It's been ages since I've given you guys a recipe, and today barely counts. Seriously, two minutes, build in some wait time and you're done. The only hitch: must love mayo.

A few weeks ago, we made this recipe from Bon Appétit for dinner. (Side note, I'm switching up my magazine interests and if anyone wants to add a subscription to this to my Christmas list, please. Go right ahead.) They are delicious. And spicy. Neel and Cal were in heaven, but I'm the wimp in the family, so I knew they'd be a bit over the top for me. I decided to whip up this aioli to use as a dip to counteract some of that spice. I mean seriously, 1/4 cup of Siracha? I couldn't even do that.

1/2 - 3/4 cup mayonnaise (such as Duke's)
3 cloves of garlic crushed

Add crushed garlic to mayonnaise and mix well. Refrigerate until flavors blend, at least half an hour. Serve with everything from spicy chicken skewers to pommes frites! And for a real aioli recipe, click here.

There are so many layers to the story of these pie crust cookies that it's hard to know where to begin. My grandmother was an amazing baker and my mom is too. My grandmother made cobblers and pies, too numerous to count. I remember peach the best. Peach orchards rim the county where my grandmother lived and my mother grew up, so I associate peaches not only with summer but with these two women.

I'm not a fan of cooked fruit, but give me a pie crust any day. To me, the filling of the pie is immaterial to the whole pie business. It's all about the crust. I grew up with these cookies, made first by my maternal grandmother, Grandma Mercedes (not pronounced like the car; the emphasis is on the 1st syllable) and now made by my mom. They're simple, really. Make your pie crust for your pie, but make a little more.

At our house, things break down with the make your pie crust for your pie. Every time my mom comes, we "make" her make us a pie, and every time we have trouble remembering which crust recipe was the very best. I'm going to suggest you pick your own recipe here, even pre-made will do.

If you make a pie, go ahead and make it, but really? That part isn't necessary. If you don't bake a pie, preheat your oven to 350º. Take whatever pie dough you have left, roll it out and cut into long strips. Using a pastry brush or your fingers, brush milk on the strips. Sprinkle a combination of cinnamon and sugar onto the strips of dough.

Bake in the 350º oven for 10-15 minutes or until brown. Try not to eat them all before Neel gets home.

Is it the barely sweet that makes them so wonderful? Or is it the fact that we rarely have them? I'm not sure which. Callum and I contemplated just making a batch for the fun of it, and thought, nah, we'll wait for Ama. I think they taste better that way.

cheater aioli {life}

baking history :: pie crust cookies {life}