3.1415926535 8979323846 2643383279 5028841971 6939937510 5820974944 5923078164 0628620899 8628034825 3421170679… That’s Pi–or the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter! Look at us getting all mathematical!
If you round 3.1415 to the second 1 after the decimal (the thousandths place), you get 3.1420, which is exactly today’s date. 3.14.20 Cool!
Since’s it’s Pi Day, we’re thinking about well, pie! The 3.14159… the Pi number is famous from the Night at the Museum 2 movie and the Einstein bobbleheads, based in the National Air & Space Museum. In light of the Coronavirus “pandemic” and all of the travelers trying to get home from here, there and everywhere, we’re also thinking about a time in the near past when we too were trying to get home…from the National Air & Space Museum.
Son A worked for the airlines, which equated to standby flights for the fam. Last summer, he wanted to visit Washington D.C. and the National Air & Space Museums. More specifically the Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia. Son B and I tagged along for the sport of it. Getting to D.C. wasn’t a big deal. The three of us hopped on a ERJ-170 and were there in no time.
Coincidentally, NASA festivities surrounding the 50th Anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon mission were taking place on the National Mall. You know, the mission where Neil Armstrong walked on the Moon for the first time. How cool is that?!
It was quite impressive to hear about and see the Mobile Quarantine Facility (aka refurbished Airstream travel trailer) Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins spent 65 hours in. What’s even neater is this trailer was flown from the USS Hornet to Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, with the three Apollo 11 astronauts in it! After almost 3 days in quarantine in this trailer, the astronauts were safe from “moon germs.” Talk about close quarters! At least these lucky guys were back on Earth and had an idea when they would be getting home.
After cramming in as many sites as we could, it was time for us to transport back to reality and home. Flying standby in July in D.C. is interesting! Son A was able to get on the last seat home. He was due to work that night and had only a few hours to spare getting there! Phew! Son B and I? Not so lucky! We tried to make a late-late-night flight with no luck! Stand-by list for the early-AM flight it was! This meant an overnight stay at Reagan National. Hmm…
It’s an eerie thing to be one of three people in a major airport gate in the wee hours of the morning. There’s something not quite secure about it. The security guards must have thought so too! We were rousted out to the main terminal area from the gate we’d be lounging in for hours. Thank goodness for those solar space blankets from the Air & Space Museum!
The fun didn’t end trying to get onboard the early-hour homebound flight. This was overbooked too, and getting the two of us onboard was a no-go! Flight command decision it was! We’d fly from D.C. to Nashville, rent a car, and drive home. Problem solved! After riding on a planes to get to D.C., the Metro while there, and cars to get home, we were relieved to be home! We can relate to those 3 Apollo 11 astronauts wanting to get home!
To celebrate Pi Day and a wacky space-based trip, we’re going for comfort food in a pie form! Fiesta Beef Pie to be exact. With all of the south-of-the-border flavors like salsa, cilantro, and chilies, this bean and burger-based pie is hearty! What’s even more comforting is the majority of the ingredients are pantry-stable. Opt to make homemade pie crust, using our Flaky Not-Amish Pie Crust recipe, your own, or store-bought. You can easily make Fiesta Beef Pie ahead of time and freeze it for later use. It’s ideal for those days and weeks of self-quarantining. If you’re especially passionate for pie on this Pi Day, make Jack’s Black Bottom Pie for dessert!
Fiesta Beef Pie
Flaky and festive, this beef and bean based pie is full on in flavor…salsa, cilantro, kidney and black beans, cheddar cheese, and hamburger! Fiesta Beef Pie is great to make using canned ingredients commonly found in your pantry and freezes spectacularly for later enjoyment!
- Prep Time: 15 Minutes
- Cook Time: 30 Minutes
- Total Time: About 45 Minutes
- Yield: 8–10 Servings 1x
Ingredients
1 pound ground beef
3–4 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 cup onion, diced
1 can condensed bean with bacon soup, undiluted
1 jar (16 ounces) chunky salsa, divided
1/4 cup cornstarch
1/4 cup cilantro, chopped and divided*
1 tsp. chili powder**
1 tsp. salt (kosher or table)
1/2 tsp. ground pepper
1 can (16 ounces) kidney beans, drained and rinsed
1 can (16 ounces) black beans, drained and rinsed
1 can (4 ounces) diced green chilies
2 cups shredded cheddar or Mexican blend cheese, divided
3/4 cup sliced green onions, divided
Pastry for double crust pie (9- or 10-inch pan). Store-bought or homemade like Flaky Not-Amish Pie Crust works great!
1 cup sour cream
1 can (2-1/4 ounce) sliced ripe black olives, drained
Instructions
Preheat oven to 425 degree F.
In a skillet over medium-high heat, cook hamburger, garlic and onion. Hamburger shouldn’t be pink. Drain grease.
In a large bowl, combine bean and bacon soup, 1 cup chunky salsa, cornstarch, 2 tbsp. cilantro, chili powder, salt, pepper, kidney and black beans, diced green chilies, shredded cheese, and green onions. Mix well.
Line a 9- or 10-inch pie pan with the bottom pastry layer. Fill with the bean mixture. Top with the remaining pastry layer. Seal pie by fluting the edges. Cut slits in the top pastry layer to vent. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until pie is golden brown. Let stand for about 5 minutes before cutting. Garnish with chunky salsa, sour cream, sliced black olives, green onions, shredded cheese, and cilantro.
Notes
*Don’t care for cilantro, substitute for equal parts chopped fresh parsley.
**Chili powder can be swapped out for equal parts of paprika, ancho chili powder, or chipotle chili powder.
IMNPB
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