Zoe Bakes Season 1 Episode 1 Porch Party Pies

Zoe Bakes is a baking series showcasing the talents of pastry chef and cookbook author Zoe Francois. In the first episode of season 1, titled "Porch Party Pies," Francois invites viewers into her backyard for a charming summertime gathering.

The episode opens with Francois discussing her love of pie and offering tips for making the perfect crust. She explains that she prefers an all-butter crust, and demonstrates the proper technique for cutting in the butter and mixing the dough.

Next, Francois introduces the first of three pies she will be making for the porch party: a classic cherry pie. She talks about the importance of using tart cherries for the filling, and adds a touch of almond extract to the mix. Francois also demonstrates how to create a lattice crust, providing clear instructions and helpful tips along the way.

As the cherry pie goes into the oven, Francois begins work on her next creation: a sweet and tangy blueberry-lemon pie. She walks viewers through the steps for making the filling, which involves macerating the blueberries in sugar and lemon juice before adding them to the pie crust. Francois also shares a secret ingredient for enhancing the lemon flavor in the filling: lemon zest.

Finally, Francois reveals the showstopper of the party: a salted caramel apple pie. She explains that the key to a great apple pie is choosing the right variety of apple, and selects a mix of granny smith and honeycrisp apples. Francois makes the caramel sauce from scratch, simmering sugar and cream until it reaches the perfect temperature. She then shows viewers how to arrange the apple slices in a decorative pattern, before drizzling the caramel over the top.

As each pie comes out of the oven, Francois shares her tips for creating perfect servings. She recommends going for a slightly larger slice than you might initially think, as the crust is often the best part. She also suggests serving the pies slightly warm, topped with a dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Throughout the episode, Francois's personality shines through in her humor and warmth. She clearly loves what she does, and wants viewers to feel confident and inspired to try their hand at pie baking. Whether you're an experienced baker or a novice in the kitchen, "Porch Party Pies" is sure to leave you feeling hungry and eager to get baking.