Happy Pi Day!
Since it is March 14 (or 3.14) it is international Pi Day, the day to celebrate the number pi. The Roman symbol above is how we write pi in math class. It is defined as the circumference of a perfect circle divided by its diameter, or the distance around the outside divided by the distance perfectly halfway across. Conveniently, Albert Einstein was also born on March 14th. But as for the number, possibly it's biggest (and only) claim to fame is that it is infinite. There is quite literally no end to the digits if you calculate it out exactly.
The digits of pi have inspired people to memorize strings of thousands of numbers, competitions, "the million digits of pi", create poetry and music with these numbers. There is even a PiDay organization with a website that has all kinds of fun facts and stories about Pi. There is a video of a Pi Rap by Amy McConnell. Several businesses jump on any excuse for a holiday with special Pi Day Deals. There's even a trainer to help you memorize more digits of Pi! If you want to know more about how Pi Day began, and how Americans celebrate, check out CNN's article "How America celebrates Pi Day".
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| A clever t-shirt showing how "PIE" in a mirror is 3.14 Pi! |
In honor of this unique number I'm posting a special recipe, for pie of course! Because blackberries were on sale this week, that is the fruit I chose. However, you can use any berry or fruit you like, including frozen.
Ingredients:
2 pie crusts (I cheated and store-bought. If you're baking-savvy or brave, you can try making your own pie crust, like this one from Pioneer Woman)
4 cups blackberries
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup flour
1 tsp salt
2 tbsp milk
3 tbsp butter (Country Crock)
Step 1: Let the dough thaw for 10-20 minutes on the counter top, if it broke at all smush it back together with your fingers.
Step 2: Combine all ingredients but butter and milk in a large bowl to coat the berries with flour and sugar. Pour into your bottom crust. Place little chunks of butter around on the top.
Step 3: Place the other crust on top, and make sure to cut some hole to vent. I of course had to go full-nerd and cut "3.14" into the pie.
Step 4: Brush the top with milk (or egg) to make sure it gets nice a golden. Bake on a baking sheet in the middle of the oven at 400 for 12-15 minutes, until nice and bubbly and golden.
Cut yourself a nice slice along the radius (math) and enjoy!
This is so amazing warm out of the oven, topped with vanilla ice cream or cool whip. It's warm and sweet and melty... MMMM! It is also amazing as breakfast with a cup of hot coffee. =)
And because you desperately need to know the millionth digit of Pi:
3.14159265358979323846264338327950288419716939937510582097494459230781640628620899862803482534211706798214808651328230664709384460955058223172535940812848111745028410270193852110555964462294895493038196442881097566593344612847564823378678316527120190914564856692346034861045432664821339360726024914127372458700660631558817488152092096282925409171536436789259036001133053054882046652138414695194151160943305727036575959195309218611738193261179310511854807446237996274956735188575272489122793818301194912983367336244065664308602139494639522473719070217986094370277053921717629317675238467481846766940513200056812714526356082778577134275778960917363717872146844090122495343014654958537105079227968925892354201995611212902196086403441815981362977477130996051870721134999999837297804995105973173281609631859502445945534690830264252230825334468503526193118817101000313783875288658753320838142061717766914730359825349042875546873115956286388235378759375195778185778053217122680661300192
Just kidding. But if you really do want to know all one million go here.
Are you doing anything to celebrate Pi Day?
Labels: 3.14, 3.1415, blackberry pie, celebrate pi day, dessert, easy pie recipe, math, pi day, pi day pie, pie, pie recipe
