this be frozen?
I made this recipe and it was a hit. The chocolate pie dough was easy and turned into a perfect crust. I typically use a shorting and butter combination but the all butter worked beautifully with the chocolate. I made it with my usually cherry filling recipe but the rest as is. I didn’t do a lattice crust and just did a typically crust with slits and it worked out great. Tasted amazing. Thanks for sharing.