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Pieces of Pi
Christmas 2004
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The quilted wall hanging illustrates the first 102 digits of π: each different digit is represented by a favorite flavor of pi(e)
π = 3.14159265358…
an amazing irrational number that has been calculated to millions of digits, and has almost that many applications!
The triangles in “Pieces of Pi” are Golden Triangles. A Golden Triangle is an isosceles triangle
with the ratio of side to base of φ, another remarkable irrational number known as the golden ratio
approximately 1.618033989….
The vertex angle of the golden triangle is exactly 36o, or π/5.
I hope you enjoy trying the recipes in “Pieces of Pi”. Since I’ve only cultivated 3 talents in my life-- math, quilting, and pie baking-- it’s been fun working on this project to bring them all together. Now I can check “write a book” off of my list!
Make-A-Mix Moist Pie Crust
5 lbs. all-purpose flour
2 T salt
3 lbs. vegetable shortening
3 cups ice cold water
Combine flour and salt in your largest bowl. Mix well. With a pastry blender, cut in shortening until evenly distributed. Mixture will resemble cornmeal in texture. Add cold water all at once and mix lightly until the flour absorbs all the water and texture resembles putty. If dough is too sticky, sprinkle a little more flour over the top and mix until the dough barely clings together in the bowl. Divide the dough into 10 or 11 softball size portions. Pat into slightly flattened disks.
Wrap with waxed paper, then foil and/or plastic. Store in freezer. Use within 12 months.
I always try to have this pie crust on hand in the freezer. I only have to make it about twice a year. I use our scientific scale to weigh out the portions- 425 grams each.